Having to stop salon colour - anyone else?

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

I can't be the only one having to reconsider expensive salon treatments right now so wondered if there is a half decent at home alternative to balayage? My hair is the one thing I like about my appearance & makes me feel good but I just can't afford it anymore. I've reduced the frequency, found someone to come to my house who is much cheaper but it's still just too much to spend on a non-essential expense.

I've got some grey to cover & not interested in going natural, but my only experience of home dyes is very flat block colour but it's been a long time since I've DIY coloured so hoping there might be something better out there now. Picture attached isn't me but a very close match to my hair colour and type/length.

Anyone else mourning the loss of a regular salon colour and found a vaguely acceptable alternative?

I dont have colours but when I see my friends who do their own they seem to struggle with their hair getting darker and darker over time. It always looks very flat and uniform like a wig.

I'm sure the product is the same so if you could find out how hairdressers avoid this and have someone to help you with the back I'm sure it's possible.

If not maybe salon once a year to correct it then do it yourself the rest of the year?

I do sympathise, it's so expensive. Guess you could look into a home hairdresser instead of a salon, my friend does this and she's easily 1/4 of the price.

I started doing mine over lockdown with Josh woods and was originally really pleased but my hair eventually turns into bad condition and yes it did get too dark and flat

the main problem for me is thst you’re meant to just touch up the roots for the lost time - but I found it too hard to just do the roots without getting it everwjere so ended up having to colour the whole head at the same time

I use Nice and Easy, I do my roots every couple of weeks with the touch up box and an all over colour twice a year. I started when we went into lockdown. The condition is good, I used to get my roots done every four weeks for £50. Weeks asked my hairdresser to giver me the colour code and I matched it up.

You could try eSalon; I get compliments on my hair colour and have used them gor years.

I tried e salon over lockdown, I was pretty impressed to be honest and got a lot of compliments. Not sure about balyage but I did highlights. Worth a look

@DoodlePug I've already moved to an at home hairdresser and it is much cheaper but still £180 I can't afford (LOTS of hair and expensive area).

@Whistlesandbell your hair is in lovely condition and probably similar colour to mine but I've got really used to the lift the colour gives me and stops me looking so old and haggered

@Cavviesarethebest thanks for the heads up as that was one of the ones I was considering. Won't bother now 😆

@Squirrelsnut thanks I'll have a look at esalon.

You do see that with some people who use the box dyes. A friend of mine uses a block dye and then afterwards, and regularly in between the monthly applications, uses a colour depositing shampoo (leaves it in for a while) which gives it different tones.

How often are you actually spending £180 though ?

I've known 2 people who use box dyes - one dark brown and the other light platinum blonde. The dark brown one - I honestly couldn't tell the difference between when she got it coloured at an expensive salon or when she did it herself! The blonde woman - it looked obviously dyed and honestly I thought a more natural colour would've suited her but she had a home hairdresser who applied it.

I've had highlights for ages and my current hairdresser is good value so I'm keeping her for now.

As it’s balayage does that mean you only have to do the roots? I think you could find a decent brunette box set for the roots and then get a plan for when the balage needs doing again.
How much would it cost to get the roots done in the same colour as the top of your hair?
Or could you ask your hairdresser what she’s used. Doing roots at home is so easy, I watched a YouTube video and went from there.

Have you looked at shrine? I use that now rather than hairdressers - might help you go longer between salon visits x

Wella Color Fresh Hair Masks are good to give your hair a boost of colour. It's more a coloured leave in conditioner that you use once/twice a week and just fades out in between. It tones down the greys if you have a few without giving the block colour of normal dyes and the dryness.

Could you try a local college? Balayage is Level 3 work so whoever does it will be fully qualified and supervised.

Second looking at a college.

I'm going to start doing mine at home too. It's only a semi-permanent glossing dye anyway and I've been watching how they do it at the salon. Will just do my roots as and when and then full head every couple of months, although what works best at the salon is that they just rinse the full head through after doing the roots for twenty mins then leave the whole lot for another five mins. Stops it being too dark and flat (which it isn't anyway with semi p). Will save about £50 every seven weeks currently.

Can you just do your roots for now and use a toner to keep the highlighted bits fresh?

I’ve just gone for an all over colour. I find it takes differently on the highlighted areas so there is still a variation in shade, but I know that won’t last forever. Needs must though.

Balayage is more about the technique than the products. That's why it's so expensive because you are paying for the hairdressers time.

If you have a friend who you trust, watch some you tube videos on how to do it at home and decide if you want to risk it. I suppose it depends what you want to do. If you just want to cover your roots you can do it at home without doing too much damage. You can buy salon and professional dyes online or at places like Sally's Hair and beauty. A quick Google or scan through You Tube will tell you what you need.

I bleach my own hair at home. It's not a complete disaster but I do use professional products, not those you get from Boots etc.