Semi-permanent hair colour query

[butterfly133]

hope this is the right place to ask. I've just used a semi for the first time in my life. I would describe my hair as "darkest brown" but when in the shop, I thought the darkest brown was too dark, so opted for "dark brown". It's still come out far too dark. I'm very surprised - perhaps I hadn't appreciated the subtleties of hair colour!

It will wash out in a month so I'll just live with it, but I'm wondering what happens if I go for a lighter brown? I'm guessing it's impossible for a semi permanent to lighten my hair too much, right? All I wanted was a good colour match and to cover some greys, if it's not perfect and the greys are a bit lighter, that's not a disaster. But I don't really understand the bleach percentages in these products, I don't want to end up with bizarrely light hair by mistake. I asked my sister - who already dyes hers - and she said "That's impossible for a semi to do". Is she right? She has her hair done at the hairdresser but her hair is black, so I can't use her colour as a base. Thanks.

[MrsEricBana]

Hi. I have recently done this for the first time too. I was very worried for the reasons you describe. I used L'Oreal Casting Creme gloss in the lightest colour that was still brown (it's called Iced Latte) in the hope that it would colour in the greys but not darken the rest of my hair. It did do this and didn't lighten my hair at all as had no bleach in it. Even if I had used a blonde one it wouldn't have lightened my hair. Only a permanent colour can do this as they do have bleach to strip out the underlying colour before applying the new colour.

[tabulahrasa]

Semi permanent doesn't lighten hair, it just sits on your hair being whatever colour it is...so you're always better if you're trying to match your hair to go lighter than you think, that way if it's not what you wanted you don't have to wait for it to wash out.

[cuntyMcCunterson]

If you want it to fade out quickly use fairy liquid when washing your hair, it helps to strip the colour out. Use plenty conditioner afterward though!

[dementedpixie]

a semi will not lighten your hair.so you would need to wait for it to wash out. I use a number 5 medium brown and it is quite dark but not too harsh.

[Mumstudentbum]

Semis will not lighten your hair, always go at least one shade lighterthantou want to be as it will go darker than it says on the box

[chocolateyy]

If you wash your hair with a mixture of shampoo & crushed up Vitamin C tablets, it will pull out all of the most recent colour you've put on.

If you put it on & leave for around 20 mins (it's a bit yucky) it will definitely get it all out, then get a semi-permanent that's a couple of shades lighter than you one you put on this time.

[butterfly133]

hi all, thanks for the replies! I will go a shade lighter then, next time. My hair is quite dry, so I can't use the fairy liquid option, but it's not awful - I do think that people will see I've dyed my hair though, which is a shame as it's not what I was going for. It almost looks black. Considering they differentiate between Dark Brown and Darkest Brown, I'm really surprised.I didn't have much grey but wanted to try it before the greys became very obvious. At the moment, they are mostly on the under layers of my hair.

Maybe I could do 2 shampoos each wash? I don't know how harsh fairy liquid is though I do remember the ads :) I have a shampoo for dry hair so that might be an idea.

[daftyburd]

Baby shampoo also good for stripping colour.

[butterfly133]

chocolateyy - for some reason I didn't see your post, I think I was writing mine. You mean crush the Vit C tablets & leave them on? I have just read something similar about bicarb of soda, which I do have. Tempted to try it as the colour is probably going to annoy more as the day goes on...!

[ThinkingOutLouder]

Chocolateyy is right about the vit c & shampoo mix - first, wet your hair, towel dry so it's left damp. Crush the effervescent vit c tablets, about 7 should do it, into a fine powder (do this in a freezer bag or something similar). Pour the powder into a bowl, then mix in about 5 tablespoons of shampoo, a clarifying one is best but any will do. You should be left with a big froffy mess. Slather this all over damp hair. Wrap cling film, or get a pack of those cheap shower caps, it's easier & leave on for about 45 mins. Wash & condition & your hair dye will of been removed, leaving you free to re- colour. I've done this loads of times, works on removing permanent colours too.

[butterfly133]

an update - I looked online and some places said to do the shampoo/bicarb soda paste. I had a bunch of bicarb already, so I did that yesterday evening. I left it on about 30 mins but my scalp got itchy so rinsed off after that. I could see colour coming out in the water, which was good. Hair really dry even after putting Aussie 3 Min Miracle in but has faded, not completely, but to a point where no one at work commented. If they'd seen the original colour from yesterday morning, I'm sure they would have noticed. It's still dark but not to the point that it is annoying. Next time I will know to go lighter but that will be 2 shades lighter....!

I also wonder if I'd be better using a root touch up kit and just trying to dye the random greys - maybe save the "colour all over" till I actually need colour all over. I realise it will be a bit of a faff but I guess it does mean I don't have to cover my hair in dye when 90% of it doesn't need it. Then I will still look my natural colour, which I rather like. In spite of this colour talking about "natural tones and highlights" I am finding it quite flat.

Thanks for all the help, much appreciated.

[HelenF350]

Dark brown semis have a habit of turning hair 'sooty'. My mum has very dark hair (almost black) but always uses a light brown dye for grey coverage.