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Original poster

Please give me some hair colour advice

16 replies

StickyFloor · 19/12/2013 15:22

I have very dark brown hair and want to colour it light brown. I bought a Loreal colour last week (6.3) and ended up medium/dark brown with a very definite hint of red!

So now I am wondering if I should buy the darkest blonde colour they do and see if that works. Or will I end up red / orange?!

I am guessing that because my hair was so dark in the first place the colour didn't come out as light as expected, but I have never done this before - any advice welcome, please.

OP posts:
MrsHarryRamsden · 19/12/2013 15:23

I think you would need to pre lighten your hair as its so dark

Original poster
StickyFloor · 19/12/2013 15:26

I have no idea what pre-lighten means! Can I do that myself at home?

OP posts:
pinkpeoniesx · 19/12/2013 15:35

You can buy something called 'colour b4' which will take your hair back to its previous colour. I don't think it's too tricky but it does smell horrible!!
Blonde hair dye wouldn't work unless it had bleach in it (a lot of them are just tints for hair that's already blonde) and it's a bit risky as like you said there's a good chance it might end up orange and dry!!Shock
Also head and shoulders shampoo or good old fairy liquid are great at fading hair colour fast. I accidentally dyed my hair black but it was pretty much back to normal after two weeks shampooing with fairy liquid. Just use a really nice conditioner afterwards!!!! Smile

MrsHarryRamsden · 19/12/2013 15:40

bleach it first i mean, maybe a job for a hairdresser? I have had too many home dye disasters and my fair share of orangey hair!

Original poster
StickyFloor · 19/12/2013 16:00

OK I think I am going to go to the hairdresser, thanks ladies. I might try fairy liquid in the meantime though!

OP posts:
Flangeofmingetown · 19/12/2013 17:51

Just buy loreal super blonde prelightener. It won't take it back to blonde but it will strip it back enough so you can apply a nice light brown over it. It will look really brassy directly after pre lightening but don't panic just use a really good permanent colour over it and it will be fine. I personally rate loreal excellence out of all the home dyes. They do two light brown ones- the iced one gives a cooler cast to the hair.

I have done this loads and it works well.

NoUseForAName · 19/12/2013 17:54

Colour won't lift colour only darken, to go lighter you will have to strip the colour or bleach it! Defo a hairdresser job if your not home dye confident!

Original poster
StickyFloor · 20/12/2013 14:01

Can I use the prelightener and then immediately dye over the top. I mean on the same day?

(Can't get to the hairdressers until the NY so tempted to have a bash!)

OP posts:
Flangeofmingetown · 20/12/2013 21:18

Yes absolutely- but dry your hair after prelightening so you apply the dye to dry hair.

Coconutty · 20/12/2013 21:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Clarabumps · 20/12/2013 22:01

I personally wouldn't lighten your hair unless you go to a hairdresser..At least not the first time. Once it is lighter then you could ask the hairdresser for advice on how to maintain it at home.
If you use a blonde dye or pre lightener and your hair already has a red tint through it then it could go ginger.
Don't do it yourself. You could seriously frazzle your hair and then make it hard to achieve your ideal colour.
I had my hair pre lightened twice and it broke off and I had to get a pixie crop. I have med-dark brown hair and I got it done at a hairdressers. My hair was just over processed after being bleached and it just snapped. It's taken me 3 years to get back to shoulder length.
DON'T DO IT!!

Clarabumps · 20/12/2013 22:02

and by ginger..I don't mean red. I mean as ginger as a can of Irn Bru.

HaveAGoodDay · 20/12/2013 22:32

If you could get to a hairdressers, You would be better off leaving it for them to do. I went to my local salon & had a bleach bath to lighten my hair up a few shades before having my desired colour put over the top.

It only cost £10 for the bleach bath, basically it's shampoo & hair bleach & a lot of massaging! A gentle way to lighten the hair. My hair had been already dyed a medium brown & I had colour build up on the lengths & wanted to be a more vibrant auburn. Worked a treat.

cerealqueen · 21/12/2013 00:10

Too drastic a change for home dye, home dye kits suggest keeping within one or two shades to natural colour and you are going for more - you'll be irn bru, as suggested up thread!

Original poster
StickyFloor · 21/12/2013 18:55

OK the image of IRN BRU has terrified me. I will wait until the New year and leave it to the professionals.

I'm a coward at heart, and don't want to spend the rest of my life looking back at photos of the Christmas when I looked like a carrot!

OP posts:
TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 21/12/2013 20:36

I'd love Irn bru hair.

Definitely get it done in a salon.I prelightened my dark hair once (to dye ginger) and it was a huge mistake!!I was multicoloured!!!

That said,I now use a garnier dye that even works on black hair.I'm lovely and ginger now Grin

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