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Help me strip my hair

23 replies

msssm · 13/04/2022 16:15

I have been using John Freida Defy Grey shampoo and conditioner for around 6 months, to allow my grey to get past the horrible block of white roots against black.

It looks to me like it's grown in quite a bit, and I want to get rid of the shampoo dye so I can see if I like the grey enough to keep it natural now. You can see how much reddish dark blonde there is. That's all grey as my natural hair is dark brown/black. I still have a lot of that in the lengths although that is not clear in my photo.

Does anyone know from experience if the colour will just come out if I use a normal shampoo? If not is there a gentle product you can recommend to just lift that colour while leaving my darker hair alone?

Probably a big ask but thanks for any help you can give!

Help me strip my hair
OP posts:
msssm · 13/04/2022 17:45

Bumping hopefully. Forgot to put pic in the title

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FlannelandPuce · 14/04/2022 09:38

I have just started something similar in that I am sick of dying my hair brunette only to get root growth after 3 weeks. I have started using defy grey brunette and so far have gone 7 weeks since my last dye (I had covid + couldn't be bothered), but have only been using the shampoo for a week. I was curious as to what it would do to my hair but I guess looking at your photo it's going to soften the steely grey to a blond colour so it will look like highlights? I personally don't think you should strip your hair as it does looks lovely and I think you may have found a good solution to transitioning from a brunette when it gets too much faff.

GreyTS · 14/04/2022 09:54

Any clarifying shampoo (the clear ones)should remove the colour in a few washes, Head and Shoulders - the original one is good for stripping colour

ArabeI · 14/04/2022 11:42

I agree with a pp that the colour looks nice.

Seconding Head and Shoulders, but also clarifying shampoos might help. I sometimes use an olive clarifying shampoo before a hair mask. Can't recall the name, without checking. It's from Boots I think.

msssm · 14/04/2022 16:32

Thank you for the compliments I didn't expect that!

@FlannelandPuce I use both the shampoo and the conditioner. Boots have them on a 3 for 2 permanently. They also do a mousse and when I use all 3 it looks a bit darker, but it can make your hair feel crispy and look a bit crap if you use a bit too much, not to mention the tanned palms. I don't recommend it. I have had a few people mention my highlights so I guess that is what it looks like! Hope it works for you. Persevere the first few washes. My hair was a shocking shade of copper at first. My grandkids had a laugh the first time I did it 😂

Im just not sure the blonde shade does much for my complexion, plus I'm really interested to see what my grey looks like!

Thanks for the recommendations. Think ill give the Head and Shoulders a try first. If I hate it I can always go back to the John Freida I suppose.

Have family visiting next week so will likely do it after they leave. I'll update if anyone is interested to see how it's turned out.

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Theforest · 14/04/2022 17:09

I am interested in dropping the permanent hair dye to John Frieda defy grey so watching with interest on the next step.

Good luck - an update would be fab!

msssm · 15/04/2022 00:47

No problem @Theforest I'll definitely be back after I've braved the Head & Shoulders!

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msssm · 24/04/2022 15:55

So washed my hair with head & shoulders last night and no change. Does anyone know if it takes a while to strip your colour out or if it should have worked after one time?
If I get a chance I'll shop for a clarifying shampoo tomorrow.

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Ginandslippers · 24/04/2022 16:50

It will take a few goes. The shampoo / conditioner will work by depositing small amounts of pigment in the hair and as grey and white hair is porous, it will grab quite easily. It will also take some time to fade away. What you've been using is a little bit like a semi permanent colour essentially.

msssm · 24/04/2022 18:59

Thanks @Ginandslippers yeah that does make sense. Guess I'm hoping that all the colour will wash out instead of me having to grow it out as my hair is quite long.

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msssm · 05/05/2022 23:43

So Head & Shoulders not stripping the colour. I'll try a clarifying shampoo but not sure when I'm next in the nearest town to find one. Hopefully soon. I now have my own dark brown/black lengths topped off with the blonde/red then finished in greys. Lovely.

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BOOTS52 · 06/05/2022 04:54

You can get it done at the hairdressers and get a treatment done after so hair is not dry. Otherwise it will take months for hair to grow out.

hamdden12 · 06/05/2022 06:11

The best clarifying shampoo I've used is osmo scalp therapy detoxifying shampoo from Amazon. My hair is blonde and I tone it but sometimes it goes the dreaded purple colour from overuse and I put the osmo shampoo on dry hair, rub it in and leave for around 30min. My sister accidentally used it and it took out a lot of her colour and she's dark.

msssm · 06/05/2022 09:19

BOOTS52 · 06/05/2022 04:54

You can get it done at the hairdressers and get a treatment done after so hair is not dry. Otherwise it will take months for hair to grow out.

Oh I didn't realise that @BOOTS52.
I'll look into the cost. Can't usually stretch to the salon but good to know it's an option, thank you.

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msssm · 06/05/2022 09:21

hamdden12 · 06/05/2022 06:11

The best clarifying shampoo I've used is osmo scalp therapy detoxifying shampoo from Amazon. My hair is blonde and I tone it but sometimes it goes the dreaded purple colour from overuse and I put the osmo shampoo on dry hair, rub it in and leave for around 30min. My sister accidentally used it and it took out a lot of her colour and she's dark.

Oh thanks @hamdden12. Sounds like that would strip my own colour too though? I don't want to end up with hair that needs dyed, would negate all the growing the grey in you know? Do you think it would?

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msssm · 23/05/2022 10:03

hamdden12 · 06/05/2022 06:11

The best clarifying shampoo I've used is osmo scalp therapy detoxifying shampoo from Amazon. My hair is blonde and I tone it but sometimes it goes the dreaded purple colour from overuse and I put the osmo shampoo on dry hair, rub it in and leave for around 30min. My sister accidentally used it and it took out a lot of her colour and she's dark.

Ok have bought this as the shampoo colour is still sticking. If it doesn't work I'm going to speak to a hairdresser. Too many different tones in my hair.
So I guess the colour shampoo is fab as long as you want to use it long term, but stopping using it is just like letting dye grow out.

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FlannelandPuce · 23/05/2022 13:36

I have read that vitamin c tablets crushed up with head and shoulders can help strip colour as can using baking powder mixed with shampoo. Not sure what you have to do but maybe worth looking into.

msssm · 22/06/2022 18:26

Gave up. My grey coming back in at my roots looked horrible. Started using the shampoo and conditioner again about a week ago and this is the result. Think I'm gonna stay like this till I pop my clogs 😂
Wish I had lovely silvery white hair but I guess it's just not meant to be. Least it looks healthy.

Help me strip my hair
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Horsemad · 22/06/2022 23:30

This looks lovely! Does the shampoo stain the shower when you use it? Would like to have a go but can't face it if it's messy! 😆

msssm · 23/06/2022 09:13

Horsemad · 22/06/2022 23:30

This looks lovely! Does the shampoo stain the shower when you use it? Would like to have a go but can't face it if it's messy! 😆

No it doesn't. Although if I end up with any running down the wet wall I just rinse it down with the shower head.

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Nasir30 · 23/06/2022 09:17

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Horsemad · 23/06/2022 13:49

Thanks OP, might give it a whirl, although my greys (whites 🙄) are very stubborn so not sure how successful I'll be.

msssm · 23/06/2022 14:13

Horsemad · 23/06/2022 13:49

Thanks OP, might give it a whirl, although my greys (whites 🙄) are very stubborn so not sure how successful I'll be.

I don't see why they wouldn't cover. I've a lot as you can see by the light parts of my hair.

Let me know how you get on!

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