FAQ: How To Remove Soft Black Hair Color

Question:

Hi I recently dyed my hair with a box dye - the color was called "soft black" and it was the worst mistake I have ever done! It doesn't compliment me at all and I was wondering if there is anything I can do to fade the color or to make it lighter? Before dying it black my hair was a warm coppery brown color that seemed orange in the sun. If my black color fades or is stripped will that color surface? I really don't want to bleach my hair, do you have any recommendations? your help is much appreciated!

Answer:

If the "soft black" color you used was permanent it will not fade much. If you used a semi-permanent color it will fade somewhat, and if you used temporary it should be washed away soon.
The only way to remove the permanent or semi-permanent color is to use either color remover or a bleach, provided you cannot find any color remover. You should be able to find it at any beauty supply store.
If you chose the route of removing the color (with either product mentioned above) I would advise you to do it as soon as possible because both products will remove color from your natural hair also. What will happen is that the hair in the root area will get lighter, while your colored hair will be darker - pigment from the bottle is harder to remove. The longer you leave either product on your hair the lighter your hair will get. You will have to make decision when you take the color off your hair. The color remover (or the bleach) should be applied all over the hair as fast as possible so the color gets removed evenly. The lightest it could get is to a yellow blond color. The speed chemical remover will depend if you color your hair on regular basis (it is unclear from your message if you colored your hair coppery brown) and how you apply your color. If you never colored your hair before then the color remover will remove color faster.
If you never used any bleach or hair color remover product it would be best to have it done in a salon that specializes in coloring. The colorist will probably apply the color remover at the sink.
Good luck.


Credit: Above image is published on the internet by to me unknown owner, but is the best illustration of the Soft Black Color mentioned above.

Note:

This post should be taken as a first step for a discussion with your hairdresser and/or colorist about your ideas, desires or problems with your hair. Under no circumstances, you should act upon this post ONLY. I strongly advise you to have your hair done by a skilled and reputable hairdresser/colorist in your area.

FAQ - My Colorist Cannot Make My Hair Ashy Brown

Question:

I have dark brown hair & want a light brown ashy colour i have been going to my hairdressers telling them this but every time after colouring my hair with a full head colour i still come away with reddish results all the time. I am always disappointed i have since been back at the same place despite the results, its a place that I like going to & it's also very convenient for me. I have booked yet another appointment & i have explained again about how i am still washing my hair with the silver shampoo as they keep suggesting with me still getting the reddish results & when i booked another appointment they told me that they will use a toner this time. Do you think that will this work or have you any suggestions? Thanks

Answer:

Hi,
well your colorist should explain to you that what you want cannot be done without bleaching your hair and depositing the brown color. But that may not turn out perfectly as well.

This is what is happening if they use ash brown color over your naturally dark hair:
The chemicals in the bottle work on natural pigments in your hair, bringing them to certain "level". Then the pigment in the bottle gets deposited into your hair - which "mingles" with the chemically altered pigments that were few minutes natural. Ant that's it. There is nothing else a colorist can do for you, because there is not such powerful ash brown that could do what you want it to do. No scientist developed such color in the bottle and no scientist will ever be able to do it in one step coloring process (= permanent haircolor in one bottle).

Your options:

Single/double process coloring - either color (depending on a color of the hair) or bleach hair to yellow stage, and then apply the ash-y pigment to your tresses. But no colorist knows an exact pigmentation in these bottles, so they do not know how exactly it will turn out if mixed with your hair color bleached to the yellow stage on the first try. The best way it would be do a test - snip a small amount of hair, bleach it and then apply the color from bottle. The bleached hair color level would have to be the perfect "shade base" for the ashy brown that is in the bottle.
If it would come to somewhat desirable shade (you are looking for) then the hardest trick would be with each touch up. Your colorist would have to bleach hair to almost same yellow "level" as previously done - your colorist has to have a good eye for the bleached shades.

Also consider:

1. bleaching and then coloring is time consuming
2. it is actually two processes (done in one session) - so therefore more expensive
3. after "first initial color correction", the bleach would be applied only to regrowth area - so if your hair is not strong these heavy duty chemicals won't be gentle to your hair

Highlighting idea - Probably another solution would be to highlight hair in fine strands to a very light stage and then apply a toner. This light hair mixed with your natural hair color can create an effect of ashy & lighter brown color. However, you have been coloring your hair, so on your color treated hair (you no longer have a natural hair color) it could come out a little different than on natural hair you will grow each month. You really need to employ a colorist who does a really fine highlights and understands pigmentation in the hair.

