ok, first let me start with saying that i've been scanning through this forum and i've picked up a lot of great advice/tips...but i'm still not sure so i would like some advice.

 

About 3 weeks ago, I dyed my hair (not the first time) using a drugstore Loreal base color and highliting kit- it was a level 6 medium ash brown with highlights.  Well, NOW, i know that color doesn't lift color and i understand my end result which is this reddish /brown/orange color with a few gold highlites...  (i'm trying to put up a pic, but it's erroring...)

I would say its about a level 4 now, and i'm wanting it about a level 6.

 

anyways, what i want is a medium ash brown base (no red tints) so that i can do some highlites... I just want a nice light brown color with a mix of light brown/dark blond (but not golden) highlites.

 

here's what i was thinking of doing- using a 10 vol with a demi-perm 4 or 5 Ash as a tonor.  But, i'm wondering if i did this, since i have red and orange, if i need a blue/green tonor??? then would i have to mix say 3 parts 5A and 1 part 5G to get a blue/green correcting color?

 

OR.. i've seen lots of people using color zap. I've done this in the past (not colorzap but removing dyed color) and i know i'll get probably a lighter orange result, but i'm wondering where i would go from there?

 

Basically is it better to color zap and then do some sort of toning/lifting or would toning now work, then doing some bleach for highlights (and then probably toning those, as i'm sure they will pull warm also).

 

Any ideas?

 

I think from what i've read, i'm going to sally's now to get some shampoo with the blue tint to see if that will take some of the red out, and also a deep conditioner. I'd like to do this yesterday, but i can be patient and condition my hair while i wait on replies!

 

thanks all for any help!!