You can't put color over previously colored hair and have it lighten. Color does NOT lift previously colored hair. It will only make it darker and darker and darker and eventually BLACK!

Step away from the hair dyes and start deep conditioning your hair to help restore the moisture these chemical processes are stripping out of your hair. If you keep doing this and then bleaching then dyeing, etc you will start to experience breakage at or near the scalp and then you won't be happy.

aubergine wrote: Hi, This was great, but the colour wasn't staying in very well, so i've tried different dyes and tones for the last few months.

Statements like this in your first post are a good indication that your hair is overprocessed regardless of how it feels. When color fades quickly it is a sign that the cuticle layer or the outter layer of the hair strand is damaged. Color does fade over time but it shouldn't fade quickly. If you have color washing out of your hair for days after you color it that is not normal. I'd hafta see your hair to make an appropriate evaluation of the condition of it but my advice is stay away from dyes, bleaches, etc for a long time. Conditioning your hair doesn't repair damage it only makes it managable until it grows out to the point where you can cut off the damaged hair. 

here is the advice I once got when my hair was seriously damaged, I mean SERIOUSLY damaged! Go to a good professional. not your $10 hair cut special place, go to a spa, or nice high quality salon. Tell them your situation, and let them know, you are focused on te health of your hair. Let them know you need it lighter...  see, your hair needs to be healthy so it will not break, but it is true, your hair is dead the minute it appears... so tell your professional what color you want to be at, and that your concern is your hairs health. They can lighten it, and tone it for you. In between, use a wash in rinse out color restorer to add a little zing so that you can heal your hair in between colorings.  This will give your hair a chance to smooth over and condition and tame itself. waiting for your hair to grow and cut it, isnt going to make you happy and for most people, waiting years for a foot of hair color is not desireable.  Stay focused on your hairs health and work with a professional to lighten it to a nice color or suitable color, as gently as possible. They can deep condition it and get it to a place in its health and color that will make you happy.  Make sure you are open minded about your budget.... when I had my disaster it took more than $100 and four hours to look "normal" again.  Just make sure you go to a good professional, they CAN help you get what you want.

well, you always ahve the option of going and seeing what it would take financially....   go and see a reputable professional, and see whta she would charge you to get it the way you want again.... it may not be too expensive after all.....     I only gave you my experience because it was what I went through, but I GUARANTEE, your hair is not in any way, in the place that mine was! I had a professional who had eben coloring my hair for more than 7 years, and I went to her for a perm....  she used the wrong  kind and left it on too long. It was a disaster.  I started thinking about that last night actually, given the damage I had to may hair, $100 dollars wasnt too bad, but believe me when I tell you, it was something right out of a 1970's disco movie afro puff! It was breaking off at the scalp, it was dreadful! But, I went to a place a friend recommended, and the woman who took me in made my hair look soft and shiny and like hair again, instead of like some joke wig.

It may just cost you the cost of coloring and deep conditioning, depending on the length of your hair, it could be anywhere from $20-50.....  but go and find out. Christmas is among us, and you know how family is about getting us what we want, hint to everyone, for christmas, you want your hair done at such and such a place, and I would bet you will have enough money or gift certificates to have it done.

Another option, go and talk to a beauty salon that is also a beauty supply store.... places that have a real store and salon will know what you can do on your own, on your budget ( because you are there to tell them) and they will obviously be able to see your hair and know if it will stand up to what you want to do, as well as have the product you need right there for purchase.  You may be able to lift some of the dye of with a much lighter color.... it has been said color does not lift color, but I have found in my YEARS of dying, it will not ever bleach your hair, you can not ever go truly blonde, but color can certainly lighten it a few shades! It's not supposed to, but it does. I have proof :)  Go to the store and ask them.... not just a "sally's" or seomthing like that... nothing wrong with that store except the employees there have limited product knowledge. They do not have to go to beauty school or qualified training to be there, they know what  they have and what it does but are not quite qualified to evaluate what is right for everyone... I am sure some of them are, but better to do it right the first time.