Best blonde hair dye

[shufflebum]

Having given up my Aveda highlights I am struggling to find a good blonde home dye.
I need cool rather than warm tones but always seem to end up with a reddish tinge despite choosing "ash or neutral" colours. I know its far better to go to the hairdresser but I just can't justify the time or money anymore with a DC2 on the way.
So far I have tried a couple of Clairol Nice and Easy ones 101,100 and 99 and the John Frieda foam one in the lightest colour.
What does everyone else use?

[Evizza]

I buy salon colours off ebay or from sallys along with peroxide. In the long run they don't work out that much dearer, but way better results and alot kinder to hair.

I use majiblond 901s (very very light ash blonde) with 12% peroxide.

I used to use nice'n'easy but found when the packaging got an not so needed revamp, the formula changed and it didn't lift my hair properly, leaving me with brassy hair.

[BronwenC]

An easy solution to brassy tones after bleaching your hair is to use special shampoo like Schwarzkopf Touch of Silver, which eliminates the orangeyness after bleaching, you only need to ise it once a week or so, and it keeps hair nice and blonde. dont overdo it though otherwise it can go kinda white... lol. its not very expensive so you can carry on with whatever bleach you want.

[Evizza]

If I ever get a slight brassy tint I buy one of the wella ash blonde shaders and toner sachets from the supermarket...They only cost about 99p and do the job every time !!

[shufflebum]

So basically it doesn't really matter which off the shelf colour I buy!
Evizza, I'm nervous of mixing my own, is peroxide what is in normal hair dyes? When you say very very light ash blonde could you give an example, like an actress or something so I can get an idea!
Thanks

[trunkybun]

Bumping this thread as I too would like to know how to use salon colours. Am fed up with brassiness!!

[shufflebum]

Another bump!

[Evizza]

HERE is a picture of the colour I use (majiblond 901s)

It might be too light for some but there are darker tones available.

Your best bet is to buy the colour and peroxide from a sallys as you can get both products together there and then.

I use 12% (40 vol) peroxide for maximum lift and mix it at a 1:2 ratio (for example 50ml of colour with 100ml of peroxide).

It doesn't work out dear as the peroxide lasts ages (costs a couple of quid for a big bottle at sallys) and after the initial colour I only do my roots. You can buy the measuring bowls and colour brushes from some pound shops nowadays, and they are just as good as the dearer ones from sallys

The colour I use leaves me with a really nice colour and I leave it on my hair for 55 mins and it is soooo much kinder to my hair than any box colours I have tried. My natural colour is a very dark mousy blonde/light brown and it lifts it cleanly with ease.

Hope that helps a bit

[MmeLindt]

I use L'Oreal Casting Gloss, last time I used 801 (not sure what it is called in UK) but will go one lighter next time. pics here

I like that the colour looks very natural.

[shufflebum]

Thank you for posting those Mme Lindt and Evizza, I think I want something between the two!
Evizza is what you use a high lift tint? I think this is what they used to use to do my highlights.

[MmeLindt]

Evizza
That is a lovely colour. What would you suggest for a slightly darker tone? My hair goes very blonde in summer so don't want to start off that light.

[lucykate]

i use loreal excellence creme in ash blonde every time. pic on my profile. for me, it is the only one that stays true to colour, and doesn't go red as it fades. have used so many that just end up strawberry after a few washes.

it looks quite dark when first done but goes a nice ash blonde after a couple of washes.

there's also a light ash blonde, and a very light ash blonde in the range. have used both of those in the past too.

[MmeLindt]

That is a great colour, LucyKate.

I had a nosy at your blog, btw. Congrats on the book. Looks fab.

[AintMissBeehiving]

What an interesting thread . I'm naturally quite golden blonde but have greys . I often turn gingery inadvertantly so will lurk.

[shufflebum]

Have done the online colour chooser thingumy on the L'oreal site and it tells me I should go with the 01 Lightest Natural blonde, not sure if that is overkill and I should stick with an ash shade as recommended by lucykate. Think they look a bit dark though, god it was so much easier letting the hairdresser decide!

[Mocheenee]

I am naturally dark brown but have used Superdrugs own brand Lightest Natural blonde - this lightens my hair without having to bleach it first.
Also, Nutrisse is brilliant at lightening too - by several shades and it does look very natural too. I tend to but the Superdrug one more though as it is vey often on offer two for £5 (my long hair needs two boxes to cover fully)

[YourCallIsImportant]

Shufflebum, can you post a link to the L'oreal colour chooser?

[shufflebum]

tis he

[shufflebum]

or even here