HAIR Color Help

[Italiahaircolor]

Thanks Italia.

I guess I meant I want something close to my 'natural' hair colour; I know that colouring means it won't be natural any more but I don't want to show up at my wedding a completely different person from the one FI fell in love with. I know the link I posted was crappy but I was reluctant to post a pic of myself and couldn't find any pics of hair similar to mine on the net.

I've tried to crop a pic of my real hair. Hope it helps.

Thank you!

Your hair color is very pretty! Do you know how much money women spend in an attempt to duplicate that? Lucky girl!

Okay...down to business. You like your current color, and it's natural, correct? Do you just want to color the hair because you feel like trying it or because you're hoping to covering gray? And you want to be the same color in the end, same level of warmth (yes, on my monitor you hair looks warm)? You're okay with being solid as in no highlights, right?

Where are you located? I only ask, because if your not in the US I'll have to do some research to find out if you can get Redken color abroad. I don't know if you can. Redken is what I'm more familiar with, although I've used other brands it's by far and away my comfort zone. If you can't get Redken where you are, I'll have to look into what you can get you hands on.

I also just wanted to add that if you're doing this for your wedding and experimenting for the first time, you may just want to go the salon route. I say this only because your wedding is a BIG event and God forbid you messed up, you'd have to live with that--not just now, but in pictures forever and ever. For a first timer, if it were me, I'd probably be way to nervous to venture into at home beauty treatments with something so large looming on the horizon. Now, feel free to tell me to butt out, I'm cool with that...it's your hair...but for the sake of honesty, I'd be remiss not to forewarn you. I do color at home, I've colored my own hair since I learned how to do it (even in beauty school, I was a kitchen beautician)...but for my wedding, I took my butt to the salon.

 

[mayerling]

Thanks Italia.


Your hair color is very pretty! Do you know how much money women spend in an attempt to duplicate that? Lucky girl!

Okay...down to business. You like your current color, and it's natural, correct? Do you just want to color the hair because you feel like trying it or because you're hoping to covering gray? And you want to be the same color in the end, same level of warmth (yes, on my monitor you hair looks warm)? You're okay with being solid as in no highlights, right?

Where are you located? I only ask, because if your not in the US I'll have to do some research to find out if you can get Redken color abroad. I don't know if you can. Redken is what I'm more familiar with, although I've used other brands it's by far and away my comfort zone. If you can't get Redken where you are, I'll have to look into what you can get you hands on.

I also just wanted to add that if you're doing this for your wedding and experimenting for the first time, you may just want to go the salon route. I say this only because your wedding is a BIG event and God forbid you messed up, you'd have to live with that--not just now, but in pictures forever and ever. For a first timer, if it were me, I'd probably be way to nervous to venture into at home beauty treatments with something so large looming on the horizon. Now, feel free to tell me to butt out, I'm cool with that...it's your hair...but for the sake of honesty, I'd be remiss not to forewarn you. I do color at home, I've colored my own hair since I learned how to do it (even in beauty school, I was a kitchen beautician)...but for my wedding, I took my butt to the salon.

Aww, thanks for saying my hair is pretty

I've decided to colour because the highlights just aren't covering up the gray any more (the pic has my natural hair before I started highlighting it). And I want to do it on my own because I can't afford a salon every few weeks. My wedding isn't for another 6 months so I figure I have enough time to experiment and get it right. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm based in the UK and would really like something that would be easy enough for me to do by myself (I live nowhere near friends or family who could help).

Thanks for checking this out for me

 

[somethingshiny]

Italia~ You're good!! lol. on the 9 1/2 I saw my dark color that showed my old color as results. So, I thought I had the perfect color. It did lighten it to blond but a very brassy variety. The other day I had someone refer to me as strawberry blond. That was being generous!

Okay, based on your help, I'm thinking of just going dark. I'm thinking a prettier shade of my current darker color. So a recommendation would be great! I would like to start using the Redken products, but I can't put out $50 right now and I'm hosting a party next weekend. Is there an at-home brand and color that you could suggest? Is there an at-home glaze? I have access to Walmart, Target, pharmacy, and there is a Sally Beauty Supply about an hour away.

Thanks for all your help, Italia. When I've tried to talk to ladies at the salons around here, they kind of get a glazed over look. They always suggest just bleaching it. That scares the hell out of me! One lady told me that I HAD to do 3 colors and I would be in every 4 weeks for one of the colors, the next time would be another of the colors, etc. Um, that's hundreds of dollars, NO!!

