Red hair fading to brassy blonde after a fortnight - is this why?

[Celia24]

I have natural auburn hair. Wanted to lighten up to more of a strawberry blonde for summer. To do this they first had to bleach it and add the red colour on top.

First time I got it done the colour was gorgeous (exactly matched the reddish photo). But it faded in 2 weeks, I thought because I had gone on a sunny holiday soon after. I got it done again recently and the same happened! The photo is how it looks now.

The hairdresser says red dye takes differently on different people. Is that correct or is this a hairdresser issue? It's a lot of money and really disappointing.

How often do you wash it and with what product?

The condition doesn't look great in the photo (which means that if the bleach has made your hair extra porous the colour toner will just wash straight back out again) but unless you're washing it every day or two a hairdresser colour should surely last longer than that?

Red dye is so so hard to retain in your hair from experience. It always looks wow at the start but quickly declines.

I gave up on it for this reason.

Plus when you want to get rid of the red, the colour remnants won't budge for anything.

It's a PITA colour.

I wash my hair every 2 days. Is that too much?

Yes the condition hasn't been good for the last week. Before my last hairdresser visit I was using olaplex religiously - and my hair was looking quite glossy again.

But then the hairdresser said it could be a double edged sword - that using it could stop the dye from penetrating as deeply because of the barrier.

That said it seems to have vanished in your second pic - looks totally blond now.
Mine always fades to a pinky brown.

Wonder if she used a temporary colour on you

It's so annoying. I had the most beautiful copper auburn hair (similar to what I am now paying for) but it is now a dark auburn as I get older. I think I'll probably end up just having to go back to it because it's so much maintenance.

I did expect to get more than two weeks out of it though. That's why I'm wondering what I can do to extend the life of it somehow.

Dyed red hair is notorious for fading. It is a huge amount of upkeep to keep it looking good.

@ouch321 that's what I mean. The red vanishes - so it goes back to the bleached blonde step the hairdresser took. I hate how brassy it is so quickly.

With bright colours direct dyes tend to be used. These are not permanent and do fade after a couple of washes. With the amount of fading that you have I would guess this is what has been used.

What is she using on it?

The on,y thing that stopped mine fading so quick was weekly use of a copper shampoo and conditioner to put some of the colour back in. I have gone back to blonde as the maintenance was just to high lol.

@Celia24 I have copper hair , I only wash it once a week with cool water .

I use matrix shampoo and conditioner (ile attach picture )

Then every 3rd wash I use a colour mask.

They are expensive but last ages and better then constantly colouring your hair !

Ile attaché a image of my own hair to

I have dyed red hair and have had to do a few things to try to maintain it. I had my hairdresser sell me a hair mask to apply every week. She put some red dye in it to restore the colour. Also I only wash it every other day now instead of every day. For the first couple of days after having it coloured I don't wash it. I also use a red shampoo and conditioner from John Frieda. It is very difficult to maintain though.

My hairdresser: “What colour do you want? Please not red, it never lasts and then people complain.”

I also find red fades quick, I used to have a darker red and my hair was naturally dark but still found it faded in 3-4 weeks, I had to have it done every 6 and its expensive! I use a box dye now.

Same as everyone else, had red/copper hair and after a fortnight it was gone. I used to make a hair mask with crazy color mixed in to a conditioner but the upkeep was just too much hassle.

I really rate shrine toner drops in copper for maintaining the colour. I've used their other colours when I bleached my hair and they were great- easy to use either as a mask with conditioner or mixed in water and used as a spray for a quick boost post wash. My copper hair does exactly the same thing- washes out to a dull colour (especially on the bleached areas I'm growing out) but the drops extend the colour life. I wash every 2-3 days, if I went any longer I'd have really greasy hair!

But of a commitment but I have naturally red hair which has faded massively as I've got older, I henna it, no bleach just henna on top of natural and it goes an amazing copper, fades over about 6 weeks to a more subtle copper so I never really see roots. Hard work to do but my hair is in amazing condition and I love it.

Hi @Teaandcakeordeath83 is this s what you use - www.weareshrine.com/products/drop-it-copper ?

It sounds like it might not be what she is using on it but a general problem. I did expect it to last longer than 2 weeks however, I'm back to looking part auburn part blonde. Maybe in the winter I'll take your advice @ditavonteesed and start using henna if I go back to my natural colour.

@Celia24 that's the one. I love how you can vary the intensity, how quickly you can lash it on with your regular conditioner and a bottle lasts for ages. I also throw a couple of drops into the shampoo as well to try and deposit some colour as I wash.