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Introduction and color questions

Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Hair Talk
Forum Name: Hair Color
Forum Description: The tricks and tribulations of changing your hair color
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=38301
Printed Date: November 23 2025 at 7:31am


Topic: Introduction and color questions
Posted By: Roxay
Subject: Introduction and color questions
Date Posted: December 22 2005 at 10:43pm
Hi everyone, I'm new here :)

Anyways, I have a long set of questions about hair dye.

My natural color is basically a dark blonde with some red in it. It might or might not be called strawberry blonde, it's sort of a golden color.

I've been trying to get my hair to the color I want for some time now, which is a medium or possibly dark (but not too dark) brown color. I also want it to be quite ash, and not auburn or have any brassiness to it.

I also have my hair permanently straightened, so I want to try to do this in a gentle, but affordable way.

The last time I dyed my hair "medium ash brown" and it looked great at first. Basically it turned a very chocolatey brown color, and dark, but not quite dark enough to be mistaken for black. It's been quite a few months ago now though, and it's all but faded completely

I want to get that color back, but I want to keep it the color it turned out to be right after it was dyed. About 6 weeks after I had dyed it, it turned to sort of an auburn color, and it's been getting lighter ever since.

I try to follow the rules to keep my hair color longer, like not going in the sun too much, not going in swimming pools, not shampooing every day, and using a color safe shampoo and conditioner (I'm still trying to find a really good one here, all the ones I've used still seem to strip color). Someone once suggested brunette expressions by Pantene to me, but the regular color safe Pantene I tried really dried out my hair, and I'm worried the brunette expressions might do the same thing.

Another thing I've thought of trying is going a little darker to try to preserve the color. Dark ash brown is definetly too dark though, it looks almost black on me, which makes me look goth or something. I wonder if a "4.5" (medium ash brown and dark ash brown mixed) would be ok though.

The other thing I've thought about is asking a stylist if I can use a temporary (semi or demi permanent) color at home between dyes to keep my color looking like it did right out of the salon. My stylist who just restraightened my hair actually suggested that I skip going to salons for permanent dye and just use temporary hair color at home (partly because it's less damaging). I'm worried about several things if I go that route though, ie: different companies have slightly different hair colors from their dyes, I don't want to get the dye in my eyes, I'm worried about leaving the dye on too short or too long and not getting the right color, and I'm worried about getting the dye into the hair evenly.

Can anyone advise what to do? Should I only use stylists to dye my hair, and use lots of permanent color? Should I use permanent color (from a stylist every so often) and use a semi/demi-permanent color inbetween, or should I go entirely to semi/demi-permanent colors at home, and if so, what should I watch out for, how hard is it to do, and what should I watch out for?

Thanks in advance!



Replies:
Posted By: Rebekah
Date Posted: December 23 2005 at 5:45pm

Can anyone advise what to do?

"Should I only use stylists to dye my hair, and use lots of permanent color?"

What do you mean by lots of permanent color?

"Should I use permanent color (from a stylist every so often) and use a semi/demi-permanent color inbetween"

This sounds like the best option. Toning mousses are also a good option for in between root touch ups.  I like Igora Toning Mousse myself.

"go entirely to semi/demi-permanent colors at home, and if so, what should I watch out for, how hard is it to do, and what should I watch out for?"

If you go entirely to semi/demi at home I think the color won't last as long.  But you can try this as a less damaging option.  I would do this if you are coloring your hair very close to your own natural color.  Do the permanent and demi if you are slightly lightening your own hair color. 

Good luck and strand test prior to doing the entire head




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