 

[Laila619]

Thanks for the advice, Italia!

 

[mayerling]

Hi Italia,

Just checking back to see if you were able to look into this for me. I'm leaving soon for two weeks and wanted to try and colour my hair before the trip. Looking forward to your advice.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Hi and sorry for the delay..

I've looked into the issue of hair color in the UK some and even asked some of my hair stylist friends for a recommendation. Unfortunately I nor they could come up with a solution or suggestion. I've never worked abroad and while I'm sure can get some of the same color brands there--I would assume, could be wrong--I wouldn't know where to tell you to buy them...and that's the crux of the problem right there. It's tough, you know. This stuff just doesn't translate seamlessly. It kills me that I can't be more resourceful. Sorry.

I still believe heading to a salon would be your best bet if you're looking for professional color...if not, then you could always snag a box color next time you're at the store. I hesitate on making a suggestion as what box color you should use because, as I've said before, I don't super-endorse them and I'm not familiar enough to go confidently in a direction one way or another.

Now, if you're hair has never previously been colored (aka virgin hair) you're probably in the small precent that will actually end up pretty close to the promised results on the box. I caution you not to be overly ambitious with the color, stick to small changes at first, you can always go darker in the future...but dip your toe in first.

Good luck and let me know how it turns out. Sorry, again, that I couldn't be of more help.

 

[TravelingGal]

I don't color my hair, but thought I'd pop in to say what a nice thing you're doing Italia by offering so much assistance. Makes me want to try to color my hair (but been there, done that, and not going to go that route again!)

 

[mayerling]

Thanks, Italia. I'll give it a shot and let you know how it goes.

 

[mayerling]

As promised, here's an update on how I did.

I decided to follow Italia's advice and went to a proper salon. My hairdresser suggested some kind of non-dye option; some kind of bio-dye (don't really know the name). She said it would be better because it's not real dye. The colour came out great; just like my natural hair colour. Unfortunately, it did not cover the whites. So it really hasn't helped. So it looks like I'll have to get it redone with real dye at some point...

 

[mayerling]

If it's the texture of grey rather than the look of it that puts you off, I use this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LIQUID-COLLAGEN-PROTEIN-HAIR-KERATIN-REPAIR-TREATMENT-/270625706150?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Hair_Care_Shampoo_Conditioner_PP&hash=item3f028c90a6#ht_6318wt_802

It's intended as a repair treatment, but I find that it re-textures and improves the grey hairs so that they just blend in with the rest. I have about 15% grey, so it's doing a grand job at this point. I'm not going to start coloring my hair, since I'm only 36 and it seems to be a lifetime commitment... Plus, I have red hair, which never looks natural once it's dyed.

If anyone is on the fence about starting to colour, my suggestion is to try this first, see if it helps!

Thanks for the advice, Jennifer! I finally got round to buying this and can't wait to try it.

 

[JewelFreak]

I get mine colored at the hairdresser -- they know how to keep the hair from being damaged & can adjust color with more subtlety. It's very worth the cost to me!

--- Laurie

 

[ksinger]

Well, back when I colored my hair myself - before I stopped due to potential health risks - I used Feria by L'oreal, and had really great results with it. I'm a redhead and they had a really gorgeous natural looking light auburn. But now I have mine done by an Aveda colorist and it is THE best color I've ever had, bar none. Lasts a long time, fades on tone, never looks brassy, low chemicals, what's not to like. But I would go back to Feria if I had to do my own again.

 

[JewelFreak]

Mayerling, when my gray hairs started bothering me I had something done like what you tried. It worked for a while but as my hair got more gray in it, the coverage just wasn't enough. Italia might have a better take as a pro, but there was a point for me where I had to go with dye or accept gray, which I wasn't gonna do.

I envy women who look good with gray hair & keep it that way. My skin is so fair that w/light hair I wash out & disappear.

--- Laurie

 

[Jennifer W]

Mayerling, did you try the keratin? I hope it works for you.

 

[mayerling]

Mayerling, did you try the keratin? I hope it works for you.

I'm trying it out this afternoon. How soon did you notice results?

 

[Jennifer W]

I noticed a change in texture straight away, although I don't have a huge amount of grey (yet!!) to deal with.

