Home Hair Dye Help!

mlewon
mlewon Posts: 343 Member
in Chit-Chat
Hey guys!

I've been thinking about going a bit more blonde for the summer, and I've gotten it done at a salon but I've never done it at home before!

I have medium to dark brown thick, wavy/curly hair with some natural highlights. I haven't dyed it since last year.

Does anyone have any good products they recommend? Highlight kits, all-over dyes, etc.?
«1

Replies

  • LiddyBit
    LiddyBit Posts: 447 Member
    Honestly? I think going blond should be left to the professionals. Put down the box and get thee to a salon!
  • focus4fitness
    focus4fitness Posts: 551 Member
    Honestly? I think going blond should be left to the professionals. Put down the box and get thee to a salon!

    QFT
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    I concur. If you're going a shade or two, like me, it's safe at home, but more than that and you can end up with some bad results.

    Some things are worth paying for. This is one.
  • RaeLB
    RaeLB Posts: 1,216 Member
    Honestly? I think going blond should be left to the professionals. Put down the box and get thee to a salon!

    ^ agreed

    i go darker at home but i wouldn't go lighter... it could turn orange or brassy
  • SunKissed1989
    SunKissed1989 Posts: 1,314 Member
    From someone who's been blonde to dark brown to orangey bleached blonde (at home), then brown again (at home) because the bleaching was a disaster, then several trips to the salon to get it back to blonde again...GO TO A PROFESSIONAL. Trust me, although it may be more expensive, it'll be worth it :smile:

    Also, going from medium-dark brown to blonde probs isn't the best option for your first home hair-dyeing experience (that was my first big mistake when I went brown) because it is such a big leap. Your hair will also thank you by being in better condition with the TLC your hairdresser provides during your dyeing session :smile:
  • crista_b
    crista_b Posts: 1,192 Member
    You'll need to bleach your hair before dying it, and it's very difficult to get good results at home unless you are a professional. I agree with all the others here, go to a professional to go lighter.
  • mlewon
    mlewon Posts: 343 Member
    Oh, no I've done a ton of home-dye before!

    I've just never done blonde. I've done everything from fine engine red to dark blue to electric pink and my hair has always responded well to bleach, but I don't want to have white-blonde hair.

    I might just go get highlights when I save up. At the moment, it's a little out of my price range, that's why I was curious about what people use at home.
  • lnss1
    lnss1 Posts: 3
    Honestly? I think going blond should be left to the professionals. Put down the box and get thee to a salon!

    ^THIS!!
  • WickedGarden
    WickedGarden Posts: 944 Member
    I agree with the others, go to a pro. If your hair is dark, you will need to get bleach, and the colorist will know how much time to leave it in your hair, I have black hair, and it took my stylist 3 times to get the fixer strength right.

    Everybody's hair is different, she said that most people will take between10-15 in the bleach, my hair needs 30.

    I too have colored my hair before, burgandy, red, chestnut, I even tried hot pink...that came out all kinds of wrong
  • mlewon
    mlewon Posts: 343 Member
    I've never had trouble with other colors, that's why I figured I would ask to see if anyone else does home dye.

    Hm. Thanks for all the responses ladies!
  • Ocarina
    Ocarina Posts: 1,550 Member
    PLEASE! BE NICE TO YOUR HAIR!

    PROFESSIONAL! :bigsmile:
  • focus4fitness
    focus4fitness Posts: 551 Member
    Oh, no I've done a ton of home-dye before!

    I've just never done blonde. I've done everything from fine engine red to dark blue to electric pink and my hair has always responded well to bleach, but I don't want to have white-blonde hair.

    I might just go get highlights when I save up. At the moment, it's a little out of my price range, that's why I was curious about what people use at home.

    I have too. I've done pretty much every color under the sun myself and I have stripped my hair of black and red too. I do it all except blonde. There is a big learning curve with blonde that is faaaar different from other colors.
  • jodycoady
    jodycoady Posts: 598 Member
    Don't go all blonde right away if you're not sure....do highlights...less risky...but yeah, get someone professional if you're going ALL blonde....
  • RobinShay
    RobinShay Posts: 53 Member
    Goto a pro for blonde!!
  • angieleighbyrd
    angieleighbyrd Posts: 989 Member
    I do my own.

    I do agree to go to a professional though. Unless you really plan to research what you are doing.

    I did A LOT of research before I started doing my own. There is A LOT to learn about going from dark to light. I got it down pat now.

    But it was a lot of trial and error.


    PS Weather you are going to use a darker or a lighter color NEVER USE BOX DYES. (like you get from a drug store) They are filled with crap that is horrible for you. Go to Sally's and buy everything you need. It isn't anymore expensive at all.
  • angieleighbyrd
    angieleighbyrd Posts: 989 Member
    Also if you still want to try on your own, get a purple shampoo.

