covering up red hair?

[Vickiyumyum]

I dyed my hair red similar to this, it had faded quite badly and my few greys needed covering. I didn't want red again, so decided to go back to my natural mousey/light brown. Its not really worked though, its still very red.

How do I get rid of the red and back to natural colour, ready for highlighting again?

I can't really afford a hairdresser at the moment, or the hours and hours sat in the chair.

it is very hard to get rid of red - have you tried one of those dye removers e.g. ColourB4 to see if that helps? It's either that or you have to go darker

I was just reading the reviews on superdrug.com for the colour removers. think I will have to do that and then go brown on top, but with no red tones. I'd look like a ghost if I went too ark, as very pale skinned.

ash colours are supposed to tone down reds if you still have orange tones after using the dye remover

So glad you posted this. My daughter has decided to go back to school after along time being home schooled. Her hair is the same colour as yours and just dyed it back to it normal colour of light brown and the red is still there. We are going to look round a school on Thursday and it needs to be as quoted in the prospectus a natural colour by then. Starting to get a bit desperate!

try an ash blonde/light ash brown to see if that helps

Head and shoulders doesn't work. I think it must be more gentle these days but I use it most times I wash my hair and it hadn't stripped it out.

I've ordered the superdrug own brand colour stripper and an ash brown dye for after. I looked in the local superdrug but they didn't have it.

Thanks everyone. I'll report back and good luck to your daughter mrs14

Interested to hear whether the colour stripping stuff works. I've dyed my hair dark reddish-brown and it's too dark for me now. And the greys show up straight away.

Just bought some extra strong colour remover from home bargains for 2.99 if that helps anyone. Using it on my daughter tomorrow. Will let you know how it goes.

I dyed my hair bright orange (or mango or whatever they called it) and just bleached it out again.
All done at home, no damage, no fuss :)
I'm sure you could put an ash blonde over pretty much soon as if that's what you wanted. Or just use a purple toner if it's a little brassy.

Just be careful of the colour you use after using the colour remover - make sure it's not a permanent colour and too dark a shade. It may result in a darker colour than what you want! Your better of choosing a light ash brown semi permanent, one that gradually washes out. Nice & easy do these.

Another way to remove colour is the Vitamin C & Shampoo mix. Google it.

ah thanks for the tip, haveagoodday. I had ordered permanent, I will buy a semi instead. I intend to leave 2 or 3 days in-between but a bit apprehensive about what colour I will be left with. I can't do it until Saturday as won't have the time.

The colour removers are brilliant.
I sue my hair black, and in the past when I have wanted a change I have brought the colour b4 extra strength and it strips the colour right out.
The only downside is it leaves a nasty smell to your hair for a while after when it's wet!

That's supposed to by dye not sue

Don't use anything with peroxide in after stripping, at least not for a week. The peroxide will reactivate any left over pigment and you may end up very dark or red again. If you need to colour it straight away use a level 1 / temporary / wash-in-wash-out / one part colour. Probably in an ash / cool shade if you still have warmth (red) in your hair. Beware: ash on top of blonde gives green!

I have used colour b4 when getting rid of red. You can dye immediately with a non mix dye to tide you over until you can use a more permanent.

Beware it will go a scary orange. Mine also needed regular conditioning treatments.

I will never go red again, it took forever to get rid.

I did mine today with the colour before stuff.

This is pretty much the colour it came out with - but with inch long WHITE roots (not grey).

I'd read the instructions and put a temporary dark ash blonde on straight away. It's gone a bit darker than it showed on the box but the colour before stuff did warn that your hair can go darker as it can be more porous.