colour stripping.

[rachel060186]

Does anyone have any information on stripping colour out of your hair to return it to its natural colour?? Thinking about returning my hair to its natural colour so I don't have to chemically dye it anymore.

[curlsgirl]

What color is it naturally, what color did you dye it and what kind of dye did you use?

[rachel060186]

Bless you curlgirl you always try and answer my 100,000.000 questions a day. .... lol

Natural colour.... erm ... not really sure.... Last time it was natural it was quite blonde but then I dyed it red (didn't like it at all) and dyed it back blonde and have continued to dye it blonde ever since because the roots seemed to grow back really dark (no sun bleaching them I guess)

I last used Garnier Nutrisse. but have used hundreds of different dyes over the years

[curlsgirl]

Ha ha, well I certainly can relate. I can tell you what I know because I have been there myself. I did the same thing. Only mostly mine has been blonde. My natural hair is medium brown and I had dyed so long that all of the color was out of my hair literally. I went to a professional hairdresser 2 times and told her I wanted to go back closer to my natural color. I tried to put on a darker one myself and it would not stay due to all the "pigment" being gone out of my hair. A professional generally has better products and can make it "stay" better. I used a color sealer both times I went (got it from Sally's full of cones but it really did "seal" the color). My hair was a little darker than I wanted so I started touching up the roots with a medium blond instead of the darkers color. It blended beautiful because the other color had faded a bit. Now I still color but only the roots and only about 2 levels which is a lot less damaging. I LOVE it. It was a shock to get rid of the light blond at first but my hair is much happier and people say it looks much better.

Okay, so in a nutshell. If you try to do it yourself, be very careful. You could do it but just remember 2 things. I would let your roots grow out and get someone to look at them and tell you exactly what color your natural color is. Then when you buy a color get it lighter than you think you need (it always shows up darker). One thing you might consider is a "demi-perm" color (Natural Instincts, Loreal Color spa) but still be careful because it might not work (wash right out) or it might hang on to your hair like permanent (even though it says 24 shampoos). If you can possibly do it, I would recommend spending the money and going to a professional colorist at least once at a good salon. It is very hard to get light blonde hair back to its natural color. I wouldn't want you to mess it up. HUGS! DON'T GIVE UP!!! :lafhard:

[rachel060186]

I would go to a colourist to get it done. I jsut don't really know if I would like its natural colour - but I don't wanna keep damaging it by colouring it.

Does just colouring roots every couple of months damage hair alot?

[curlsgirl]

Does just colouring roots every couple of months damage hair alot?Well anything that has peroxide in it (lightens hair) damages it a little but a lot of beautiful haired girls on LHC use color and only on their roots. They usually don't do anything else abusive to their hair which is what I have started doing (no heat or VERY occasionally) very gentle care other wise. Some of course use henna, you might check that out. That was too dark for me. If you get your hair closer to its color, you will need less peroxide to get it there and always the less peroxide the less damaging. I wish you could see the pics of Justgreen and Carolyn on LHC, they both use color and their hair is gorgeous. I know there a more, just those 2 come to mind because they have longer blondish hair. Justgreen just gets highlights and of course that is less damaging but still gives you a change from your color if you think it is too drab. Since you are 20, maybe you could give your natural color a try and then if it is too bla for you, get some hightlights later. Give it a chance though. It will be a huge change at first. But it is a small price to pay for healthier hair. BTW, you should never color your whole head of hair, only the roots, if you are not wanting to change the overall color. I don't even pull it through like they say to. It is very hard on already colored hair and you really don't need it. Did that help at all? Others will chime in I am sure. I hope Justgreen sees this and some of the others who do it themselves. Justgreen gets hers done professionally I think but only every couple of months.

[summer-time]

rachel060186- New growth is virgin hair,dying it isn't going to hurt it.
Its dying the same hair again and again thats damaging.
When you do roots, don't pull the color through- or redye the rest of your hair again.:)















"I tried to put on a darker one myself and it would not stay due to all the "pigment" being gone out of my hair. A professional generally has better products and can make it "stay" better. I used a color sealer both times I went (got it from Sally's full of cones but it really did "seal" the color)."




curlsgirl - When you used the color, you didn't put pigment back in- or a filler, thats why it didn't work.
The colorist put pigment back in that was taken out previously, thats why her color stayed, and much of the time that will fade somewhat and the dark color has to be reapplied for about 20-25 min. It's called a Tintback- :)

[rachel060186]