    It helps with the orange tones and brassiness.
  • AlicynH
    AlicynH Posts: 201 Member
    I used to do hair. Take it from me, you want to let a professional do it. I can't tell you how many times I had someone come in to have me fix their hair.
  • starcatcher1975
    starcatcher1975 Posts: 292 Member
    I've been coloring my hair forever, from reds to blacks...my natural color is black. I'm going blonde myself but I'm going to a professional. I'm pretty brave but I also like having hair on my head and I know the bleaching process is really harsh on my hair and I want to make sure I still have hair when I'm done :laugh:
  • WickedGarden
    WickedGarden Posts: 944 Member
    Also if you still want to try on your own, get a purple shampoo.

    It helps with the orange tones and brassiness.

    I've left the purple shampoo in my hair a little too long a few times...my hair turned pink. :laugh:
    (I'm currently blonde)
  • WillPowerYes
    WillPowerYes Posts: 103 Member
    If you decide to do home bleaching, even streaks, have a backup plan in case something goes wrong during the "learning curve".

    Signed, did my own streaks for years. (Yes, I had a mess once from not being "neat" enough on how I applied the bleach.)
  • ThePersnicketyOtter
    ThePersnicketyOtter Posts: 147 Member
    The best way to do it is probably to bleach it to be semi-light, not like WHITE, but decently light, and then dye it with blonde dye over that to get the shade you want. If yuo put blonde DYE over dark hair, it doesn't really do anything (in my experience).
  • itsjustdawn
    itsjustdawn Posts: 1,073 Member
    I'm just excited that you spelled "dyed" correctly :-) Good luck!!
  • jboccio90
    jboccio90 Posts: 644 Member
    Only use a box if your hair is virgin, meaning never been colored or does not have existing color on the ends

    Boxes are designed for virgin hair, when going darker it does not matter because you are just adding to it. Hair color is not designed to lift previously colored hair.

    Will a box make your hair lighter? sure, but it will NOT be even, you WILL have hot roots and it will look nothing like the box pictures

    You will have to bleach then tone it for best results

    Also, like someone suggested GO TO SALLYS! it is about the same price.
  • Temple_Fit
    Temple_Fit Posts: 299 Member
    I am a professional and I don't suggest you do it yourself. Bleach can be tricky! If it is the cost you are worried about I would suggest to go to see when your local beauty school will be doing a color class and be a volunteer or call around to your local salons or professional hair care stores and see if they need a hair model.
  • rachaela06
    rachaela06 Posts: 167
    Professional stylist should do it, going lighter at home is asking for trouble. Be sure you are honest about what color you have used in the past, even if it has been a long time, that can affect the outcome of any color service.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I do my own hair at home - all over color and highlights. I've never had a disaster, but will agree that blond is tricky.

    You said in your first post that you want to go 'a bit more blonde' for summer & mentioned highlights - if you're familiar with hair color then it might not be too tricky. I get all my stuff at Sally Beauty supply so when I do all over color I have control over my base color (blue, green violet) which helps combat the red/orange and gets the blond I'm going for.

    I usually add a few highlights by pulling my hair through a cap (I just do my crown, and pull hair through every other hole, depending on how much color I want) and using bleach - works great for me every time. I'm usually pretty conservative with it, because I figure if I want more highlights, I can always add more.
  • rl1421
    rl1421 Posts: 9
    I've been back and forth between blonde and dark auburn for years. When I go darker, I always do it myself, but I leave it to the professionals to take it back blonde. There's just too much room for disaster.
  • frootcat
    frootcat Posts: 194 Member
    Heeey, can I butt in a little here? My 10 year old daughter wants to go hot pink for the summer. I'm ok with that in theory, my hair has been all over the do-it-yourself rainbow, but this is MY BABY'S hair... I don't want to damage it too much, and I don't really want it to be a ... giant production, if you know what I mean.

    As I recall, that kind of dye works best on non-virgin hair, right? And it lightens pretty easily, but come school time it would probably have to be color-corrected back to a natural shade, right? Otherwise it will be some yucky shade of dull pink (and I'm not a cool enough mom for her to wear her hair like that, or bright pink, to school).

    Or have they come out with better temporary dyes that we could use without lightening first, that would last a month or so?
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I am a professional and I don't suggest you do it yourself. Bleach can be tricky! If it is the cost you are worried about I would suggest to go to see when your local beauty school will be doing a color class and be a volunteer or call around to your local salons or professional hair care stores and see if they need a hair model.

    That was going to be my suggestion.
  • fuzz_pawz
    fuzz_pawz Posts: 106
    Honestly? I think going blond should be left to the professionals. Put down the box and get thee to a salon!

    Completely agreed! It's often difficult to properly lighten once hair...there are "lightening" kits you can buy that may be easier than an actual dye if you're doing it at home.

    I don't go lighter, I'm always dying dark...but when I wanted lighter streaks and I used bleach to do it...was a disaster...I do not recommend attempting bleach on your own... it will be patchy...best to have a salon help you.
    You could always try the streaking kits though...usually a plastic cap where you pull small chunks of hair through holes and bleach the exposed hair.
    Also a good idea to have a helper on that so it's even all around your head.

    With that being said, Yes, dye works best on virgin hair, especially if you're trying to go lighter.
    If your hair has been processed and color treated (especially numerous times), a lighter dye.. A) won't take to the hair as well and B) likely won't be the color you expect it to be.

Categories