Can I get my v dark hair highlighted without needing bleach?

[Willow33]

I have had my almost black hair highlighted and accordingto the hairdreser no bleach was used but another hairdresser said they definitely used it.
So does anyone know which products, if any, can be used for salon hair highlights.

I don't think you can lighten very dark hair without bleach unfortunately.
It just doesn't work.

No it needs to be lightened first and then the colour added.

I was a model in a Toni and Guy show where the colourists weren't allowed to use bleach, they lightened it in stages using some kind of 'bath' or something (I don't even know what that means?!). So yes it can be done, but not in one sitting I don't think.

bleach bathing would work but again that's definitely bleach.

Probably bleach with a toner.

Lots of bottle blondes I know claim to use a high lift tint, it must be very high lift to get their hair that blonde. There seems to be some kind of stigma attached to bleach.

I was blonde and mine was bleached.

What about lemon juice? Doesn't that lighten hair and isn't bleach?

You need the bleach to strip out the colour unfortunately, although I think the dyes are much better now. I have been having foil highlights for years and my hair is in relatively good condition, presumably because it isn't a full head of peroxide.

Thanks for your replies.

I have quite dark hair (dark brown) and highlights. Was done in a very expensive place in central London (Michael Barnes) but they definitely didn't use bleach. A colour called "gold" according to the stylist. So not very light but it gives the appearance of a bit more volume without looking too fake.

I think if you wanted to have blonde highlights they'd have to bleach it.