Hair - how often is it ok to colour?

[PippyRose]

I dye my own hair with box colours (convenience, time, cost etc). I use permanent dye, the Schwarzkopf Live box colours.

I have found that it fades really quickly (within two weeks).

How much does it wreck your hair to use permanent dyes once a fortnight? Am I going to wake up bald one day?

My hair is shoulder length and I have it trimmed regularly.

How often do you wash it? Do you use colour safe products?

Some of the Live dyes have peroxide or some kind of lightener in - this TRASHES your hair more than the actual dye. The good bit is that it lightens your roots/virgin hair which gives a brighter colour (which seems to be why they're so good at the less conventional hair colour dyes)

I'd recommend swapping to every 6 weeks for roots maintainence only. To stop the colour fading, get a semi-permanent dye and mix it with your conditioner - apply once a week with gloves. If your hair has been lifted by the permanent dyes the semi-permanent will take really well and keep the colour looking fresh!

Oh and the more you dye it with a lightening agent, the more the colour will ultimately fade. From my understanding hydrogen peroxide makes your hair more porous and less able to hold dye, so it's counter productive to use these dyes more often

I found the live colours fade fast, so I get mine done professionally every 8-10 weeks, it works out the same cost as using a box dye every 2 weeks and it lasts so much better.

Demented pixie - No, but I've been reading about them so I'm going to start buying the shampoo for coloured hair. Can you recommend any?

PreABooire - How long do you leave the conditioner in for? Sounds like a good idea as a top up.

FranipaniBlue - I might start going back to the hairdressers. Just takes so long. They did a good job though.

Thanks all.

I also use this once a month too.....

https://www.beautybay.com/haircare/revlonprofessional/nutricolorcreme200violet/

Doesn't cover grey or roots but helps prolong my colour

You could look into mixing your own professional haircolour at home if you feel confident enough.

Box colour, even some demi permanent will contain peroxide in the developer. Perm colours often use 40 vol which is too harsh for most hair types

Joico do a developer called veroglaze which is .5 vol which can be mixed with any of their professional dyes. Which you can mix to achieve the colour you wish. They have a comprehensive info booklet you can download and if you are game enough see if its something you would feel happy enough to do at home.

This wont lift your hair ie lighten it but will depoist colour to refresh it. You could then use a higher volume developer on your roots once a month or 6 weeks to blend.

I buy all supplies off amazon and do it at home.
I do have short hair and i also live by the addage hair grows so it might be too much "risk" for some

I have the same problem, but my roots are white, i use "nice and easy" but it is ruining my hair because of the peroxide in it,
I have searched for semi permanent and cant seem to find any, some say non permanent, but might be the same i suppose
It is difficult to do your own roots, but hairdressers is expensive when hair grows fast
Dont know what the answer is
I do know when i have put a darker color on without peroxide ,the condition is much better,[im blonde]

My God it's a minefield! Trial and error I suppose.

I tried using the La Riche Directions pots because they are 'natural' - (vegetable based dyes that don't damage hair). I love the red colours but they wash out SO quickly!

Thanks for the advice, I'll look into your suggestions.

I used to use the crazy colour semi-permanent dyes for red. And only left it on as long as I would usually with conditioner - 5 mins or so while I wash. You only need a tiny bit of dye so wouldn't harm to use it every time you wash your hair, my bottle of dye lasted 2+ years doing this. Little and often works better ime

Never heard of Crazy Colour but I'll look it up. Thanks :)