Box blonde dye crisis

[Amazinggg]

So I usually have expensive highlights, have done for years to lift my mousey hair into a vision of blonde swishiness.

I am now a skint SAHM and can't justify the £80 it costs for a full head. Enter box dye... I whacked Loreal Preference Blondissmes in lightest ash blonde on and it's (possibly predictably) turned my roots orange and the rest of my hair a quite nice platinum blonde!

What do I do oh wise ones? Google is telling me I should have used bleach powder mixed with peroxide and done a basic bleach job then toned it to get a naice colour. I don't mind going super light, I just want rid of the oranginess and to not over-process my hair.

And if anyone says go to a hairdresser, unless you're paying, kindly do one it's not hideous as it's only the roots that are orange, I have purple shampoo to tone it that will prob help if there's nothing I can do.

Option one: leave it/use purple shampoo
Option two: buy same dye and repeat in a week
Option three: go all in and do a bleach job

I don't know why your roots are orange. I use Belle Colour (110 extra light blonde), the lightest blonde, so need to use a pre-lightener before, apparently. Would something like that be of any use?

I'm edging towards option three. I don't know that applying more of the same dye would produce results. I'm not sure purple shampoo would do much either Remember also to apply any dye to your roots first.

I used purple shampoo and didn't work when my roots wen ginger!
I ended up dying golden brown non permanent over the top and am now a brunette, which I never ever thought I would do, but I love it.
Not much help I know, sorry

You need to use an ash blonde colour in it to tone down the orange. Then use either a pre lightener or bleach the roots and try again with the colour you actually want.

I put it on roots first then through lengths, and waited the full 45 mins before removing. Maybe a shower cap or something to heat it a bit would have made it more effective... My hair is sort of light mousey brown almost dark blonde really. I'm thinking bleach too. I'm going to look just like Gwen Stefani yeah right

I don't understand why it's gone orange though, there must be millions of people who use these kits - £5.99 versus £80 was a worthwhile gamble

Cross posted - it was 'lightest ash blonde' so ash not golden or anything likely to go orange! I think it just wasn't powerful enough to lift the colour enough.

And a big fat 'no' from DH to me going brown or a gorgeous deep red...

Argh. I tried that dye on the advice of a hairdresser. My hair is quite dark but I wanted to go a few shades lighter and was told that should do it (if I dye over the top). Wicked. Put it in, sat it out, washed and... Omg reverse effing leopard print.

So now I'm blonde as the only way I was saving that mess was a bleach job. I reckon that may be your option here too I'm afraid.

OK im a level 3 hair student, here's your options.

Recolour roots with same colour, being careful not to overlap onto lighter mid lengths and ends.

Low volume peroxide and bleach to lift the root area.

Or contact your local college, most hairdressing students are desperate for models.

On the other hand if you are in the midlands I may be able to help you

Ooh an actual hairdresser! Not in midlands unfortunately. If I do a bleach job should I put it on roots then through lengths as well? How long should I wait, should I wait a week to let my hair recover from this?

Don't put any more on your mid lengths and ends, roots only! Chances are your hair is pretty stressed after the dye on top of already lightened hair.

Wait a week minimum, ideally 2-4 weeks but realistically sometimes thats too long to be walking around with hair you hate!

In the meantime get yourself a decent deep conditioning treatment and use in place of usual conditioner, after shampooing and towel drying, slap it on and wrap your head in cling film and a towel.
Kepp this on for as long as you can, this will help restore any lost moisture and prepare your hair for the subsequent application.

As far as the bleach goes, budget dependent I would either go for Loreal (perfect blonde) or Goldwell Oxycur Platin and a bottle of 6% 20 volume creme peroxide, both can be bought on ebay.

If you go for the latter you can use it for subsequent root touch ups. Also purchase a tint bowl, brush and peroxide measure. Total cost shouldn't exceed £30.

Seems like a large initial outlay but you will get around 8-10 applications from that.

Finish with a purple shampoo, regular conditioning treatments and you should be good to go

Ooh for conditioning treatments Osmo deep repair is brilliant - also can get on eBay or Dove express repair treatment for damaged hair is also a good one

Oh wow thanks OhWouldYou that's really helpful, I will do exactly that if I can wait a week hiding

I saw BBlonde kits - would you recommend that? It's just powder bleach and peroxide you mix up, comes in two strengths.

I used to use Kerastase Masquintense in younger richer days so will prob get that again, it's about £20 from hairdresser but about £50 for a mahoosive pot off EBay. Lasts ages though and am saving squillions by not having highlights.

And and and

If I like the effect of full bleach, how often should I do it to maintain - once a month roots only would you think?

me in a week

I bought a box for £6.99 and it had some peroxidy bleachy substance, I tried to highlight mine, it was shoulder length, my head got stuck in the cap and I had to call my mum to help me cut the cap off, I was running around with blue stuff on my hair. It turned out quite well (once I cut the cap off and pulled half my hair out). Big streaks and huge mis-shapen roots - but okay

BBlonde is awful - its extremely harsh, also steer clear of xxl live blondes too!! The only home bleach kit I recommend is the loreal perfect blonde - maximum blonde

Kerastase is fantastic

Main point that I cannot stress enough is when you retouch the roots do not overlap onto the mid length and ends, its a recipe for breakage and disaster!

Roots will probably need retouching every 4 weeks

Ok will go with Loreal. Is it basically just bleach and peroxide same as BBlonde though, how is it gentler? Will it still be super lifting? Will I need a toner do you think? So many questions...

Oh would you- would you mind terribly if I messaged you regarding my hair? It's cheeky I know

It is bleach and peroxide yes but a higher quality. Bblonde and Live do not contain the buffers and emollient properties that higher quality brands do. Its these properties that protect the hair whilst lightening to give the highest lift with the least damage to the hair structure.

As long as you lift the roots to a creamy colour - think the inside of a banana then a toner won't be necessary as the purple shampoo will neutralize any remaining yellow tones.

Makeitup - Yes of course inbox away

I have bought Loreal stuff from Savers and ordered Kerastase from Feelunique. Thanks again OhWouldYou! will do it next weekend.

Another question: any tips for applying it to roots without overlapping on to the rest of my hair? Is worst case scenario my hair breaking off at the overlap?