I have seen Justgreen (spent a lot of time reading on LHC) and I agree with you, she has absolutely stunning hair. I think I will go to my stylist next time I have a trim and see what she thinks my natural colour actually is. I tried to dye it darker myself once and it didn't work at all. I love the thought of not colouring my hair. (especially because I haven't found a colour that I really like yet)

[curlsgirl]

curlsgirl - When you used the color, you didn't put pigment back in- or a filler, thats why it didn't work.
The colorist put pigment back in that was taken out previously, thats why her color stayed, and much of the time that will fade somewhat and the dark color has to be reapplied for about 20-25 min. It's called a Tintback- :)Actually I did put a filler in because they told me to at Sally's but it still didn't do very well. :ooh: Still washed off pretty quickly though. And it made my hair feel awful and dry. Maybe I didn't do it right. :notsure:

[summer-time]

Actually I did put a filler in because they told me to at Sally's but it still didn't do very well. :ooh: Still washed off pretty quickly though. And it made my hair feel awful and dry. Maybe I didn't do it right. :notsure:




What did the girl tell you to do? What products did she show you?

[curlsgirl]

What did the girl tell you to do? What products did she show you?Let's see, it has been a while but I remember getting a small white bottle with red lettering that said "protein filler". I think I put it all over my hair, can't remember if I rinsed or not before coloring don't think so, then colored the whole length of my hair. It looked great until I washed it the first time and then gradually washed almost all off in 3 or 4 washes like a temporary color. I used permanent color (Loreal Excellence creme). I have since found that ION makes a color sealer (has cones though) that REALLY helps seal the color on. I don't have to use it anymore since I only do roots now and the liquid stays really well on virgin hair. Anyway, that protein filler made my hair feel terrible, I guess because it was "filling" the cuticle? Anyway, ick. I am glad I got my hair straightened out though. Might have been because I had lightened my hair for so long? It was pretty "bleached" even though I hadn't used 2 process bleaching.

[summer-time]

Let's see, it has been a while but I remember getting a small white bottle with red lettering that said "protein filler". I think I put it all over my hair, can't remember if I rinsed or not before coloring don't think so, then colored the whole length of my hair. It looked great until I washed it the first time and then gradually washed almost all off in 3 or 4 washes like a temporary color. I used permanent color (Loreal Excellence creme). I have since found that ION makes a color sealer (has cones though) that REALLY helps seal the color on. I don't have to use it anymore since I only do roots now and the liquid stays really well on virgin hair. Anyway, that protein filler made my hair feel terrible, I guess because it was "filling" the cuticle? Anyway, ick. I am glad I got my hair straightened out though. Might have been because I had lightened my hair for so long? It was pretty "bleached" even though I hadn't used 2 process bleaching.




If your bleaching new growth only, there shouldn't be a problem. Some pull the bleach through- Never ever do that, that causes breakage.

All a double process is- bleach and tone. The toner doesn't do anything but tone the brass out with slight tone. You can use an actual toner, they don't last long and you have to retone. A demi lasts longer, and a permanent color, will be permanent- your hair might even grab the base color from the color you are using, but that will fade after a few washings.


When I said filler I meant a color to fill in the missing pigment that was removed from your hair when you bleached. If your going dark as in the brunettes, you would use either a strawberry blonde, to a shade of red before using your dark color depending on what level your going to.

When you bleach hair, the bleach decolorizes- removes pigment and your hair goes through color changes as your bleaching. You can watch the color changes in the mirror as it is decolorizing.


Just an EX: If you want a level 5 medium brown- you'd use a level 7 strawberry blonde, or a 6 light red to fill the hair. Then after you'd use the level 5 medium brown. The level red depends on the level dark you want.

Now when dealing with bleached hair- tintbacks are notorious for fading.
If you don't use a filler color first, even more so.
Most of the time when doing a tintback, after the initial coloring, you will have to reapply the dark color maybe a week or two later depending on how much fade, other wise you will end up with blonde again.
After a second coloring with the brunette color, it should be permanent.

Also she should have suggested a demi red and a demi brunette( NI, Color Spa, a demi line from Sally's)- not permanent colors such as Excellence.

You need to put color back, a demi is a deposit only which is what bleached hair needs.

[curlsgirl]

If your bleaching new growth only, there shouldn't be a problem. Some pull the bleach through- Never ever do that, that causes breakage.

All a double process is- bleach and tone. The toner doesn't do anything but tone the brass out with slight tone. You can use an actual toner, they don't last long and you have to retone. A demi lasts longer, and a permanent color, will be permanent- your hair might even grab the base color from the color you are using, but that will fade after a few washings.


