Help with hair dye

Jul 25, 2011

Bella P.

Ok, so I have a BIG problem. I usually color my hair chocolate brown or a little darker but always in the warm brown tones. I switched brands, because I couldn´t find my usual color. Turns out it was really really dark brown. I mean not black, but very dark. Anyway, I did what I had to and went to get professional help at a very very expensive salon, and turns out they bleached my hair (I was prepared for that). I specifically asked my hair to be light brown or chocolate NOT yellow. The final outcome: I have several strands of hair looking like yellow-wheat and the rest dark dark brown. I could have just dyed right then and there. After yelling at them and storming out I asked several friends, and they all agreed I look like a tiger. So this morning I decided I cannot be a tiger for one more day, so I bought a semipermanent brown glace 415 dye (L´oreal Casting). Im waiting for the outcome (30 min now). So my question is how can I save my hair?? I mean what do I have to do?? I know there is irreversible damage, but if I have to put olive oil every night I will. Please help :(

Jul 27, 2011

Erica J.

for various reasons, I have had to go from black to blonde, & back to brown all in one day and it is possible to do - but it is also really un-healthy for your hair.

It would be a good idea to put the color you want in your hair now since it is blonde, that means it was probably stripped of all of the color. If you do decided to do that, test a strand of hair first to make sure it dosen't damage it too much, theres no getting around it tho- none of it is healthy for your hair period. try to leave your new color in for as little as possible if thats what you decide to do.

also grab some of that morrocan argon oil, i hear the Organix you find at drug stores really helps repair your hair. 

Jul 29, 2011

Kimberly M.

Bella, how'd your color turn out?

For the future, if you go to a salon and you're not happy, they should fix it at no charge. In the salon industry, there's a general 2-week guarantee for those purposes. I'm kind of shocked they didn't try to smooth things over and at least offer a deep conditioning service on the house for you.

Erica's right - Argan oil, used in SMALL doses can help, but over the long term actually causes a buildup of coating that can prevent your hair from accumulating moisture naturally. Try something water soluble like coconut oil or raw shea butter (a little goes a really long way). Avoid heat tools and trying to match up the color with stuff out of the box. If you do opt for box color, remember that the standard developer included is 20 volume; and you don't necessarily need that - it'll lift color before it deposits. Try cutting the developer with water to bring it down to 10 volume (dump out half and replace with water). Touch up the roots, process for 20, then freshen up the ends for 10.

Jul 29, 2011

Bella P.

Thanks so much for your suggestions!! Actually the color, which is now darker than my natural hair color looks very good. It´s not black but a very dark brown, and I actually like it. It goes well with my fair skin. My hair is shiny and soft, the only thing I notice now is that it has a looot of volume on the tips and the roots are sooo flat. Overall my hair is like frizzy and unrully. I try to style it and it just doesn´t obey, know what I mean?? I don´t know how to explain it :( I need to tame my hair I guess hahahahhah 

Jul 29, 2011

Yasmin K.

By any chance would you know what volume of developer they used? Most people use between 30 to 40 and some places will use up to 60 volume.

Your hair has been overprocessed and it really can't be "saved" other than getting it trimmed regularly and using deep conditioners at least once a week. Avoid heat styling products (flat/curling iron or hair dryer).

My recommendation is this. If you're going to dye your hair at home again then use a 10 volume developer. You can buy it at a beauty supply store like Sally's. The ratio for developer to hair dye is typically a 1:1 ratio. That's 1 ounce of developer to 1 ounce of hair dye.

Let your hair rest a week - no styling products, cool water wash and rinse and no dying.

It is NOT a good idea to use water in place of developer. You can't turn 20 volume developer in 10 volume by watering it down.

"Hydrogen peroxide (also known as the developer or oxidizing agent) -- This ingredient, in varying forms and strengths, helps initiate the color-forming process and creates longer-lasting color. The larger the volume of the developer, the greater the amount of sulfur is removed from the hair. Loss of sulfur causes hair to harden and lose weight. This is why, for the majority of hair coloring, the developer is maintained at 30% volume or less."

Jul 29, 2011

Kimberly M.

Actually, Yasmin, you *can* break down HP with water to make a lesser volume. I should have been clearer in saying DISTILLED water, which doesn't contain metals, etc.

AND - for deposit only color, 10 volume is sufficient. Anything higher will lift first, resulting in damage. Higher volume doesn't make a dark color process faster or better. Fact.

I'd be interested in knowing what your source is.

Jul 29, 2011

Kimberly M.

And Bella- what your hair is going through right now is shock; not to get too technical, but when the cuticle's been roughed up the way it has, it reacts, gets staticky, and can have that "haystack" look. Treat it like a baby over the next few weeks - if you have a satin pillowcase use it! Hair slides over satin rather than getting bunched up on a cotton one as you sleep. And try not to pull it back in tight ponytails and headbands - in its super-fragile state, it'll snap like mad. Redken makes a nice protein-based spray called CAT. Try it - but not too often. Over proteinizing the hair can cause breakage as well.

Jul 29, 2011

Bella P.

Thank you thank you thank you kimberly. I will buy that CAT Redken spray. That is exactly how it looks, like haystack :( hate ti. I swear I will never ever do this experiments on my hair again. I hate grey hairs that´s why I color it, but will use maybe a semipermanent color or something less damaging.

You rock Kimberly!!!