High/low lights help!

[atomicnotsoblonde]

I'm skint and need to colour my own hair. Hairdresser to do it is not an option. I've got dyed single colour dark brown hair that I want to break up. I'm thinking of adding some caramel low lights to break up the single colour.

Plan to get a cap, pull through strands and colour.

Aside from get a professional, any suggestions or tips as to how I can make this work best? I'm not sure how many strands to pull through or if there is a pattern/order to doing it?

Thanks 🙏

Could you get it done on one of those freebie things where someone is training, that's what I've done in the past. There are quite a few advertised on gumtree.

Can't help with tips but groupon often has hair colour sessions for big discounts

Please don't do this! As you already have color on your hair, you would have to use bleach to lift and then another colour to tone it! Then you would need to know what toner to get to counteract warmth etc so that it doesn't end up khaki or some other horrendous colour! I would advise that if you cannot get it done professionally, just to stick to one colour until you can afford it! You really need professional input for such a colour change. Can you not see if any local hair colleges are looking for models. Students do your colour under supervision of a qualified, experienced hairdresser for a fraction of the price.

Looks like I'll have to stick with bad block colour. 😕

I can't do sessions at the local college as I work full time and they are in the day. I am a single parent of 2 with an ex who doesn't believe in child maintenance and is hiding (successfully) from the CMS who are beyond useless. Paying is not an option. One hairdresser trip is more than a weeks food. Argghh 😕

I know prices are extortionate!! I'm lucky I tend to do my own foils but went to a hairdresser for my wedding hair and paid £80 just for my colour!! It's not something I could afford to do regularly! Could you not try to book a days annual leave and book in that day? Just an idea!

Any friends who are hairdressers who would let you pay cost price for the materials then pay for their time through babysitting or other payment in kind?

Go on Groupon!!! This is how I get my highlights done twice a year.... Do not do it yourself!!!

I'm going to go against the unanimous opinions above & say go for it...worst that happens is you have to put another box dye over the top and your hair is in a bit poorer condition than it was. I'd just buy a box dye in the colour I wanted the highlights, do a strand test to make sure the colour would be okay (if I was feeling super cautious) then scatter a load of strands through the hair. If you like it you can put more in, if you don't then a few days of intensive conditioner followed by another dye to cover it all. I'm sure Garnier sell highlight kits, they certainly used to.

It's only hair, it'll grow back

Get a friend to do it for you. It's difficult to do your own.

I use box dye mid brown on roots and then John Frieda yellow bottle sum spray and I have been asked if I have balayage.
I prefer nutty colours to warm colours and the spray creates beautiful highlights with no red in them.
I just do it over several days so I don’t overdo it.
I think it might be easier to deal with mistakes if you lighten your base colour.

Once it gets to payday I might have a try. My roots need going do I've got to do something one way or another!