When I said filler I meant a color to fill in the missing pigment that was removed from your hair when you bleached. If your going dark as in the brunettes, you would use either a strawberry blonde, to a shade of red before using your dark color depending on what level your going to.

When you bleach hair, the bleach decolorizes- removes pigment and your hair goes through color changes as your bleaching. You can watch the color changes in the mirror as it is decolorizing.


Just an EX: If you want a level 5 medium brown- you'd use a level 7 strawberry blonde, or a 6 light red to fill the hair. Then after you'd use the level 5 medium brown. The level red depends on the level dark you want.

Now when dealing with bleached hair- tintbacks are notorious for fading.
If you don't use a filler color first, even more so.
Most of the time when doing a tintback, after the initial coloring, you will have to reapply the dark color maybe a week or two later depending on how much fade, other wise you will end up with blonde again.
After a second coloring with the brunette color, it should be permanent.

Also she should have suggested a demi red and a demi brunette( NI, Color Spa, a demi line from Sally's)- not permanent colors such as Excellence.

You need to put color back, a demi is a deposit only which is what bleached hair needs.Wow, thanks for the info! I remember hearing something about that type of filling with another color from my haircolorist that finally did my color. I think I am glad I went to someone. I don't think I have the patience to do what you described! Anyway, live and learn right? I will never go that light again. Well until I get all gray maybe and it is too hard to make it darker :lafhard:

[justgreen]

I would go to a colourist to get it done. I jsut don't really know if I would like its natural colour - but I don't wanna keep damaging it by colouring it.

Does just colouring roots every couple of months damage hair alot?

I get my roots foiled about every two months with no damage. When the colorist washes my hair afterward, she uses my products I take with me. I always take a batch of SMT and she uses that in place of their conditioners.

[spiraleeee]

From my experience, even when trying for a darker color, there is some bleaching, which leaves the hair lighter than before when the tint fades out.
I think color can be pulled more gently with oils. If you are trying to go back to your natural color, I would try a heavy oiling with mineral oil, apply heat, and then wash, then using darkening herbs as a rinse to even out the color. I think mugglemomof3 has had some good success with coffee rinses. Also rosemary, sage, amla, clove, black walnut (I have some of this that I am not using) work to darken hair.

I evened out my hair with henna and indigo, and am thrilled with the results. This has given me a black color, which I gather from your post is not your goal, so I won't suggest it. Others have had good results with henna, but again, since you said you didn't like the red, I won't suggest that either.
But I will definitely advise against further dying. I did one last ditch attempt to dye back to my natural color which worked out fantastically--for about a week, and then the dye faded out and my hair was in worse condition and more uneven than ever. Then I discovered henna and that was that.

[AshenLady]

Anything to do with lightening, I let the hairdressers do it. I went from dyed brunette to my natural gray. It took well over a year, as I don't like short hair, but it is now well worth the effort.

No more, regrowth lines, no more runnning to the shop and actually, I look blonde anyway, and I am gonna let my hair grow at least my mid back.

That's about as long as it grows pretty much anyway. I need to get a little trim soon.

[pietri]

I have a stupid question: what mineral oil would you use? I know mineral oils can be in creams and stuff, but can't think of any mineral oil that I could buy separately?

[avery]

I have a stupid question: what mineral oil would you use? I know mineral oils can be in creams and stuff, but can't think of any mineral oil that I could buy separately?

Baby oil is mineral oil, pietri.

[hairfitness101]

Summertime, when you say filler, are you referring to tube color (straight from the tube and no mixing) and leaving it on for 10 min. or so? And then rubbing it off before actual coloring? When I went to beauty school, we learned so little about color its pathetic-that's the way we were taught. I've been my own guinea pig for quite some time. :depressed:-Don't worry, I'm not doing it professionally so you can all rest easy. :sweatdrop: You seem to be quite informed about color so any tips you have are welcome.

Also, if I can chime in with my own color question (a little hijack here-sorry), I am currently at a beige blonde wanting to go back to a light ash brown/dark ash blonde. I hate red on me. Is it still necessary to add red back in because of the stages of decolorization? (obviously in reverse if I'm adding a darker tint) Actually, the whole reason I bleached was to get rid of red that my hair kept pulling from semi-perm colors and the sun.

