To think it’s impossible to home dye your hair blonde without it looking gingery?

[TeaAndBrie]

I have dark blonde hair that I normally get highlighted once or twice a year to brighten it up. I had booked in to have it last week and obviously things changed with lockdown.
I have tried box dyes before but every one I’ve used had made my hair look gingery, not the golden blonde it promises!
First world problem I know but aibu to think that it’s inevitable or does anyone have an secrets they can share?

Using a toner will help x

Ideally you need bleach not a blonde dye. Then a toner. But roots will look horrendous when they come through - be warned. I'd wait personally (speaking from bitter experience)

Purple shampoo or toner on top takes the ginger out.

You have to get an ultra lightening formula, one that takes it up to 8 shades lighter, and in a 'cooler tone'. I use the clairol lightest summer blonde and two applications us a purple shampoo got my mid brown hair light blonde. Obviously that caused a bit of damage, now I only apply once to the roots and they go a bit gingery, but not too noticeable after a purple wash.

Also be careful with 'vivid' colour brands like schwarzkopf - they contain metal salts which will then mean the hairdresser can't dye over it without destroying your hair.

You need to use a cool tone like ash blonde not a warm tomed dye like golden blonde. Use purple shampoo and leave it on for 5 minutes before rinsing to combat any brassiness.

My mum was a hairdresser and her one warning to people was - never, ever, try to home-dye your hair blonde. I have lived by this rule - and I always know when someone hasn't !!!

I'm a hairdresser. The answer is categorically no.

My hair is like that, it always has warmth in it even with cool dyes if I try to do it at home. I've started to do a few foils in my hair at home to brighten it up around the front, it's surprisingly easy if you're only doing a couple and get a weave comb. You have to use a toner though.

To be honest if you only go twice a year I'd just wait. You could always use a toner or purple shampoo to brighten it in the meantime.

Don’t do it

@TooManyDogsandChildren

Purple shampoo or toner on top takes the ginger out.

Do you mean put the purple toner on top of the hair colour as you are dying it? Or afterwards?

Thanks.

Use purple shampoo a couple of times a week

Box dye will not have a strong enough bleach to remove red tones which is why you are left looking ginger.
Purple shampoo/toner is for removing yellow tones
Blue shampoo/toner is for orange tones

Watch some videos by Brad mondo on FB to see others bleaching their hair and how badly it goes at home. If you still want to do it after that, be my guest but don't be surprised if you burn your hair off with the bleach. Best to leave it to a professional to be safe.

I used to be able to go really light blonde when I was younger with bleach and a toner after, but it really did destroy my hair over the years and I wouldn't touch home bleach again! Only have half a head of highlights at the hairdressers now and my hair is so much better for it, still won't grow past my shoulders though!

Be careful with purple shampoo it can give you a purple rinse if your hair is too porous. I went on YouTube and watched Brad Mondo (famous hairdresser) videos until I felt confident enough. Good luck

Biotin supplements will help your hair grow but I had to stop because they gave me an absolutely enormous appetite.

Yes you can, I did it. Took 3 rounds of bleach (spaced out so I didn’t ruin my hair), 2 rounds of toner and some purple shampoo. Looks great

I use the lightest Casting Creme by L'Oréal and no one believes it's not natural or - if I tell them - not salon done. My hairdresser says it's because my hair is quite blonde to begin with (although I'd still describe it as dark blonde) which is why I get away with it. That and it's "semi permanent" so isn't too harsh (only minimal bleach).
So it can be done if you're lucky!

Thanks everyone :) I think I might just try and book in for December when hopefully things open again!

Yep I would wait OP, I have dark blonde hair too and tried all sorts of home colours when I was younger (largely due to funds!). I wouldn't try to lighten it myself again, even with toner, I found the damage was worse than in a salon and it never looked as good.

Plus (I don't know the hairdressery term for this) box dye caused a much more abrupt line of regrowth which looked as though I had dark hair, rather than balayage or highlights which blend in more. You'll probably need highlights in a month or so anyway to alleviate this effect.

Been doing mine for years but it is dark blonde/light brown to start with. Ages ago I used to get it done at a salon with three shades of highlights and all manner of messing about. It took hours and hours (understandably as it looked like a complicated and skilled process I wouldn't want to attempt ever!) and needed regular maintenance.

I prefer how it looks doing it myself in twenty minutes at home, for less than 10% of the cost tbh. I choose a cool tone, and don't aim for ultra blonde, and it's completely fine. The much-missed discontinued Prodigy was my favourite home dye, but I've found a decent substitute.

I wish I had that problem, I need to work out the best way to cover the grey roots! During last lockdown one so called 100% grey coverage colour turned them silver and another turned my hair brown rather than blonde.

Ch CK out brad mundo he's on FB and YouTube he has great tips although his top tip is to pay for a hairdresser.