Hey y'all. I've always used Permanent Color, but I'm now using a Demi. I know that it's better to use Permanent color on hair that's not recently washed (presumably to protect the scalp by using it's own oils). Is it necessary for Demi's too? For one thing, I'm not doing my roots/new growth, just my previously colored hair. Secondly, aren't the Demi's less harsh since they don't have ammonia?

So, I'm just wondering.......can I color with Demi on 'clean' hair and still get a desired result?

I think it's best to color on clean hair whether it's a demi or permanent color.  If you have product build-up, that would prevent any dye getting to where you need it to go.

Goodluck!  BTW, do you have luck with demi on top of permanent (I know you're not doing roots)?  When I used to do demi on permanent to refresh the color, it never worked.  Maybe because I have very dark hair to start with?

Also, I've read in Paula Begouns famous "hair book", "Don't Go Shopping for Hair Products Without Me", that demi is just as harmful to hair as permanent, because they both need to deposit color into the hair shaft, and for that to happen, hair will be damaged.  And that includes whether the dye has amonia or not. 

Thanks y'all. It made more sense to me because of the difference between demi and permanent. My scalp is not sensitive at all! 

eatgreenjello wrote: BTW, do you have luck with demi on top of permanent (I know you're not doing roots)?  When I used to do demi on permanent to refresh the color, it never worked.  Maybe because I have very dark hair to start with?

My hair was extra light platinum for over a year. It took using filler for it to hold any color at all. It's been a gradual process to get my hair back to my natural color which appears to be between an 8N and 9N blonde (I have one or two steps more). Because of my porousity, demi's act more like permanents.

aubergine wrote: eatgreenjello wrote: I think it's best to color on clean hair whether it's a demi or permanent color.  If you have product build-up, that would prevent any dye getting to where you need it to go. Unless you have a bit of a sensitive scalp - as I experienced yesterday with Nice N Easy!  I dyed my hair almost immediately after washing it, which was really stupid as I didn't have nay natural oils to protect my roots or scalp, and it stung.  It's nothing to do with allergies because I did the allergy test for Nice N Easy and I've used about 10 different brands of dyes and never had the problem before.

Oh dear, when I said color clean hair, I didn't mean to color it right after washing.  I meant to use a clarifying shampoo the day before you color, with no products, and then dye the next day.

I've added a second pic to my signature that shows the color now (after some more lowlights). It's a little too warm to match my natural color, so the next one I'm using is more ash. The picture is a little misleading due to the lighting.....it's not that golden. You can see the new growth......and this was a couple of weeks ago. In the proper light you can see the neutral/ash tones and a few natural very light blonde highlights in my new growth(which I'm praying aren't grey hairs ).

I'm not sure my boys (bf, my son and his son) are crazy about the darker blonde, but TOUGH! I'm tired of jacking with it.

Alayney wrote: Well, you know what they ... "you can't please everybody all the time ..." As long at YOU'RE happy. LOL! YOU have a son who has a son??? I didn't know you were a grandmaw! I guess they come pretty young nowdays. LOL!

LMAO! Ooops. I meant MY son and my BF'S son. hehe....sorry.