I've also been informed that curlies should use semi-perm only but does that have enough oomf for depositing color? What's the difference between a 10 volume peroxide with a perm. color and a semi-perm. color? I never did quite get that. I know 10 volume deposits only and thought that's what I needed. I'm quite color inept as you can see.

I was even thinking of weaving those two colors (ash), in so that its not all one solid color. I still want to be somewhat summery, but I hate the line of demarcation I'm already getting with the dark ash blonde roots and beige blonde hair. And have no intention of doing the upkeep. Thanks in advance.

Update: I contacted Robert Craig and this is what he suggests.
when going darker over bleached hair it should be done in subtle changes - this can be done over a
period of days but first use a dark blonde like #15 for 5 minutes or so to darken the hair and
replace missing pigments - then you can use a darker mix like the #15 and #5 and finally if you want
the mix of #5 and #8 - strand testing is a must for timing and result - read about that here:
http://www.robertcraig.com/php/index.php?location=strandtest (http://www.robertcraig.com/php/index.php?location=strandtest)

I'm still kinda confused. Maybe I should'nt do anything.

[summer-time]

Summertime, when you say filler, are you referring to tube color (straight from the tube and no mixing) and leaving it on for 10 min. or so? And then rubbing it off before actual coloring? When I went to beauty school, we learned so little about color its pathetic-that's the way we were taught. I've been my own guinea pig for quite some time. :depressed:-Don't worry, I'm not doing it professionally so you can all rest easy. :sweatdrop: You seem to be quite informed about color so any tips you have are welcome.

Also, if I can chime in with my own color question (a little hijack here-sorry), I am currently at a beige blonde wanting to go back to a light ash brown/dark ash blonde. I hate red on me. Is it still necessary to add red back in because of the stages of decolorization? (obviously in reverse if I'm adding a darker tint) Actually, the whole reason I bleached was to get rid of red that my hair kept pulling from semi-perm colors and the sun.

I've also been informed that curlies should use semi-perm only but does that have enough oomf for depositing color? What's the difference between a 10 volume peroxide with a perm. color and a semi-perm. color? I never did quite get that. I know 10 volume deposits only and thought that's what I needed. I'm quite color inept as you can see.

I was even thinking of weaving those two colors (ash), in so that its not all one solid color. I still want to be somewhat summery, but I hate the line of demarcation I'm already getting with the dark ash blonde roots and beige blonde hair. And have no intention of doing the upkeep. Thanks in advance.

Update: I contacted Robert Craig and this is what he suggests.
when going darker over bleached hair it should be done in subtle changes - this can be done over a
period of days but first use a dark blonde like #15 for 5 minutes or so to darken the hair and
replace missing pigments - then you can use a darker mix like the #15 and #5 and finally if you want
the mix of #5 and #8 - strand testing is a must for timing and result - read about that here:
http://www.robertcraig.com/php/index.php?location=strandtest (http://www.robertcraig.com/php/index.php?location=strandtest)

I'm still kinda confused. Maybe I should'nt do anything.






Hi Hairfitness, when I refer to a filler I mean using a filler color- or mixing a deposit only color to dye the hair with the missing pigment from decolorizing.
This is usually from bleaching, alot of girls that bleach want a tintback.
The thing is tintback's are really bad about fading unless, they recolor again with the darker pigment, to stop the fade.

You did use bleach and not a box color, correct? Some think coloring and bleach is the same- its not- they are two different processes.
What exactly did you use?


A demi which is what your referring to ( NI, Color Spa, Seond Nature ) the 10/12 % volume peroxide is deposit only- deposits a higher concentration of color than the 20 volume. Now on virgin hair a demi can be permanent because it will lighten one level if going lighter, on processed hair it will fade.

[pietri]

Baby oil is mineral oil, pietri.

Thanks avery, that should be easy to find. :whoohoo:

[hairfitness101]

Summertime, no I didn't use box color. I used Clairol in the bottle from Sally's. I think it was called, "Hi-color blondes." It can lighten 7-10 levels in one step. You mix it with its coordinating developer and then 1-3 packets of activator. I used two and it came out just right. Its a special kind of "on the scalp" bleach that stays true in color so you can see how the hair is developing. Just a little laugh here: the fumes actually set off my smoke alarm:boggle: .

