Please? Just a suggestion or two? I'm begging...
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=43626
Printed Date: October 05 2025 at 5:08pm
Topic: Please? Just a suggestion or two? I'm begging...
Posted By: KatGrrl
Subject: Please? Just a suggestion or two? I'm begging...
Date Posted: May 23 2006 at 4:38pm
Nobody seems to be replying-- I don't know if it's because there is no solution for growing out color without looking like a two toned freak or what. Please help if you can. I need low maintenence natural hair again, at least to be in a place so I can just do highlights, not all over color.
I've been red for a while-- Garnier Nutrisse in Hot Tamale. I am naturally a dark blonde/light brown, with golden streaks. Anyway, I'm living in Hawaii now and I'm in the water all the time, which screws my color. Plus it seems to be growing really fast (prenatal vitamins) so my roots show after about two weeks, looking quite tacky.
Here's the dilemma-- I just want to go back to my natural color and quit dying all together-- cold turkey, baby. But I don't want to look super funny, with the red (rapidly fading, I might add) and the brown roots. Oh yeah, my hair is shoulder length, roots about 1 inch grown out so far, and it's very thick and doesn't grow in length very fast it seems (though the roots seem to be growng madly). Anyway, in a burst of idiocy today, I decided to color over the red/brown with a brownish to look less funny.
So I used L'oreal Feria 63, Sparkling Amber, which is light golden brown. Pretty close to my natural shade, I'd have to say. And all it did is turn my tips browner, the middle section redder, and the roots brassy blond. Big oops.
Oh yeah, my hair is shoulder length, and I plan on cutting it very short once I get the color thing worked out-- chin length, which would lose me about three inches overall of now fairly damaged ends. So that'll be good.
I know the best answer is patience, but my parents are visiting in a few weeks and I'd rather look semi normal for pics and stuff. Plus, I don't really enjoy walking around like a multi-colored crazy person.
Oh yeah, another thing: can't afford a pro, so don't even taunt me with that. Here on Kauai it's either spa (really expensive) or Fantastic Sams (and I'd rather take my chances with DIY after seeing what they did to my husband and son, and that was just hair cuts). I can't seem to find a good stylist just for a cut, let alone color. It's a real problem.
I think the simple answer is to use I guess that Colorfix stuff (which people keep referencing but I can't seem to find anywhere) and then tint over with brown that's close to my natural color (or maybe even a little darker?), but I'm scared and I tried something like that once before a long time ago and ended up with bright orange tresses which a friend who owns a salon had to fix. But that was in Sac and I think a $600 flight is a little out of my budget range.
Oh yeah, and to top it all off, there aren't any beauty supply stores on Kauai that I can find-- K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and Longs are about it. Which isn't a lot. There's a Macy's though, and they have some stuff at Super Cuts and Fantastic Sams (salon products) and also at some of the spas I think, but common products still might be difficult to find.
Please help if you can.
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Peace out
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Replies:
Posted By: KarenNJ
Date Posted: May 24 2006 at 7:53pm
Hi KatGrrl,
Well, given that your red is fading, you don't have a beauty supply store available, etc., and you're trying to grow out your natural color... I do have ann "unconventional" suggestion.
Now, bear with me through this... I promise I'm not trying to turn you from a "two-toned freak" into a "three-toned freak!" ;)
I think the part about getting back to your natural color that's causing you the most "pain" is the line of demarcation where the roots are growing in. I think if you can do something to break up that harsh line, you'll be in much better shape!
So... that being said... you can break up that line with streaks of another color. The real question is... what color?
To figure that out, consider your current color level. How dark is the red that's fading? Is it darker than your natual color? Or the same level, but just red? If it's not darker, I'd suggest trying to pull through some small strands (almost as if you were foil highlighting - but a lot of small strands) of a color that's close to your natural color - it doesn't necessarily need to be exact.
Once you break up that line of demarcation with streaks of color, the line will be significantly softened.
However, if the red is darker than your natural color, a highlighting kit would probably be a better option.
Of course, ALWAYS do a strand test first - and don't leave the color on the ends for too long.
As your hair grows, you can continue to do this as needed - but with fewer strands each time until it's no longer necessary.
I've used this technique when trying to grow out my hair color before. My color combination was different, though. I think it will work for you, but the hardest part will be to determine the "right" color to use for the best results.
