Can someone help me with my hair (dye) FML

[RiderGirl]

I desperately need to dye my hair, for several reasons I absolutely cannot afford to go to the hairdresser's this time (which I normally do). Pic attached to show how it is currently, sort of growing out a balayage but there's now a LOT of grey wiry hairs poking through, and underneath and around my temples it's really bad. Previously it's had a caramel toner on the blondy bits and a darker colour on the roots.

Help. Can I just whack a caramel dye over the whole lot? I can get some box dye and I've got a keen 13yo DD 🤣

If you are going to,do this I suggest you put it on while your hair is wet and also water down the mixture. Leave it on for about 10 minutes. This will give you a much subtler colour. If it is too subtle you can leave it on longer next time.

I had very dull 80% grey hair and used a platinum. I was thrilled with the colour and better texture. People have complimented me on my hair but have not noticed the colour change.

Thing is I'm only 39 so not quite ready to embrace the grey just yet.... I just need to get through until I can afford to go to the hairdresser's again.... I'm meant to be away with my DH next weekend and want to look my best!

I did not mean to go grey. Use the caramel dye but water it down . I have notice that my regrowth is hardly noticeable. I thought I would need to do it more often but I think I can leave it for about 8 weeks.

Don't water down any random hair dye, it's a very silly and potentially dangerous idea, in some of them the chemicals will deactivate and render the whole box ineffective and it will also make the dye more likely to run into your scalp and cause scalp damage, which might not become apparent immediately.

Only semi permanents can be applied to wet hair for a subtle result. These won't sort out your roots because you need lift to do the brown.

I'd recommend going with a permanent dye for that reason (and apply as per the instructions).

The thing about just covering it all with a permanent caramel hair colour is your starting colours are two very different shades, so the end colour will be that gradient, but in the caramel shade, so it will reduce the difference between the two colours but won't make it all the same colour (if you see what I mean). That could produce a very nice result, and if that's the sort of result you're after then go for it. Just remember to apply it in sections and as evenly as possible (you might want to do it with a tinting brush, up to you), and if your hair is longer than a bob, you'll probably need two boxes of dye unless your hair is thin.

OP, honestly the grey is barely noticeable. Obviously it is to you but from your photos you have nice, thick hair in a good colour.

Unless you're sure about what you're doing I'd leave it or possibly try one of those not permanent pen type cover ups?

What exactly will the hairdresser do next week? I think you want to be careful about getting rid of what looks like a nice bayalage in haste. Are you planning to go darker anyway?

I have dyed over (not as nice as yours) blonde highlights a few times and it worked fine. If you pick more of a shade marked dark or golden blonde (a 7), it lightens the roots and darkens the ends, and covers greys of course, though you can leave it on the lighter bits longer as well. I have used the Loreal Preference Vienna.

Hair dye always comes out darker than the box imo so a golden blonde is basically caramel for me.

I get a pretty consistent overall colour but over time it washes out and the lighter bits show through, though not necessarily a bad look and can be redone easily enough.

I don't think the pictures do the grey justice, there's a lot around my temples and tracking back that you can definitely see when I've got my hair tied up...

Thank you for the advice @BiscuitsandPuffin . I'm going to have a go with a permanent brown just to cover my roots/greys and a caramel/dark blonde toner afterwards! If I don't update it's because I'm crying 🤣

You'd have to be crazy to put box dye on your hair. You will regret it massively.