Then I used Hydra color (also from Sally's) to tone it an ash blonde but of course it needs toning again because of sun and all. Its been a good month since I did it. And now have about a 1/4 inch of regrowth. It looks to be coming in about a dark ash blonde to a light ash brown. I assumed to go with the dark ash blonde to tint back so that its not too dark. But my color theory is quite weak. We never did corrective color or anything like that in school. We had tons of perms/relaxers, bleaching, and coloring but no corrective. And of course cuts. 1650 hours of working on customers and notta one corrective. :purplex:

I contacted Robert Craig again and this is what Karin sent to me:
I would first try the #16 alone (light ash), then maybe a mix of 3/4 #16 and 1/4 #8(golden chestnut) - on bleached hair this can
only be left about 5 minutes - you may need a Clear to make the mix a little lighter and there is no
way to tell without the strand testing......please let me know if I can be of further help.
Thank you for visiting our web site.
regards,
Karin

I think this may be my best option. I've heard such great stuff about them. Although I'm anxious about wanting it NOW, I need to remember I want to keep my hair. Better to wait on the mail and get a really good product than destroy all my efforts. Many of the reviewers mentioned that RC's products were far better and caused no damage, even on previously lightened hair. And that they were better than many salon colors they've had. RC seems to really know their stuff. Its got to be better than drugstore stuff. Thanks for being a sounding board for me to help me work this out.

[summer-time]

Summertime, no I didn't use box color. I used Clairol in the bottle from Sally's. I think it was called, "Hi-color blondes." It can lighten 7-10 levels in one step. You mix it with its coordinating developer and then 1-3 packets of activator. I used two and it came out just right. Its a special kind of "on the scalp" bleach that stays true in color so you can see how the hair is developing. Just a little laugh here: the fumes actually set off my smoke alarm:boggle: .

Then I used Hydra color (also from Sally's) to tone it an ash blonde but of course it needs toning again because of sun and all. Its been a good month since I did it. And now have about a 1/4 inch of regrowth. It looks to be coming in about a dark ash blonde to a light ash brown. I assumed to go with the dark ash blonde to tint back so that its not too dark. But my color theory is quite weak. We never did corrective color or anything like that in school. We had tons of perms/relaxers, bleaching, and coloring but no corrective. And of course cuts. 1650 hours of working on customers and notta one corrective. :purplex:

Sorry to ask this again, but when you say filler- are you speaking of a brand or just coloring in general, in stages. Do you mean still mixing the peroxide in? ACtually, I can remember doing one corrective and it was like, we were all in the dark. The instructor acted like we should just know this stuff but of course we were never taught. She told us to use (we used Italy color at the time) color straight from the tub-no mixing. Put it on, especially rubbing it into the ends of the hair shaft with papertowels and leaving it on for 10 min. Then getting as much of it off as possible with the towels-no rinsing and then proceeding with color. But I don't know if we are supposed to add a base color (like red, blue, yellow) or an actual color like ash brown or what. I think I know just enough to get myself in a lotta trouble.



Thats funny about the smoke alarm :lol: Yeah bleach is special with the fumes, the room should be well ventilated :D


Do you not like the blonde or you just want your natural color back?
I want to make sure you want a tintback because going back and forth is very harsh on your hair.


When I say filler, I'm talking about using a dye just like you would if your dying your hair a different color.
I have been in salon that used the method your describing, and it washed right out when I went home.
You can use 20 v color as well, I did that when I did my tintback from blonde.

Your going to strand test first, to see how the color turns out.
Go to Sally's and get Complements in a level 8 ash blonde, and Compliments in level 6 .

Your going to take a strand of hair like a swatch and dye the end with the 8 and then with the 6


I don't know why your instructor acted like that, thats why your in school- to learn. :purplex:





ETA: I just saw the last of your post . Great, let me know how things go :)

[Sandie]

Does anyone have any information on stripping colour out of your hair to return it to its natural colour?? Thinking about returning my hair to its natural colour so I don't have to chemically dye it anymore.

A great product that I have always recommended is a professional product named "Metalex". You can get it at Sally Beauty. You mix it 50/50 with water or conditioner and apply it to your hair and leave on for the proper amount of time. It helps to process under a dryer (heat cap) as well. It is really good at stripping out color without damaging the hair further.

[hairfitness101]

Actually, I like the blonde a lot. I just don't want all the upkeep. I've been trying to get rid of the red in my hair forever and just said, what the heck. Why not go bleach blonde for awhile. If I like it, I'll keep it. If not, I can always go darker. Usually my hair comes in a much darker ash but during the summer it can lighten up quite a bit. It seems to be coming in at the scalp, in the #8 like you mentioned. And around ear and neck, a bit darker.

