How to cope with roots from highlights in lockdown

[NerdImmunity]

So it's been almost 9 weeks since my last salon appointment and my hair is looking rather worse for wear. I tend to go every 6 weeks and spend a small fortune!

I have natural auburn hair with blonde highlights in two varying shades (that look quite natural if I don't say so myself!). The highlights have obvs grown out and in left with dark auburn roots.

How do I do some at home damage control here? Salons unlikely to be reopened for some time and with daily video calls for work I can't go on like this!

Any help out there!?!? How are you all coping with hair?

Everyone I known is either just embracing the roots or chucking a box dye over it. Not much else you can do. At least everyones looking a bit rough round the edges at the moment.

I have to laugh at how many men I've seen with a grade 2 all over (my partner included). I've been tempted to brave the shave but I think I'd look a pillock.

@FormerlyFrikadela01 ha! I channeled my inner barber and did DHs hair and actually think I did a decent job!

I am in exactly the same position. Natural colour is kind of very dark ash blonde to light brown. I get blonde highlights in three different shades every 6 weeks. Now 9-10 weeks since I last had it done. Despairing. I’m just embracing the roots at the moment. I’ve bought a wash out root concealer spray that had good reviews online but not used it yet. I’m guessing might be a few weeks from hairdressers reopening to being able to get an appointment, or a gap between being able to see friends again to hairdressers reopening so was going to use it then - as in for real life meet ups. Can’t be bothered with the maintenance and effort of doing it every time I have a zoom.
I’m too scared to do proper permanent box dye or home highlights myself.

I've text my hairdresser in despair - she has told me not to reach for the at home blonde box dye as the typically don't contain strong enough developer/bleach to lift the roots to make an even match to my hair. Instead she said to use the John freida go blonder spray on the root area for consecutive days to lighten the area generally and that should make the roots less stark as a temp fix. She did say it has diluted levels of peroxide in it (hence the lightening effect) so to ensure I'm using a good conditioner and leave in treatment. Also to use a root cover up spray ... but I've tried the "medium blonde" one and it seems awfully dark and didn't hide my roots at all!

Never use the John Frieda stuff. I dyed my hair custard yellow with that right before my wedding. Took the hairdresser a whole day to get it a decent colour for the wedding!
You would think I would have learnt from that. I currently have box dyed orange hair. Probably just buy a hat?!

I'm just embracing my roots and using a toner on my hair occasionally to keep any yellowing at bay.

Google root pull balayage - it will look better as it grows out more and look lieje a purposeful root pull. Brazen it out.

I’m leaving my hair alone, really excited for the transformation when I finally get it done!

I have about 3 months of brunette regrowth now as I’m a month overdue an appointment. Weirdly it’s looking better as it grows out because it’s starting to look like a balayage instead of just “roots”.

I don’t think you should do anything at home, you’re never going to be able to give yourself highlights as good as a salon can and there’s not much else you can do to blend your roots into the highlights

Mine's the same. I'm just letting it grow. I've got Color Wow root cover up in Blonde to disguise the roots if I need to. Definitely don't be tempted to try a permanent colour or home highlights. It will take months/years to grow out and if you like what your hair dresser usually does you might not be able to get it back like that for ages.

I found the John Frieda stuff awful and orangey. Light blonde hair mascara works well. I've just been putting my hair in a ponytail for work calls. I've got some pink dye I might try eventually. When this is over I'm going to stop the highlights and just go for an all over tint plus lighter balayage.

Ach just call it ombray - if it's good enough for SJP....

I was just thinking about this when I scrolled past your post. My natural hair is such a dull mousy colour which does nothing for my coming out of winter skin tone. Seriously considering sticking an all over dye in a warmer tone but I've had my hair blonde for so many years now I'm not sure how it will take on the ends. Eyebrows are looking awful too.

Okay I'm not going to try the John Freida stuff - you've all worried me about it now, and orange/bright yellow isn't my bag!

I managed to get Clairol root touch up powder stuff for 'blonde' from Amazon but it's crap! It's def more brown than blonde and if anything I felt it made my roots more noticeable. I'd love to ColourWOW root touch up but its out of stock everywhere :-(

I know I wouldn't be able to do a proper highlight job at home...which would inevitably involve bleach which is far too scary. I did have an old box of 'caramel blonde' somewhere which is like a dark blonde with light brunette tones. I've been tempted to try a 'root pull' like @JMAngel1 suggested but other than dabbing it a bit at the roots and then pulling random strands of colour down into the blonde a bit I'm totally novice at how to do it and get a decent result!

These are my roots .. I hate them but I'm fit and well so I'm ignoring them .