I hope this helps. Whatever you end up doing, good luck!
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Posted By: KatGrrl
Date Posted: May 24 2006 at 8:15pm
Hi Karen,
Thanks for your reply :-)
It does help-- at least, it's an idea. I guess the main problem is that my red isn't one color, it's like five. I know that sounds crazy and I have no idea how I did it, but basically something happened and it's brownish red on the bottom ends (which I hope to get rid of anyway), sort of a pinkish red in the middle and orangy red at the top. Then the roots are a weird brassy blondish color. I know, it's insane. I guess the real trouble is that when I tried to dye over it with the brown tint, it didn't take at all. I mean it didn't change the color of anything but the roots, so I guess it didn't "stick" or whatever, to any of it.
They have Loreal Color Removal kit at Longs-- I was thinking maybe to try using that to get the red "out" (I know it will turn it a light orangey first) and then tint over with a brown close to my natural shade. When that starts to grow out and show the line of demarcation, then maybe the weaving in some strands thing will help keep it from looking crazy. But this Color removal kit-- never tried it before, so I'm scared also and not sure what it'll do to me :-)
Bottom line-- I'd like to get back to having a minimum of one color on the bottom and then my natural roots, and then do the strandy thing, without completely frying the hell out of my hair (which it's probably to late for, but you know). Also the mad hassle that this is all going to be gives me a headache, and I'm scared to start a giant hair project without at least some idea of what possibly might happen. Ug. It's all so scary and dramatic :-)
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Peace out
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Posted By: KarenNJ
Date Posted: May 24 2006 at 8:48pm
LOL! Ok - sorry to laugh, but your description of the various reds was just way too funny!
I haven't used the Loreal brand color remover before, but a color remover would seriously be your best option! Even if I hadn't heard about your current 5 reds, I'd suggest that over the strand option, since you have it available. Seriously - removing all that dye and getting to an even-toned "pumpkin" color really can't be any worse, can it? ;)
A couple of other tips:
Use a clarifying shampoo before you get started on this project.
Use a porosity treatment first, if available. If not, do some intensive deep-condtioning.
When you removed the color, make sure you get it evenly removed. Touch up areas that need it so you're starting with an even base.
When it's time to add color, strand test first!
Remember the ends will soak up color a lot faster than the rest of your hair. (That's why the ends are a weird brownish color now.) Be careful and only pull it to the ends for the last 10 minutes or so. Pay close attention with the strand test.
Again... Good luck!
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Posted By: KatGrrl
Date Posted: May 24 2006 at 9:30pm
I think that sounds like a good idea. And if the ends are really bad, I plan on cutting them off anyway so it's no big thing. I guess it's the fear of getting it evenly removed-- will I have to do the color remover more than once or what?
For the tint that goes over, what do you think of Feria? My normal color is a little iffy (it changed five years ago when my son was born). I used to be a very natural golden blonde-- darker, but with natural highlights. After Isaiah was born, it turned to a darker blonde/light brown shade, not exactly sure how to describe it. I think it could be called more ash and less warm, if that makes sense. I want to try and match it as close as possible so that when it grows out I can do the strand thing you suggested and make it less traumatic. Also, what if the color fades later? Will it go back to red? Or orange? With the mad amounts of salt water I expose it to, it's no wonder it turns funny colors all the time. Such a mess. Maybe I should just shave my whole head and start over from scratch. :-)
Thanks again for all your advice-- I get so lost at sea with all the talk of this that and vol 10 developer and all that stuff-- I just want to know how to fix my dumb mistakes :-)
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Peace out
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Posted By: KatGrrl
Date Posted: May 24 2006 at 9:57pm
Oh yeah, and if you're wondering about the craziness of hairs changing color spontaneously, let me tell ya-- it happens. When you have kids. Not even kidding. In addition to stretch marks, an unfortunate side effect of the hormonal changes included in childbirth is the possibility that you will wake up in the morning with a line of demarcation on hair that's never before been dyed. I've seen it happen, and it's scary. :-) Freakish even. My OBGYN said it happens all the time, but nobody told me (it wasn't in the manual) and if they had I might have reconsidered the whole thing :-) OK, kidding, I never would have. But still, it's random and bizzare for sure. :-)
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Peace out
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Posted By: hannebash
Date Posted: May 25 2006 at 10:47am
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You simply broke the golden rule of haircolor: one cannot lighten haircolor with haircolor. You wanted to take that dark red color to a lighter, brown color and all you really did was deposit more color onto the old color. Your virgin roots were dye-able but the rest was not. Honestly, the best thing for this situation is colorfix and then a protein filler and the appropriate color (in a semi or demi permanent). If you do not have access to a protein filler, you can take a tube of haircolor and don't add the developer. Just work that into your hair for about 20 minutes, then apply another tube of color, mixed with the developer. Your hair will be porous, so choose a color slightly lighter than what you desire. This worked for me and I was able to grow out my hair with no noticeable rootss.