The strange thing is that my ash is more a smokey color. It is very hard to match. Actually, ash is the closest thing to it but its almost more of a grey blue if that makes any sense. Its not grey but in certain light it can look that way with blue undertones. I actually really like it. It looks kinda cool with an irredescence to it.

With that said, I have a three part question. I'm still in the dark as to which I should use, demi-perm or perm. The demi-perm says to use the Clairol color prompter developer (which I cannot find a picture for either at Sally's site or Clairol pro) but they must sell it.

Or the permanent which you use the clairol white (which I have some in 20 volume) But wouldn't I want to use the perm. with the 10V for deepening and depositing? How long would you wait after doing the light ash, to do the darker one? Thanks for taking all this time, I appreciate it. :purplex: And sorry for all the dumb questions. All the instructors were like that and none of us knew what the heck we were doing when we left. I'm amazed I passed boards. I did a lot of studying/learning on my own and that's probably why.
Update: Did some more research and I wonder if this might be a better option for me? http://www.thecreativestudio.com/main.jsp?nav=dispensary/haircolor/second_nature
They even have a smokey light brown. I'll have to see about possibly mixing that with one of the blondes in that blue/violet category.

[summer-time]

Actually, I like the blonde a lot. I just don't want all the upkeep. I've been trying to get rid of the red in my hair forever and just said, what the heck. Why not go bleach blonde for awhile. If I like it, I'll keep it. If not, I can always go darker. Usually my hair comes in a much darker ash but during the summer it can lighten up quite a bit. It seems to be coming in at the scalp, in the #8 like you mentioned. And around ear and neck, a bit darker.

The strange thing is that my ash is more a smokey color. It is very hard to match. Actually, ash is the closest thing to it but its almost more of a grey blue if that makes any sense. Its not grey but in certain light it can look that way with blue undertones. I actually really like it. It looks kinda cool with an irredescence to it.

With that said, I have a three part question. I'm still in the dark as to which I should use, demi-perm or perm. The demi-perm says to use the Clairol color prompter developer (which I cannot find a picture for either at Sally's site or Clairol pro) but they must sell it.

Or the permanent which you use the clairol white (which I have some in 20 volume) But wouldn't I want to use the perm. with the 10V for deepening and depositing? How long would you wait after doing the light ash, to do the darker one? Thanks for taking all this time, I appreciate it. :purplex: And sorry for all the dumb questions. All the instructors were like that and none of us knew what the heck we were doing when we left. I'm amazed I passed boards. I did a lot of studying/learning on my own and that's probably why.
Update: Did some more research and I wonder if this might be a better option for me? http://www.thecreativestudio.com/main.jsp?nav=dispensary/haircolor/second_nature
They even have a smokey light brown. I'll have to see about possibly mixing that with one of the blondes in that blue/violet category.







Hey :) , first there are no dumb questions. I love questions thats how we learn.
As for learning on your own, thats how I have learned much of what I know.
I'm a bathroom chemist, I have tested ever hair color there is in evey volume- otc and Sally's. :grinhappy:

You know I saw smokey ash in Second Nature, but I hesitated because I didn't know if the level might be too dark for you. However, Clairol colors run light, and lighter than their swatches.
Go into Sally's and look at the swatches, put the light smokey brown to your new growth and see how it looks.


As for the filler, you can dye with the lighter ash and then dye with the darker ash the same day.
You can go with a lighter ash in the violets or you can use a medium ash in Miss Clairol, or Compliments. As long as you don't mix the lines together before using, you can dye with one line and then dye with the other.

You can use the 10 v with the permanent color, Compliments does both. It can be permanent with 20 v or a demi with 10.

Take a look at the 8 in SN and the 8 and the 6 in Compliments- I'm wondering if the 6 might be more color compatible to the smokey ash.


Btw - your hair sounds lovely, I bet the irredescence is breath taking.

I love your avatar- the shadow in the pic is beautiful - ok just had to say that :lol:

[hairfitness101]

You know, I think you're right. It seems that the Clairol has more options too as far as color choice, types of color, and even the bass tones that you can add in. Really interesting. And I've always had the best luck with Clairol products. Thats why I went with the blonde series by them. And although my hair is not like virgin hair, its still in pretty good condition considering.

Awww, thanks for the compliment. As far as the avatar, I can't take the credit for it. Its one of the generic ones from this site. :blush: I liked it because of the green eye and shadow. I have green eyes and love green eyeshadow. Well, not like old lady school teacher green. I like to use the green quads and add bronze or gold shadows to make my eyes pop. I actually have some brown in one eye so the bronze and gold shadows make that show up more. I have a purple quad that I do the same thing with.

