I’m a hairdresser AMA

[LorelaiRoryEmily]

Since there have been a few hair related threads lately I thought people might have questions.
Totally prepared for tumbleweed

@chocolover12 yep a cool brown should sort it out. In professional colour it definitely would so fingers crossed box dye will do similar. You will have to darken slightly too so whatever number the colour you used was maybe go down just one. So if you used a 6 for example get a 5

How's this colour? I've been told by L'Oréal this has ash tone in it so should neutralise it?
And it's darker thanks

@Taxiplease I would have the same opinion as your hairdresser. I think they’re overpriced and over rated.

I’m a massive fan of Schwarzkopf BC fibre force for any hair Thor that needs a little tlc. It won’t weigh your hair down, it won’t make it lank or greasy looking and it will really improve the quality of your hair. (I swear I don’t work for Schwarzkopf! I wish I did though🤣)

The reason I haven’t recommended any professional hair colour to be used at home on here is because professional colour is for hairdressers. I’m insured to use professional hair colour. I’m fully trained and qualified and know how to use them correctly.

If you use them at home and use them incorrectly and they damage your hair you have absolutely no comeback with the company whatsoever whereas home colours are designed to be used at home, therefore if you have a problem they have to help you.

Also i think it would be unfair to all of your hairdressers if I were to tell you exactly how to do what they do. It actually never occurred to me to suggest professional to anyone for home use🤦🏻‍♀️ Maybe that’s what I was being asked? I don’t know🤣🤣

Anyway professional colours are intermixable and very few of my clients have a colour that is just one shade, it’s usually a mixture that I’ve come up with so you could potentially have to buy 3 or 4 tubes and even then the mix might not be right.
Using the wrong measurements of colour and developers or the wrong strength developers also alters the PH balance of the colour and can cause reactions that wouldn’t happen if they were used correctly.

I think if you want to colour your hair at home there are loads of options and if you want professional colour you go to a salon

Purple shampoo might help *chrispratt a little but you’re right it absolutely won’t fix the problem and the best option is a toner. I would have no clue what toners are available in supermarkets or pharmacy’s and for all the reasons above I just won’t recommend the use of professional colour to someone who’s not qualified to use it. There absolutely are risks involved as with any chemical.

When I look at a clients hair I’m looking at the colour, condition, what was in it previously and I know how to treat accordingly. Also there are colours(not too many anymore) that can contain ingredients that will react with professional colour and that can potentially be very very bad!

Good god I wrote you an essay🤣🤣 oh and thanks for the feedback re the Instagram thing! I might just do it😊

@chocolover12 that looks good. Bear in mind that a 4 will possibly be quite dark again but it looks like a good option to me

Thank you so much it does look dark but don't want to risk staying orange 🍊 lol

Thank you OP. I’m in desperate need of a cut and colour so will book an appointment

@LorelaiRoryEmily just popped back (after posting about my balayage/highlighting disaster a few days ago) to say I did an internet search for "best hair colourist near me", and found a salon 20 mins away which has won multiple awards for colouring - I messaged them and they offered me a free correction consultation to check out the carnage and try to repair it.

They were FAB. I felt at ease the minute I walked through the door, and the Artistic Director (no less!) spent ages and ages studying my hair, my pictures, what I actually wanted vs what I could realistically achieve etc (including going back to one colour). They have devised a bespoke plan - a sort of reverse balayage - to put my natural colour back in, lose the orange and achieve the look I wanted in the first place. I've had skin tests, strand tests, and been sent away with a treatment to use a few times before I go back on 7th May.

And all for much less ££ than I expected! So I am relieved and happy that I'm doing the right thing. Thanks so much for your advice.

Is there a product that will actually make me grow more hair? Not longer but thicker?

Also I dye my hair ginger/copper colour is it possible to have it balayage? It's naturally brown.

Like this, but I don't know if it's possible with already coloured hair.

@HildaAlida that’s great!! I’m delighted you’re getting sorted. Post a pic when you’ve had it done 😊

@Drogonsnextwife hi! No there isn’t really anything that will make you grow more hair in my opinion. There are products that will make your hair feel thicker while you use them but nothing that will actually make you grow more hair. Have you tried any supplements? Ask in a health food shop or pharmacy. Honestly I’ve never seen it happen.

Re the colour, it can be very difficult to get copper colours to lift to a blonde, it’s not impossible but would take some time and is something that should be done by a hairdresser. Definitely not impossible. I’d do it no hassle but I’d take my time so as not to damage your hair

Why are you against the supermarket favourite product beginning with P? Where did you learn about it and what are consumers not being told about P?

Thank you

@Teaaddict235 I haven’t personally used it in a very very long time but in college we were told all about liquid plastics and salt being used to bulk up cheaper shampoos, H*E was a big no no then. In my experience I find p hard on colour. A lot of the cheap brands scare just something bubbly to wash your hair. The quality of ingredients in professional products is far superior

*are not scare

Hi love this thread! My Q is why does my semi permanent brown ( 5/6 ) fade to orange? About 4 weeks in. I have it done to cover greys ( maybe 10% Max) but I have cool skin tone and the ginger looks awful on me. Mainly at the bottom as I have shoulder length straight fine hair. I repeatedly ask for ash brown. I once went slightly khaki! Help!

Hi op.
I just wonder about your back?
How do you find standing all day every day?
is it hard?
exhausting?
I love my hairdressers, they are turkish and dont talk to me, just how I like it

@Tatapie it’s possibly too light. Maybe go down to the 5 completely and ask them to try just a natural? It might not wash up as orange. It does depend on the brand the they use how warm the naturals are but it’s not a problem I have with mine. Hope this helps😊

Oh and also it’s a good idea to invest in a professional colour freeze shampoo. It’ll help hold the colour for longer

Hi @EleanorReilly some days it gets sore but usually not. I’m full of knots in my shoulders but I get them worked out every now and then. If I do a lot of hilites in one day I’ll have a sore shoulder but in general I’m used to standing and find it hard to sit still

What do you think of fringes ? And why are they so hard to maintain ! Nevertheless I do like fringes

OP this thread has been brilliant! I love the idea of an Instagram page with the same feeling too.

I'm booked in for a restyle in Monday and currently have shoulder length hair with a fringe. I'm dying to get it short, but am worried about it looking too limp and a bit like a helmet. Can pretty much anyone go for this sort of thing as long as they are reasonably competent at drying? My hairdresser is a friend, so I'm sure she'll tell me if she doesn't think it'll suit my hair, but I don't want to get my hopes up!

Hi @LorelaiRoryEmily - do you know if people go through a 'shedding' period with their hair? It seems that every year after summer I seem to lose handfuls of hair and its pretty scarey! So much so that I cut my nearly waist length hair to collarbone length as it was freaking me out!
I've never had thinning or bald patches and do have thick hair but it was really coming out. I haven't coloured my hair for years now and never use products or heat. Have started using Olaplex now though and its looking good. Might need a new style!

Thanks OP. I didn't think there were any products that actually grow more hair, as much as so many of them claim to.

Fantastic thread very informative thank you OP😊