Anyone use those home highlights dye kits?

[IAteRoseMaryConleyForBreakfast]

I can't afford the time or money to get my hair highlighted every couple of months now, but I absolutely must do something about these greys (I'm only 27 FGS, it's bloody ridiculous) - are these kits any good, do you need someone else to do it for you (I trust DP with my life but I still wouldn't let him near me with hair dye) and any recommendations?

I have and I have some tips (am about to do it again). I searched on tinternet and everyone said DONT DO IT. But I imagine they were hairdressers worried about business!

So - having had foil highlights done at great expense many times and not with particularly spectacular results - I decided to copy the salon. Here's what worked for me:

1. Buy some foil and a tail comb.
2. Cut into strips (or you can buy proper hair foils in rolls from ebay - I just have)
3. Get everything ready.
4. put cream around hairline
5. do first step

wait a bit between steps - couple of days to get breath back is OK

1. part hair and clip sections out of the way.

1. start at the bit you don't mind being the birghtest - eg front?

1. take sections of hair, then using tail end of comb, 'weave' in and out. But here's the crucial bit - take many fewer hairs than you think you need - eg leaving VERY thin highlights - they will look brighter than you think and unless you want to go proper stripey, this is what I did

1. brush over highlighter stuff, sticking down the ends to the foil first then brushing from roots down (not right up to the roots though - you don't want blobs)

10. brush through till even

11. fold back foils, fold over again and clip out of way

12. I started from bottom up IYSWIM

13. work round the head. I did back last and only a few (imagine a 'half-head' at the salon) at the back anyway - too difficult

14. One mistake I made was to leave the first highlights on too long so they were bit brighter and thicker. Won't do that again - will start checking and those ones a little before full developing time (remember it will be 20 minutes or whatever from time they are EACH applied...)

15 - and I learnt this one from a good salon who absolutely forbade stripey highlights: remove foils all over a bit before full developing time and then gently comb through (root to tip) the mixture, leaving it for a few minutes more: this gives a much more blended and non-stripey look: much more classy IMHO.

This worked a treat for me and I really think my first attempt worked as well as many 80 quid highlights I've had...

Will let you know how next lot go when I get round to it!

PS choose colour carefully - something VERY close to natural colour and previous highlights you've had for your first go...

sorry - not very clear - if you can't remember salon technique - what they do is use tail comb to fold over one end of foil, pushing that folded end with the tail up to the roots of the hair between the woven sections. Thus the tiny little strands you have picked out are on top of the foil; you can then brush mixture onto hair and foil without getting it on stuff underneath.

Should add, I wouldn't in a million years, having done it this way, use the instructions they give on the packet: they supply a stupid mascara type wand and you'd end up with blobby mixture spread all over your hair in places you didn't want it and you wouldn't be able to regulate how much or how even...

But I reckon my suggestions work brilliantly and saved me a fortune! Hairdressing, man: easy!

Now I just need to work out how to cut my own hair

I did try years aga when I was a student. I didn't mix the product correctly (doh!). ended up with yellow hair and having to rush to a hairdresser who had the best laugh of his week at my expense.

i just use the wand thing

the foils do sound easier

i find it a bit of a faff but i think it looks ok

i use loreal but i think it has just been disocntinued

it looks pretty much like my normal hair

i am dreading finding a replacement

actually there is a pic of me on my profile which is one of the first times i did it...it does look quite stripey there but i think it looks ok in rl

i mean it looks like highlights but ok lol

you may disagree i dont mind

I do my own but I'm much lazier than MsDrMonkeybird. I bought a silicone highlighting cap from ebay for about £8 and a boots highlighting kit.
The timings not a worry as you put the bleach on all the head at the same time. Although I agree you need less time than printed on the instructions.

It saves an enormous amount of time and money and I can transform myself in an evening.

Yes , my dd1 has pestered me for ages to put some in her hair, used the cap and worked perfectly, all her friends were really envious...... i was pleased only cost about £5

You're all wonderful (and MrsDrM, how thrifty and ... well, brave! - but I shall have a go I think!)

Your hair looks fine zippi - mine's a lot fairer than yours but the greys do stand out, hence putting some blonde bits through it to blend them in.

I just find the roots are much easier to live with than if I dye it all over

Thanks again