Thanks again for all your help. I will have to post a pic for you when I get the nerve up to do this. My hubby's worried I won't be blonde anymore. Men are all alike! I told him I was just toning it ash blonde- ok, so I sort of didn't tell him the whole story. Maybe I'll do the lt.ash in permanent and then darken it up slowly towards fall. :eureka: So he doesn't have a cow!

* Hey, I was just thinking, if you are a member over at LHC (I seem to remember your screen name, but I've been known to be wrong before:geek: ), you can check out my photo journal and there's a picture of my natural color, vs. the now blonde. And you can check it out there. Its not the best pic but its a good indication of how dark my natural gets during the winter time.

[summer-time]

You know, I think you're right. It seems that the Clairol has more options too as far as color choice, types of color, and even the bass tones that you can add in. Really interesting. And I've always had the best luck with Clairol products. Thats why I went with the blonde series by them. And although my hair is not like virgin hair, its still in pretty good condition considering.

Awww, thanks for the compliment. As far as the avatar, I can't take the credit for it. Its one of the generic ones from this site. :blush: I liked it because of the green eye and shadow. I have green eyes and love green eyeshadow. Well, not like old lady school teacher green. I like to use the green quads and add bronze or gold shadows to make my eyes pop. I actually have some brown in one eye so the bronze and gold shadows make that show up more. I have a purple quad that I do the same thing with.

Thanks again for all your help. I will have to post a pic for you when I get the nerve up to do this. My hubby's worried I won't be blonde anymore. Men are all alike! I told him I was just toning it ash blonde- ok, so I sort of didn't tell him the whole story. Maybe I'll do the lt.ash in permanent and then darken it up slowly towards fall. :eureka: So he doesn't have a cow!

* Hey, I was just thinking, if you are a member over at LHC (I seem to remember your screen name, but I've been known to be wrong before:geek: ), you can check out my photo journal and there's a picture of my natural color, vs. the now blonde. And you can check it out there. Its not the best pic but its a good indication of how dark my natural gets during the winter time.





Your right Clairol does have more options and variations with their color lines.
I was thinking, if your hubby really does like the blonde, you might darken to the 8. If your hair lightens with a color, you might be able to use a level 8 with 20 v- or a highlift to stay the light blonde but with out the bleach.

Since your a cool blonde maybe even light brown naturally, I bet a 20 v or a highlift would work great for you.
You could either keep the pale blonde- a 10 ash, or go a little darker to an 8 ash. You have beautiful pale blonde hair, either way I think your hair is stunning.



Yes I like the metals too with shadows and purples

Nope your right, I'm over there with a different name. I might see if I can change it to the same screen name there- I like this better.
I lurk there and everywhere, I will have to check out your journal. :)

[curlygirl]

Just wanted to chime in, my husband was the same way but he said I could do whatever I wanted. I went a little darker at first and I liked it at first too and then I missed the blonde a little so I went back about halfway between the lightest and the darkest I had it. We both love it now! I have a lot of blonde highlights (from the silver coming in) and still more like my natural color and much less damaging since I don't lighten as many levels. I can't way to see your pics when you do it. Sometimes we just need a change. Remember it may take a while to get used to it. I am glad you have such good advice here from summer-time and won't make a mistake like I did!

[hairfitness101]

I can't way to see your pics when you do it. Sometimes we just need a change. Remember it may take a while to get used to it. I am glad you have such good advice here from summer-time and won't make a mistake like I did!

I totally agree. I'm glad to have such great advice here too. Thank you all. I'm thinking I'll go with the ash blonde permanent in the Complements line. And if I decide to go darker I can experiment with the darker ash+ a small amount of the blue intesifier to make it look a little more smokey. But I will definitely have to do a strand test. I dont want blue hair! Which reminds me, I did find out by doing some more research, a major reason I/we don't want to do dark directly over light/bleached hair besides the fading, is that it can turn green.:gurn: Yikes! I don't want that.

Summer-time, I like your idea of using the strength of the peroxide to lighten from now on (if I decide to keep being a blonde) instead of bleaching. Loreal has a line called "Just for Dark hair" which I had tried awhile ago. It was supposed to do the lifting and toning in one step, 4 to 5 levels with no brassiness or unwanted tones. Yeah right, made my hair even redder. It did lift the color some but not like what the girl said or the box. Its Clairol from now on.

