Can we have a hairdresser AMA?

[PrincessBuggerPants]

I'll start with my questions:

Which is a better choice for doing my hair dye tinted roots? Henna or box dye?

How bad an idea is it to give myself an undercut on a short, layered bob?

@Longbob - you would need a hell of a lot of patience to do this, but it can be done.
Section hair off to expose the tape and rub something oil based on to them and on to the hair and gently work that into the tape. Leave for like 30 mins before trying to slide them down the hair. If your really really lucky they will be able to come apart.

Oils to use- olive oil, coconut oil, baby oil, vaseline

You will probably probably struggle to wash the oil bases based products out so. Before you wet your hair use a fair amount of shampoo and work into the hair to breakdown the oil. Wash and repeat as needed.

If all of that sounds too much please keep hair as tangle free as poss to avoid matting. Make.sure hair dried before sleeping on it

@OhTheRoses and @CaramelEmporium
Silver/violet shampoo would be the best to help. After several uses it can blur the way the foils look. If over used it will cause a build up and possibly add a nice bluish tone. Use one per week as your second shampoo leave on for between 3 and 5 mins no more. If your hair is very porous is as a normal shampoo.

@LadyLuna16 I'd suggest possibly using a tad more product to style. Use straighteners to add a soft flick around ears, fringe and randomly to give it a wind swept/textured look. Straighten any bits that get too long or heavy to give more hold. Tuck some hair behind your ear but leave a cm section out just in front. Have fun with clips, plaits and hair bands. Again check out YouTube.

How do I cut boys' hair? Dh has clipper but ds is a bit scared of them. He is 3. Having watched the barber do his scissor cut it looks really complicated! I don't mind it getting long except that it's starting to go in his eyes and bother him. Any ideas for something to tide him over until we can see the barber?

This isn't really how AMAs work is it?! Thanks for stepping up though extremity!

Yes and DH hair please? I cut my own blunt straight fringe quite well but that’s as far as my skills go, have decent scissors tho.

Hi Extremity, quick question, is a home perm kit ever a good idea? Really fed up with my poker straight, volume-less hair.

Is it true that you can't lighten your hair with box dye? I was thinking of trying to go blonde while I'm in lockdown.
On another thread people are saying you shouldn't buy anything but essentials so it might not be possible anyway...

Frazzlesandcoke. Can you still buy home perm kits? 😳. I remember doing my mum’s about 20 years ago. I have the same hair as you, thin, poker-straight and lifeless so am very interested to know whether this would be an option! Had perms when I was younger and a hairdresser perm about 2 years ago which sadly didn’t last long until it fell out.

Catwithflowers Yes you can! I'm as stunned as you! Boots and Superdrug both sell them although they should know better.

Can you recommend a pair of scissors please I have long hair and I will need trim the ends soon.

Is it true that you can't lighten your hair with box dye? I was thinking of trying to go blonde while I'm in lockdown.

If you want to lighten your hair you need bleach. I bleach my own hair at home, I use Schwarzkopf Blonde Me bleach which is expensive but it's really good, and has bond builders in it. I use it with 20 vol developer and leave it on for longer, which is apparently better for your hair than using 30 or 40 vol. Whatever you do, do not use Jerome Russell or Bleach London bleaches from Boots!

A blonde box dye won't do anything on your hair unless it is already blonde, because it won't lift it enough, and that's when you end up with the orange.

Wow ok lots of questions. As you can all see I'm dying (hahaha) to get back behind the chair. I know this isn't how AMA works but couldn't resist getting involved.

For mens/boys cuts - if your looking at just maintaining a quick tidy of the perimeter should work. Just follow the cut and only take about a cm off. Clippers work really well for beginners as well. The lower the number on the grade the shorter the cut will be. I'd probably recommend starting at the nape with a 3 or 4, clipper around the head to just above ear, change clipper guards and go to a 4/5 up to the recession. (No higher than temples) then use a 6 to do the top. This will not be a barber or salon standard cut but will help with blending and will be fairly short. It will hopefully be passable. Check how tos on YouTube and pinterest. You do need to be fairly confident. Gents work is some of the hardest hair to cut technically. Best thing to do would be to tidy fringe and around the ears following the nape.