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Posted By: KarenNJ
Date Posted: May 26 2006 at 7:42pm
I've never used Feria. Sorry I can't be much help there!
As for future fading... let's hope it doesn't fade! But if it does, you can freshen up the color by applying the same color again - just not nearly as long (about 10 minutes or so).
Just try to make sure you keep doing a lot of deep conditioning after having put your hair through all of this "torture."
:)
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Posted By: Bryan
Date Posted: May 28 2006 at 3:01pm
heres my two cents. when you go to the store and pick out the brown color, pick the one that matches your hair based on the model on the box, then go two shades lighter than that color. when you put the brown tint over the hair where the color has been removed it will go darker than you want, hence the lighter color.
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learn to love what you were born with
you can do anything if you set your mindto it (just dont try this with hair,that could turn out bad)
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Posted By: KatGrrl
Date Posted: May 28 2006 at 4:34pm
No roots? Surely you jest :-) That would be my ultimate dream :-)
OK so what you're saying is I should buy two boxes of the same color and use just the tube color, not the little squirt bottle thingie (developer) with the first one, then the second one as normal, right? After the Color Remover or whatever. Just making sure I get it right :-) But some of them, like feria I think, don't have a tube, just a bottle that's liquid, and you add it to the other one, plus a little extra thing of some kind of avacado oil conditioning stuff (not the conditioner you use after, but like another kind...) It's hard to explain, but I think Garnier Nutrisse (which is what I've been using for the red) has the tube but also the little extra packet thing, so do I just use the tube, not the other two components?
Also, do you have a recommendation on the type of color I should use --demi perm, perm, ammonia free, or what? I really really want to get this right, you know what I mean? Sounds like you've had success in the past, which is a good thing. Thanks for your reply, too (and everyone's) I really appreciate it. :-)
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Peace out
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Posted By: KatGrrl
Date Posted: May 28 2006 at 4:37pm
And for Bryan, here's a question: since I've colored unevenly and I have lots of different places where the amount of color is different for some reason-- either deposited differently or faded out at a different rate-- do you think I have any chance whatsoever of getting all my hair the same color (or close enough)? As mentioned above, I have about five different bizzaro shades going on, and I really just want to be normal. Also my parents are coming on June 6 so I want to have it all pretty by then, also I am planning on cutting the bottom three inches.
Thanks,
K
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Peace out
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Posted By: KarenNJ
Date Posted: May 28 2006 at 4:53pm
When you use the color remover, make sure you haircolor is even before adding more color. So if some spots are darker, put the color remover on those spots again. (As the instructions will indicate.)
For the filler, use a semi-permanent. Use just the color - toss the developer and any other additives. (Personally, I've only done this once. Typically I don't need it, but many people swear by it. It depends on how many levels darker you're trying to go from where you end up after using the color remover.)
I'm not familliar with the boxed colors in drug stores, but I caution you not to pick up anything that boasts a quick, 10-minute total processing time. Those colors are very damaging to the hair and only look good for a couple of weeks. I agree with Bryan - go lighter than the box.
Remember - deep conditioner... strand test first... and only leave on the ends for the last 1 minutes. :)
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Posted By: Bryan
Date Posted: May 28 2006 at 5:05pm
karens got it right. i would buy two boxes of the color remover. apply it all over first, then figure out which part of your hair is the lightes in color (be it the roots, the middle or the ends, doubtful on the ends) and remember the step i just mentioned is after all of the hair has been processed with the color remover. then after you have determined which part turned out lightest, re-apply the color remover to the parts that are darker,and process untill they come out even with the lightest parts.
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learn to love what you were born with
you can do anything if you set your mindto it (just dont try this with hair,that could turn out bad)
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