My Coloring Experiments w/Virgin Hair

OK, I spent most of the weekend on this, which has that RK hair looking better & better every day !!  But I wanted to show you the color results I got. I was *not* able to achieve a 613; I fried a batch of hair and so got VERY gun shy after that. However, I have a gorgeous 24, 22, and a 14/22 mix.  The color differences are very subtle and I can't seem to photograph them to show the colors properly. The hair is in *beautiful* shape. Check it out. BTW: this is only 3/4 oz. of hair.

All 3 colors in my hand:

Blowin' in the wind:

The 14/22 mix:

Kewl, eh??

Great results Fina!  The hair's beautiful.  I need to also say that im so jealous of that lovely big pool behind you and the lovely weather.  Its very miserable here today in the Uk

x

I'm quite pleased with how the color turned out.

Sherrie - it is amazing the HUGE amount of effort it takes to get to a 613 rather than, say, like a 22 or 24. Even the difference between those two is a lot.

I used Clairol "BW2" Dedusted Extra-Strength Powder Lightener with 40-volume CLEAR peroxide. I used pretty much the ratio the package recommends - like 2 scoops bleach powder to 1 scoop peroxide. I added a little extra peroxide to make it wetter.

I spread the hair out on foil and completely covered both sides. The hair needs to be VERY WELL covered, and evenly coated. I wrapped up the foil and let it sit. Period. No heat except the Texas heat. My garage was about 95 degrees so I left it out there for a while, then back in the house, etc. But no ovens, just warm-air temperatures.

I added more wet peroxide after about 40 minutes on all batches, and kept checking to make sure it stayed wet.

First batch I only let process about an hour. It simply didn't come up enough. It was about a Bohyme "24". The second batch I processed an hour and 10 minutes. The third batch I processed 90 minutes.

They were, roughly, golden blonde, very light golden blonde, and yellow blonde--all of them really quite yellow/gold. There was nothing on a color ring that matched.

However it got fun with the toning.

I toned all 3 with Clairol Professional 301D (White Beige) using 20 volume for between 5 and 12 minutes (watching how the color processed and took).

Basically the different results I got were based on how light the pre-lightened hair was to start with.

I had COMPLETELY FRIED my first batch by adding too much heat. The hair turned into cotton candy, literally. It was SCARY. So I got much more conservative with the heat; I know that when I get my own hair done my hairdresser uses 40 vol peroxide with bleach and we just have to WAIT until it comes up. I've read that it can take up to 2 hours. I just didn't want to subject the hair to that.

After 90 minutes on batch #3 I thought it was sufficiently light.

I'm out of bleach now; otherwise I would have forged ahead and done more. However, I have a GREAT match now for PlastikHaar Blonde and *almost* Vanille. My goal for my next install is to do a PH/Human mix with perfectly matching colors. . .and since I'm the scientist here, I can just match to the PH!!

Syren - I'm excited to get the #8 hair. Do you have a PH ring and a suggestion for a PH color that matches the hair you just shipped me??

Thanks!!
Fina

Hiya gals.

I'm gonna just go ahead and get some more of it... yes it's a bit more expensive than RK but I have to say it is friggin' gorgeous.

I have a bunch of RK #22 or #24 which I bought from Rae and my color is EXACTLY the same. As many of you have said, the real test is how it wears, and unfortunately we just have to wait and see.

I am not at all displeased with RK. Don't get me wrong.

I am going to order a LOT of this hair so I'll be able to sell it a bit cheaper. Right now we're talking about $60 for a 3.5 oz weft. I am going to place the order on Monday and when I get it y'all can just let me know what you want.