I hope it works for you, I'll feel awful if it doesn't, now you've bought it and I've got your hopes up! It does for me, obviously not to cover grey, but to keep the texture in check and make it blend better with the rest of my hair. My hair is red, with a lot of different tones in it, so it blends in ok. Might be different if I was very dark or mostly a single tone.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you get a great result.

 

[mayerling]

I noticed a change in texture straight away, although I don't have a huge amount of grey (yet!!) to deal with.

I hope it works for you, I'll feel awful if it doesn't, now you've bought it and I've got your hopes up! It does for me, obviously not to cover grey, but to keep the texture in check and make it blend better with the rest of my hair. My hair is red, with a lot of different tones in it, so it blends in ok. Might be different if I was very dark or mostly a single tone.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you get a great result.

Oh, don't feel bad. I appreciate the suggestion even if it doesn't work. My hair has different tones in it too, which is why I've been able to get away with the white so far, but it's been getting worse - they're just so damn springy! Anyway, I'll try it this afternoon and let you know how it goes.

p.s. Do you do it like the bottle says? You know, mix with conditioner, leave sit for 15 mins, once every two weeks, etc.?

 

[Jennifer W]

I mix it with my usual treseme conditioner, because it's meant to help the conditioner 'stick' to the hair and smooth down the cuticle on the hair surface. I wonder though, if you have a keratin straightening treatment, they tell you to use sodium free shampoo after it. I don't know if there's sodium in conditioner, but now I think about it, I'm wondering a) if there is and b) if it would be better to use one without for this treatment?

The instructions say it helps ( but isn't essential) to blow dry, using a brush to smooth it down as you go. This is supposed to help 'set' the protein onto the hair. I blow dry it, and see the results straight away, but the instructions say that if you let it dry without heat, it can take a while longer to set, so you won't see it for a day or two. I wash mine most days, so I would worry that I was just washing it off again - I use a hairdryer.

Good luck!

 

[Winks_Elf]

I have to say this is one of the absolute BEST posts I've ever read! Italia, you are a wealth of information, and it is so kind of you to take the time to explain as much as you have! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

That being said, I am the queen of changing my hair color in our family. My husband never knows if he's coming home to a blonde or a brunette, lol. I'm 41 now, and got my first silver hairs (not even regular gray, but honest to goodness bright shiny silver!) hairs at 22 years old. I now have a section at the crown and slightly to the right side of my head that is about an inch wide, half an inch long that is pure silver, and regular hair color does not want to stay in it. My natural color is mousy brown (ick!). My hair does pull a lot of red tones when I go blonde, but strawberry blonde with platinum blonde (think 27/613 for those familiar with hair pieces) is very flattering on my peachy-pink skin tone.

I got a perm almost two months ago (first one since 1998!), and it was a disaster! My hair was almost shoulder length, and I hadn't done any permanent color in over six months (because I was growing out my hair). The ends looked singed, parts were straight, parts were wavy...it definitely did not look like the spiral perm I paid for. Wound up getting about 2 inches taken off the ends, had my layers trimmed and it helped, but I still wasn't happy with my hair. After many restructurizing treatments I decided I missed my blonde hair. I typically go light in the summer. Anyway, it's now back to being strawberry/golden blonde with light highlights (those silvers are good for something after all!), and although I have to get used to it again, I'm happy for the moment. I used Loreal's Blondissims (probably spelled that wrong, but you know what I mean) first, which lightened it up quite a bit, and the second round was done with Loreal's Excellence Blonde Supreme in extra-light ash blonde. It takes about 3 to 4 times of doing my hair before a good portion of the gold tones are subdued, but the alternative is stripping my hair first, and that's never a good thing. It leaves my hair feeling like straw. By the time summer gets here, my hair will be back to my favorite baby blonde color.

I've attached pictures of me with both brown hair and with blonde.

 

[mayerling]

I mix it with my usual treseme conditioner, because it's meant to help the conditioner 'stick' to the hair and smooth down the cuticle on the hair surface. I wonder though, if you have a keratin straightening treatment, they tell you to use sodium free shampoo after it. I don't know if there's sodium in conditioner, but now I think about it, I'm wondering a) if there is and b) if it would be better to use one without for this treatment?