Scissors - you can get training grade scissors for around £30. They aren't great but will do the job. Check out salons direct. I wouldn't really recommend spending more than that as it's only a one time (hopefully) solution. Scissors are an expensive bit of kit. I use Kasho and pay around £650 for a pair just to five you a comparison.

I'm not familiar with many shop bought box dyes at all. I only really know 2 professional brands. If a colour looks too red/plum then it probably is. If its darker than your usual colour you should be fine if a bit bright colour wise as well as deeper. If its lighter you will get banding. So it will take on your roots but not the ends. As far as further issues with compatibility moving forward, I couldn't say without seeing the ingredients or doing a strand test to check for metallic salts which is generally what causes the issue. I would not recommend using a veg or henna based colour as the henna will definitely react and veg based ones may contain henna. The safest thing is to not colour and get a spray touch up. Sorry I'd that's a bit vague.

Bleaching/lightning more than 2 shades at home - don't do it. The reason is you would have to go through a couple of different processes depending on what's in your hair already to get your desired result. This is because as you lift hair it goes through different underlying pigments which need to be neutralised appropriately. So you could end up with very yellow or orange hair depending. It's also very difficult to evenly distribute the product to avoid banding. Toners are often done in different areas of the hair ro achieve a balanced look. Done badly it could lead to breakage and a horrible colour result. Often when done professionally we will recommend doing it slowly over several appts to maintain the integrity of your hair. Even with treatments it can take a long time to recover when the correct result is achieved.

As always please make sure you patch test before using a colour.

Extremity, please may I ask a question? I missed my appointment by one day so already have about 1/2 cm of fairly grey roots ( well I am 63!)
My lovely salon uses milkshake and I am blonde ( over original mid brown) not sure of the shade number but it involves hilift (?) and about 70 mins development. I love the colour and have the roots done every 4/5 weeks.
My husband is willing to have a go at my roots and I can trim my fringe. Is there anything I can buy from supermarket or boots to use or is that idea too ridiculous?
Realise no one is going to see me for weeks so will leave it if the professionals say so
Thanks in advance

That should read 1-2 cm not half a cm

Poker straight ladies:
Blow dry your hair upside down to almost or mainly dry.
Plait and twist into a bun, leave for a while. Unwrap, use texture or volume spray, gentle brush.

If it works on my East and South Asian friends, it will work on you. May take a bit of practice and refinement.

Thanks for the advice about boys' hair. I cannot get over scissors costing £650!

Question here for hairdresser

I’ve got brown copperish hair colour all over atm how easy would it be to go light again?

Like in the picture below?

As a hairdresser myself this post is making me cringe! Just remember colour corrections start at around £300. You're not seeing anyone just embrace your hair until you see your hairdresser! Or use a root spray!!!

Ooo I’ve got a box dye question

If I do need to use one, which is best for thick dark ash brown hair?

And for the patch test, do I literally take some dye out of the bottle? Will it not make the rest of the bottle go ‘off’ and not work? Or do I need a second bottle to do the test?

Btw this is something I’m not doing myself I’m waiting for the hairdressers to open!

I have a question. I've got a 19yo with very curly hair. He missed the hairdresser appointment last time. It is now BIG. He asked if I would cut it but then he chickens out. Any advice. His nervousness probably comes about because I said I could put it in a bobble then chop it off haha!

Thanks thisenglishlife, I've just washed my hair so going to try this now.

Hi, can I ask you something? I colour my naturally auburn hair (I do see the odd grey come through also, but not many) a medium cool brown. I usually use the Schwarzkopf Poly Tint permanent dye which is the only one that seems to cover my roots as they seem very stubborn to cover. I usually apply the dye to my roots first & leave for 15 mins then apply through the lengths & ends & leave for a further 15 mins.

Although the dye is permanent, it always seems to wash out over a few weeks. I love the colour when it’s just been done & my hair feels & looks really healthy, then as it washes up, it looks ‘tired’! It’s the same with any other dyes, the permanent ones just aren’t staying in my hair! Even the one my mobile hairdresser used washed up over a couple of weeks! Why is this?