[summer-time]

I totally agree. I'm glad to have such great advice here too. Thank you all. I'm thinking I'll go with the ash blonde permanent in the Complements line. And if I decide to go darker I can experiment with the darker ash+ a small amount of the blue intesifier to make it look a little more smokey. But I will definitely have to do a strand test. I dont want blue hair! Which reminds me, I did find out by doing some more research, a major reason I/we don't want to do dark directly over light/bleached hair besides the fading, is that it can turn green.:gurn: Yikes! I don't want that.

Summer-time, I like your idea of using the strength of the peroxide to lighten from now on (if I decide to keep being a blonde) instead of bleaching. Loreal has a line called "Just for Dark hair" which I had tried awhile ago. It was supposed to do the lifting and toning in one step, 4 to 5 levels with no brassiness or unwanted tones. Yeah right, made my hair even redder. It did lift the color some but not like what the girl said or the box. Its Clairol from now on.






Well as for going darker, I think the darker ash will cancel out the red, I don't about the green since the beige is in the ash catagory.
You will want to strand test, maybe several times. Always strand test no matter what you do to your hair when tinting/processing, you never know whats going to happen.



Hmm I don't know much about Just For Dark, I need to check that out.
I was thinking a 20 v ash blonde : you might be able to achieve a light /medium blonde, or a highlift ash blonde.
You might strand test both somewhere on your virgin new growth and see if one works. :)



If a highlift works you might check out Miss Clairol, they have beautiful ash blondes in the level 10.

http://www.thecreativestudio.com/dispensary/swatches/mc_swatches.html

[hairfitness101]

Ooo, more choices. They do have some pretty colors don't they.
Here's the link for the "Just for Darks." http://www.sallybeauty.com/shop/1462/500244
Supposibly it won't do a thing for lighter hair, just on dark hair. I will say it wasn't drying at all but as for the no brassiness, I don't agree. Unless I'm just a strange case. And that could certainly be.

[summer-time]

Ooo, more choices. They do have some pretty colors don't they.
Here's the link for the "Just for Darks." http://www.sallybeauty.com/shop/1462/500244
Supposibly it won't do a thing for lighter hair, just on dark hair. I will say it wasn't drying at all but as for the no brassiness, I don't agree. Unless I'm just a strange case. And that could certainly be.



You said it made your hair brassy- did you use this on virgin hair?


Even if it says for dark hair- 4 or 5 levels, for a level 10 blonde the darkest hair can only be a level 6 light brown a level 5 can sometimes use an ash or neutral depending on hair tone to achieve a level 9.
I don't know what volume peroxide they are using- and are the boxes for different levels blonde, or different tones of level 10: ash, golden, neutral etc.

[hairfitness101]

Well, my hair had been previously colored with a semi-permanent about a year before hand. And was faded to a honey brown. I had the intention of making the best of it and lightening only strands. The line has individual colors/tones to choose from and I had chosen a beige or sand and an ash to weave in seperatly . No body even noticed I had highlighted it but it just took on a tone-orangey. I guess it did what it was supposed to. And that was the next level up. They do have some pretty ones to choose from. Especially if you want coppery highlights on very dark hair, that sort of thing. My hair is just naturally so "cool" in tone that I can't seem to get it right. Of course beige is different from ash but the intention was to not color the whole head in hopes of eventually blending the color. I don't understand why when I was putting on the ash, it still turned orangey eventually, even when going darker. I can only assume its the complementary pigment from past colorings. I'm hoping that since its all gone now, that I wont have that problem anymore.

Just a quick note: I want to apologize to the original post-er, that I sort of hijacked the thread. And that was not my intention. Call it desperation if you will. I was just glad to have someone here who could help me un-muttle my confusion. But maybe this all will help someone with a similar issue, especially when removing color since its basically the same as bleaching. And the requirement for adding pigment is the same. So I kinda thought it belonged here. But be that as it may, sorry to have taken over the thread. Its been a real help to me though.

[curls2grow]

A great product that I have always recommended is a professional product named "Metalex". Hey Sandie! I appreciate your mentioning this product -- I have not heard of it before, even on LHC. On radar is to stop coloring (brunette) next summer sometime and I don't know if I will just grow out the dark color or try to remove some of it with a product like Colorfix or Metalex. Do you know of any brunettes who have tried this (without coloring over it)?

ETA: My natural color is very dark brunette, almost black -- with about 40% gray thrown in.

[summer-time]

I also apologize for hijacking the thread, I should have moved the discussion to a pm.