The instructions say it helps ( but isn't essential) to blow dry, using a brush to smooth it down as you go. This is supposed to help 'set' the protein onto the hair. I blow dry it, and see the results straight away, but the instructions say that if you let it dry without heat, it can take a while longer to set, so you won't see it for a day or two. I wash mine most days, so I would worry that I was just washing it off again - I use a hairdryer.

Good luck!

I did it, but I don't blow-dry so I have to wait a few hours for my hair to dry before I can tell what's going on...

 

[Jennifer W]

Well, I'm going to heave a sigh of relief that it didn't do anything awful to your hair! I use this stuff, and I know it's ok, but still - I was suddenly struck with the responsibility of having recommended it.

 

[LGK]

I haven't read the whole thread, but I do dye my hair at home and I have a decent bit of grey. I dye it shoepolish black, about a half shade darker than my natural color.

I use the cheapest dye on earth, the Revlon Colorsilk in Blue Black. It's like $3-$4/box. And weirdly enough it works better than lots of higher end brands. First, anything made by Clairol makes my hair fall out, it has too much peroxide or something, and so it damages my hair and smells like doom in a bottle. Garnier Nutrisse washed out too fast. I had previously liked L'Oreal's Feria line- especially the conditioner tube!- but now that I have some significant grey, it doesn't cover grey for crap and I could see it washing off the grey in like two shampooings.

So I occasionally make forays into other brands, hate them, and go back to my cheap Revlon brand . It covers grey, and washes out just enough to keep the grow-out line invisible but still retains enough dye to keep the grey covered. (My roots, except for the grey, are black enough that if the color fades just a smidge it's perfect because you can't see that the dye's grown out- so I do prefer my dye to fade just a teeny bit.)

 

[mayerling]

Well, I'm going to heave a sigh of relief that it didn't do anything awful to your hair! I use this stuff, and I know it's ok, but still - I was suddenly struck with the responsibility of having recommended it.

No worries. It's still drying (my hair takes ages), but will let you know tomorrow. I should also say that I have curly hair which kind of makes it difficult to discern what goes on with individual hairs.

 

[Jennifer W]

LOL! I'm paranoid, maybe! I hope it looks fantastic when it dries, recommendation notwithstanding. It's always fun to find a product that actually works.

 

[yssie]

Italia - I wonder if I can jump in to ask you about the gloss/glaze you mentioned? Do you have any specific brand recommendations - or things to avoid? A search on amazon is overwhelming!


I have browny black, baby fine hair that's naturally pretty shiny, but I definitely think years of dying it (to just a tiny bit more brown, but I've always used stuff that smells like a cleanroom gone wrong - I guess that'd be bleach?) have taken their toll. I've stopped dying it but it doesn't seem to be improving! I want it to look like in those shampoo ads. I read through the entire thread - there is some fantastic advice in here


ETA - the current un-gooped state of affairs - this pic makes it look a lot more shiny than it really is for some reason, I'd love it if it *always* looked like this!

 

[mayerling]

LOL! I'm paranoid, maybe! I hope it looks fantastic when it dries, recommendation notwithstanding. It's always fun to find a product that actually works.

Well, it looks like my whites are still springy and thick, but I think this might be a function of my hair being curly. But I'm going to continue using it as I'm sure it's good for my hair, and it was probably a bit optimistic of me to expect a change after just one treatment. Thanks, J.

 

[Jennifer W]

Oh. I'd hoped it would do the trick for them. Annoying. Persevere, but mine were ok after the first application (not that this is of any comfort to you). Maybe you need to blow dry? It does say in the instructions that it works better and that it can take 2-3 days for the protein to bond / dry fully otherwise.

I wish it had been more successful (but I'm grateful and relieved that you aren't bald... )

 

[Jennifer W]

Yssie, you have beautiful hair!

 

[mayerling]

Oh. I'd hoped it would do the trick for them. Annoying. Persevere, but mine were ok after the first application (not that this is of any comfort to you). Maybe you need to blow dry? It does say in the instructions that it works better and that it can take 2-3 days for the protein to bond / dry fully otherwise.

I wish it had been more successful (but I'm grateful and relieved that you aren't bald... )

You're right; I can't expect it to work when I don't follow the directions explicitly. I'll try it again in two weeks and this time I'll do it right!

 

[Jennifer W]

I can't say a word - I'm famous for only turning to the instructions when I've failed at something...

Give it a go with a hairdryer - I know it's a pain, I like to dry mine on the car's air conditioning unit in the morning, but hopefully you'll see a difference.