I hope this helps in making a decision what your next step will be.


Credit: Above image is published on the internet by to me unknown owner, but is the best illustration of the Highlighting idea mentioned above.

Note:

This post should be taken as a first step for a discussion with your hairdresser and/or colorist about your ideas, desires or problems with your hair. Under no circumstances, you should act upon this post ONLY. I strongly advise you to have your hair done by a skilled and reputable hairdresser/colorist in your area.

HOW TO Foil High-Light Fine Hair - Video Tutorial

Have you heard "I need 48 hours in my day, so I can finish all I want to achieve"? Well, I need more hours than that. I think even 200 hours will not be enough for me. This video project I was planning to finish for at least half a year and I just could not get to it. But today it is live. Yeey.

So...... if you would like to learn HOW TO HIGH-LIGHT HAIR WITH FOILS do not hesitate to click HERE to se my educational video. Share it with your friends and any starting colorist. Share it with the world. 

Thank you and  may your hair be gorgeous at all times.

FAQ: How Often Can I Color My Entire Hair

Question:
I wrote this as a comment under my previous question but I'm not sure if I should send it to you separately. Thank You So Much!!! Using the Splat along with the Age Beautiful permanent dye gave a perfect and most beautiful result!!! I wanted to ask you how often can I dye my hair (whole hair) with permanent hair dye and 20 Volume developer? Thank You SO much for your expert advice, I truly appreciate it.

Answer:
Note: To uninformed readers - my "follower" asked previously one question about a hair color HERE. 

I did not received your comment/question, so it is good that you  wrote to me separately. I think I have to think of a friendlier way to contact me.

I am thrilled that your color turned out fabulous. If it comes to coloring your entire hair again, I do not think it is a great idea to use full strength all over your hair. Sometimes you can notice a lady with medium brown hair from root area to about mid way and then the hair starts getting darker and the ends are black. Although the lady never used the black color on her hair. The darkness comes from re-application of the full strength dye over and over and over again.
Yes, hair needs to be refreshed, but in a different way. When you will be coloring your hair next time, color ONLY your roots (a brand new regrowth), process it according to manufacturer's suggestion (about 25-30 minutes). While you are processing your hair, take your "blue pigment" and mix it with your leftover dye 50:50 (which means how much of your left over, that much of a pigment), and after processing time pour this mixture on your hair and process for additional 5-10 minutes. By diluting it you will actually make it less "potent", yet it should freshen up the hair. Let me know in a few months how your hair is turning out.

Also see my note below (about consulting with your hairdresser first).


Credit: The image above comes from - http://zilahinolvina.blogspot.com/2012/05/pastel-hair-dye-diy.html


Note:

This post should be taken as a first step for a discussion with your hairdresser and/or colorist about your ideas, desires or problems with your hair. Under no circumstances, you should act upon this post ONLY. I strongly advise you to have your hair done by a skilled and reputable hairdresser/colorist in your area.

FAQ: Blue Black Hair Coloring

Question:
Hi, I am using a permanent blue black hair dye by a company that I have never used before (Age Beautiful Hair Color.) On the company's website it says that the color will be more vibrant if a higher volume developer is used (30 or 40 volume.) Can you please tell me what the difference would be between using a 20 volume vs a 30 volume developer? Since the 30 volume has more lift would the blue tones show more? Would the 20 volume make the color a darker black?
Thank You So Much!!! Your advice has helped me so much through this hair journey:)

Answer:
I believe that the color would be slightly "lighter" (or brighter), not necessary bluer. What happens with the developer is that it makes the natural pigment get a little lighter (= it brings out a red pigment in dark hair) and then the artificial color gets deposited.
If I would want my hair to be more blue, I would buy blue pigment and add a little into my mixture. I would probably start with a teaspoon. What needs to be also considered is - the more of the pigment we add the weaker the developer will get, thus making it closer to 20 Volume strength.


Check out these companies:

Manic Panic
Splat
Vidal Sassoon (Pro Series Hair Color)
Clairol's Jazzing (although I think they have more of a purple shade)

Perhaps you could add a little of their pigment into your mixture, but first check with companies if it is OK to mix two different companies together, since you are not looking for pure blue hair color.

Also check if Zotos, maker of  Age Beautiful Hair Color, sells color additives.

Good luck.



Credit:
Image from http://www.learnvest.com/

Note:

This post should be taken as a first step for a discussion with your hairdresser and/or colorist about your ideas, desires or problems with your hair. Under no circumstances, you should act upon this post ONLY. I strongly advice you to have your hair done by a skilled and reputable hairdresser/colorist in your area.