permanent red hair

[lookingglass]

Originally Posted by libby74

I like your new color, too. It will fade some after a few shampoos.

While we're on the subject of hair color, I could use some advice, too. I've been coloring my hair for years--a very nice light auburn. I did a root touch-up the other day & missed a spot in the back. To my utter dismay, without the color my hair is white! I know that someday I'm going to be a little too old for auburn hair (my original color, BTW) and will probably just let the white take over. The problem is, my hair is long (mid-back); how do I let the white come in without looking absolutely ridiculous? I hate having short hair, so cutting it short while it grows out isn't an option. Do I simply start using a lighter hair color over time until it's light enought that the white roots won't look quite so silly? Do you think I'd need a professional to do this?

I'm not ready to give up my auburn hair yet, just really curious as to how to make the adjustment when the time comes.

The best thing to do here would be to go to a professional and explain what you want to happen. They will start to lighten your hair a half a step at a time and over a period of a year or so the white should be in with out you looking silly.

Also if you've been doing at home hair color for all these years you may have some color build up at the ends, so that's going to be hard to lighten. You may have to get the ends cleaned all with this whole process.

 

[lunasmom]

Originally Posted by lookingglass

The best thing to do here would be to go to a professional and explain what you want to happen. They will start to lighten your hair a half a step at a time and over a period of a year or so the white should be in with out you looking silly.

Also if you've been doing at home hair color for all these years you may have some color build up at the ends, so that's going to be hard to lighten. You may have to get the ends cleaned all with this whole process.

Libby, that's what my friend did. She's naturally light blonde, but dyed her hair dark red for several years.

She got married almost a year ago, but she wanted her natural color for her wedding photos. So she started another year in advance and gradually lightened it back to blonde (through a professional stylist).

Then it won't look half red/half white.

I'm not getting married, but I did grow tired of the red a year ago. What did it for me is that my hair is naturally ash. One time I went extra long without dying it and B thought that my roots were growing back gray

.The golden red compared to my ash hair REALLY made it look that way.

So slowly dye by dye I'm going back to my original color. I know I should go through a pro, but I've been dying the same color level for a few years. Now it just looks like red/brown hair.

 

[swampwitch]

Originally Posted by libby74

...The problem is, my hair is long (mid-back); how do I let the white come in without looking absolutely ridiculous? I hate having short hair, so cutting it short while it grows out isn't an option. Do I simply start using a lighter hair color over time until it's light enought that the white roots won't look quite so silly? Do you think I'd need a professional to do this?...

There's a super-simple fix for growing hair out a different color without the "line of demarcation" (or roots); we used to teach stylists all the time. They were always skeptical at first, but then they were blown away when they saw it. You need a professional to do this once, maybe twice.

Ask for the color specialist at a good salon. (You can find a good salon by calling around and asking what kind of continuing education their sylists participate in - they should be going to at least one or two hair shows or schools a year.)

Ask for a color weave, done very finely. This looks like highlighting while it's being done, with the foil, but it's different in that only the roots are colored, and there are no streaks because it's woven so finely. The colorist matches the dye color on your hair, and, using a metal rattail comb, finely weaves some of the hair out, puts the foil under it, and colors only the root part. It won't be all the roots, only 30-50%. This should be done all over the head, not just the top.

What you end up with is roots that are half natural color, and half dyed color. It grows out with no line! The half and half makes a beautiful transition between the two colors, because it contains both. It's amazing how it looks!

I hope this is clear. The first visit won't be cheap, but if you really want to grow out long hair that is a radically different color, this is the way.

Cheers, from
SwampWitch

p.s. The longer the roots, the better, and you only have to have it done once.

p.p.s. It's extremely difficult to lighten hair that has been dyed a dark color. It never looks right, and ends up very damaged.

 

[4badcats]

I think the colour is really pretty - it is probably a bit of a shock if you are fair normally, but it's lovely!! I am normally dark brown, (with bits of grey!!!!) and I always go for red tones - they do fade quicker than other shades, so you'll probably find that after a few washes it will tone down . Just don't be tempted to wash it too much, or you'll end up with it all dry and brittle (personal experience a few years ago after 'pink hair' incident!!!)

 

[swampwitch]

I'll let you in on a secret I used to do when I wanted a very natural red or auburn color... if the orangey reds are too brassy, and the burgandy reds are too purple, you buy one of each color and mix them!

Blue and orange are opposites on the color wheel, as are yellow and purple.* Combine opposites and you get a neutral color.

So, while the red remains, the undertones (blue and orange, or purple and yellow) combine and give you a natural red. Cool, huh?

Cheers, from
SwampWitch

*This is why little old ladies would have blue or purple hair... many were smokers and it turned their hair yellow. The stylist would put a rinse or toner on to counteract the yellow, but often over-did it.

 

[abigail]

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

Cool, huh?

Way cool. I want to hire you !!!

 

[clairebear]

I'd get professional help. You wouldn't want to end up with something worse (not that I'm saying it looks bad now).

 

[libby74]

Thanks for tips, especially to Swampwitch. I'm going to print out the ideas and keep them for when I decide to stop coloring my hair.