QuoteReplyTopic: Confused on coloring Posted: October 02 2007 at 8:50am
I have dark brown hair. A few years ago, I dyed my hair myself a light ash brown to cover few grays and it turned dark red. I let that grow out, I was afraid to dye it again. My hairdresser suggested I get highlights to cover grey. I did that for years and I loved it. The only problem is I have too many greys now and the highlights aren't covering them. So, now my hair is dark brown, grey and growing out blonde/reddish highlights.
If I go to hairdressers to get permanently dyed, I'd have to keep it up, and I can't afford that. I'd like to try it myself at home. I'd like to go lighter then my natural color. I'm afraid it will turn red like last time I tryed it.
I was thinking about trying semi or demi permanent. Would that get my hair one color and cover grey? Any suggestions, would be appreciated.
Rebekah
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Semi doesn't lift your natural color at all. So it's best to use a semi when you want to tone already dyed hair or just want to refresh your natural color. Demi's do lift a tiny bit but not much, and are also good for matching your natural color or fixing a botch dyed job or maintaining your color in between root touch ups.
If you want to go lighter than your natural color...dark brown..choose a shade that is two shades lighter than your natural color and use a 20 vol. peroxide. If you want to fight that red then use a green or ash based dye.
Here are some Miss Clairol Swatches...you can find this product at Sally Beauty. I'd try the light neutral brown mixed with a bit of the coffee brown...maybe half and half...strand test. Or try the chestnut color by iteself with 20 vol. Strand test of course...Chestnut is a warmish color but I think it would be pretty. Miss Clairol also has a line called Grey busters that you can try. Stick to two shades lighter though.
Please make sure you strand test first okay...it's really the only way to know. Also remember that when you first do a color, for a few washes, it tends to look a little brilliant sometimes. Then when it calms down the color looks a lot better.
Good luck and keep us posted as to how it turns out, okay?
Rebekah
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Ok, I'm not going to be coloring it for few more weeks. I'm waiting until after my next hair cut. I will let you know how it turns out.
I have a question. The Chestnut has green in it and the Light neutral brown doesn't. Between those 2 hair colors, would I have better luck with the Chestnut to keep my hair from turning red?
Edited by paper - October 04 2007 at 7:45am
Rebekah
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Neutral base has three colors, red, yellow, and blue combined to be a neutral color. Anytime you lift the color of the hair, especially when it's brown, you'll get some red. The Chestnut, I hear, is a bit warm, not red, but will be warm. It's a combination of blue and yellow and probably a tiny bit of red. I mentioned the neutral mixed with the Chestnut to combat the grey in your hair. If I were you, I'd try getting both colors and strand testing, make sure you select some of the grey you are going to color. Try mixing half and half, just Chestnut, 3 parts Chestnut 1 part neutral, and then just the netural alone. It's really a matter of splitting hairs if you have the correct color. Again, strand test for sure okay. Good luck! Post pics when you get done...here's a recent job of my hair. I just toned it...cause it was looking brassy.
It took me awhile to get this color right. I went from light golden brown to medium golden blonde. I currently use Miss Clairol Moongold and a mixture of 20 and 30 vol. peroxide, leaving it on the roots for about 35-40 mins. Plus a toner in between root touch ups. Oh, and there are a few highlights, light golden blonde mixed in there too. What do you think?
Rebekah
Edited by Rebekah - October 04 2007 at 12:08pm
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How does the gray busters work? Does it lighten or just cover gray? I read that you use 1 part gray buster and 1 part regular color. Or, do you just use gray busters alone? The main reason I want to dye my hair is to cover gray and same time lighten little.
Thanks for your help!
Rebekah
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The grey busters covers the grey, but to get a nicer color you also use regular color--because all of your hair isn't grey. The developer is what lightens your hair. There are 20 (supposed to lift 2 levels) -30 (3 levels) - and 40 (4 levels) vol. Higher vol too, but I've only worked with those three. Remember though that the more you lift the more brass you have when the color fades after a few washes.
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I think your color is beautiful. How did you get that with moongold? the swatch seems so dark. I would love to get that color.
I don't know the level of my real color but definitely a mousy brown with a lot of red in it. (I HATE red --for me anyway). I currently either bleach my roots or use hi-lift color, then use 9N+9GB redken eq for 5 mins as toner. Every time I do it it is a different color, but one I can live with. My hair is very pourous, fine and thin with some grays at bangs and now a few thruout head.
Any ideas how I go from me to you?
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Yes, the moongold looks dark, but it's really not that dark on me anyway. I usually dye my hair with moongold and 25 or 30 vol. then I apply highlights around my face every three months or so. I also use toners to keep the color nice. I think my original color is lightest golden brown...almost a dark blonde color. My original color is pretty light, I think.
So you want this gold color, huh? The best way to get it is to really know your virgin color of hair and then strand test the different colors out there.
If your hair is a mousy brown, then bleaching and toning is the way to go. Try toning with Born Blonde Happy Honey, it's what I have been using lately to keep my color toned.
If you want to get the same color, then you need to stick to the same method or color for a few months, then things will even out. Stay away from high-lift colors, they give more brass or red as you call it. I'd start bleaching the roots to the light blonde toning level (I think it's yellow--that's what I bleach to for my highlights) http://www.robertcraig.com/php/index.php?location=ultrablond, and then toning with Happy Honey. I think this might be a start for you. You could blend in a few lighter highlights using Excellence Cremelights, it's a gentler, self toning bleach, and what I use for my highlights.
I think the color that I have is a light golden blonde, which means it's going to have some red in it and be warm, which I do like. The pic above was right after I toned my hair with the happy honey.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
Edited by Rebekah - October 21 2007 at 1:42pm
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Thank you Rebekah!! I did bleach roots yesterday and used 3parts 9GB + one part 9NB redken eq for 5 mins. It is a pretty color but all wrong for me. I need to tone it down particularly b/c I no longer have a tan. I have that dreaded skin color that is pasty white and needs warmer colors.
I absolutely love your hair color and will try what you do. I don't think i'll need 45 mins tho as my hair grabs color real fast. If I were to put a 8n on it now, it would come out a level 5 or so.
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. I let that grow out, I was afraid to dye it again. My hairdresser suggested I get highlights to cover grey. I did that for years and I loved it. The only problem is I have too many greys now and the highlights aren't covering them. So, now my hair is dark brown, grey and growing out blonde/reddish highlights. 
