Bleaching dark hair

[RubyRubySoho]

I want to bleach all of my hair in order to dye it a sort of green/blue colour.

I have brown hair atm and I currenty use a dark brown dye to cover greys. Will it go all yellowy when i bleach it? Will it take more than one go to do it all?

Any advice/ experience appreciated. I'm going to go to the hairdressers for this but was hoping to manage the upkeep on my own to keep costs down.

[RubyRubySoho]

Anyone?

[Idontknowwhoiam]

Don't do it.
If you've been dying your hair with box colours or even at the hair dressers bleach will not bring it up white.
Also when you do put a colour over the bleach it will not take.
Bleach strips the hair.
I had a go at this to go lilac. I ended up having all my hair cut off to where the last colour was applied (v short pixie) and then bleach and the lilac still didn't take properly!
I could've cried.

[Idontknowwhoiam]

I would like to point out I didn't have to have it cut off I just desperately wanted lilac hair (mid life crisis!!??)
I also burnt my scalp because i bleached my hair 3 times in 24 hours which was stupid!

[lunagrace]

Agree don't do it, I went from black to blonde once, it was horrific and I had to have all my hair cut off cause of the damage, X

[Buggers]

Use a colourb4 to remove the box hair dye out of your hair first then give your hair a lot of hair masks and deep conditioning as it dries hair out a lot. Then you could bleach it and do the colour you want. Be prepared for some damaged hair from the bleach though. Stock up on good conditioners and you should be fine though. I've naturally got very blonde hair but gone from blonde to black and many colours over the years but back to natural colour now as it's just so much work to keep roots away. I've never gone a bright colour though. I've always done it at home with no major disasters. I've waffled on a bit sorry

[BananaL0af]

I have dark brown / black hair and like you need to have it bleached so that any colour takes.

I have always gone to the hairdresser's to have it done - bleaching can be a bit hit and miss, so unless you're a professional yourself, I'd bite the bullet and accept is going to be pricey.

Perhaps your hairdresser can suggest a way in which to colour your hair without much upkeep? (I had baleage (sp?) done so there were no harsh lines as the hair grew out, rather than a whole head of highlights for example.)

[Buggers]

If you do it sensibly you can do it but it won't be an overnight job. Don't rush it and don't straighten or blowdry hair whilst your going through the progress to minimize damage.

[Buggers]

Last post I promise!
Get purple shampoo for after you bleach as it will be yellow and purple shampoo will balance the colour out so the green/blue colour will come out much more even

[Youvegottobekidding]

I've attempted to bleach my hair at home a few times from dark (dyed) hair to light blonde & failed miserably, I think I learnt my lesson from my last attempt!

Anyway, if you are insistant on giving it a go, I would agree with Buggers, colour B4 will give you a head start at least & remove the present dye from your hair.

From there, you could try a 'bleach bath' in a local salon - I had this done, twice if I remember correctly, it cost me £10 each time, it was the cheapest way to lighten my hair! It wasn't like years & years ago either, about 2 at the most, so prices shouldn't be that different, but I suppose it depends where you live as well.

And yy to lots of good conditioning treatments, and a good trim, your hair should be fine & hope you get the colour you want!

[unimagmative13]

Don't do it yourself.

Your hair will go orange neither blue or green will work.

To get your hair to a yellow will take a lot of performance. Then blue onto will equal green (usually dindgy)

Once your hair has been processed that much the colour won't last anyway and will need maintaining ALOT.

It would be difficult for professional to do let along you

Why not colour some extensions to clip in?

[RubyRubySoho]

Completely forgot I had posted this thread, thankyou all for your replies and advice.

My hair is just above the shoulders just now and I have no intention of cutting it all off- if it doesn't work I intend to dye it back to brown.

I used to have sections of hair underneath bleached and dyed random colours, I'm aware that once it is bleached I will need to colour it frequently to keep it from looking dingy- I don't mind doing this if the hairdresser can do the initial bit then deal with roots Im happy to apply colour in between visits.

I want my whole head done, I have always loved the look of it so clip in extensions aren't really going to have the same effect.

What is baleage?

Where do you get colour b4? does it simply return your hair to its natural state?

Purple shampoo is a good shout too, thankyou!

To everyone saying it wont work at all- I have seen other people with dark hair (can tell by their roots) who have an all-over bright colour, so it must work for some people?

Thanks again for all the replies- lots to think about!

[unimagmative13]

Yes but there starting point may be different! Ie they might not of had coloured hair.

Bleaching dark virgin would work for sure.

[RubyRubySoho]

Ah ok unimagine I thought it was just that my hair was dark in general that was the issue.

[Idontknowwhoiam]

It's the previous dark dyes and their pigmentation that's the problem.
My hair came up white but only when it was pixie and I had virgin hair.
If you've used any dyes such as mahogany browns, cherry reds etc you will have a really tough time getting anything other than a brassy orange!
Baylage is when they paint the dye on your hair to compliment the cut rather than going from the root such as with highlighting cap or foils.
It gives it a nice growing out look rather than a line of yellow and brown around your head!!!

[ihave2naughtydogs]

If you are going to bleach your hair , get it done at a hairdressers that uses olaplex.
Olaplex will help prevent bleach damage.

[RubyRubySoho]

Thanks Ihave I think I'll go into the salon and actually speak to a hairdresser before I make the appointment, then she can look at my hair and see what she thinks/ask what they use.

The salon I usually go to is excellent and have always done a good job so I'm happy that they'll do it properly (or refuse to do it if it will ruin my hair).

[RubyRubySoho]

The brown I use has no red pigment in it whatsoever, so hopefully if I use colour b4 it'll be ok?

[unimagmative13]

'Brown' has red/orange pigment in it no matter what so that's what you get when lifting if you can lift enough you get yellow