Advice needed from Hairstylists/experts

[Tinkbell]

I have a friend who has dyed her own hair for over 10 years. It is just past her shoulders and pretty thick. Her color is now golden blonde. She tells me that her true color is a dark blonde/light brown color. (I've never seen it) She says that she is tired of dying it and would like it to be her natural color with highlights. Sounds good, but dosen't she have to grow out her hair first? She's going to consult with a salon next week, but some of the salons here will do just about whatever the customer asks. She thinks that they can "remove" her color and restore it to its natural ways. Is that possible? I have a feeling that they will end up dying her hair a shade close to her natural color and then apply highlights later. (which does not sound healthy)

What would be the best thing for the salon to do? She refuses to "grow out" her hair and walk around with big roots showing. I would love to hear your opinions about what is safe and doable. Her hair really looks good now, despite the fact that she did it herself all these years. I know that if her hair is put into the hands of the wrong person and she hates it, I'll be the one who has to hear the complaints!!

Thanks!!

 

[SilverLily]

I am not a hairstylist, but my hair has been just about every color in the book, so I may be able to answer your question. As far as I know, there is no way to remove permanent haircolor, especially since it sounds like she colors it a lighter shade (which means it has been bleached somewhat). The best thing for her to do would be to ask a professional to add "lowlights" in her natural color. If it is done pretty heavily, the result should look like her natural haircolor with some golden blonde highlights.

 

[Pixie Power!]

I am no expert but my hair colour changes like the weather. You can not strip a colour off someones hair when it has been dyed blonde (well in england anyway) i would suggest that she has low-lights, this is the same as high lights but the colour added to her hair will be a darker shade or even her natural colour, she should then end up with the look she wants.

hope this helps

Emma

 

[SilverLily]

Looks like we posted at the same time, Pixie Power!

 

[Tinkbell]

Originally posted by SilverLily
Looks like we posted at the same time, Pixie Power!

LOL! Plus you both gave the same advice! You must be on to something. I wasn't aware of lowlights.

 

[Blondie]

I'd go with the low lights, as previously posted.

I've never had my hair "stripped" of it's color, but I it can be done. But I would think it's very harsh on the hair. After dying it blonde for so long, I'd imagine that her hair probably wouldn't be the best candidate for the stripping process.

I'd dye it as close to her natural color as she could get, then do a foiling or foam cap hi/low lighting depending on the color she wants to achieve.

 

[tnkrbell]

Hi!!! (Since I am the Dis hairstylist Ill give my advice!! lol lol )
She should first off go to a stylist to help her!! It all depends on the color her hair is now "golden" can also mean Brassy!
So she could do one of two things if the color is truely golden then she could do Highlights and low lights (My faves would be w6 for low lights Matrix socolor and color graphics blue also matrix for the highlights!!)
If the color is not a pretty color (the golden color) then I wold say color the whole head one solid shade then Highlight over it (much more expensive)
Good luck and if you or your friend have any questions please feel free to ask!!

 

[Tinkbell]

Thanks guys.

tnkrbell, her hair looks pretty natural. Most people can't even tell she dyes it. She even fooled me for awhile. So the lowlights might be good for her. I told her about the process over the phone so that she could be a little more informed when she walks in the salon and it sounded good to her.

Now if I could just fly her over to Florida so you could be her sylist! I LOVE my stylist, but she won't go to her because she insists the salon is too expensive. The place where she normally goes is great for a trim, or to put up your hair for a wedding, but I would not try anything permanent over there. I've seen some bad perms come out of that shop. Hopefully they'll know what they're doing over there.

 

[tnkrbell]

 

[Joanne M]

When you are going from a lighter shade to a darker one, you need to add back the color that was removed. In her case, it would mean adding back the red and brown shades that had been bleached out.

If your friend just does low lights, she will also have to blend in some of the blond shades as well, which means continuing to bleach her hair, although fewer strands than before.

Because this can be a very tricky process, I would not trust my hair to just anyone. She really needs a professional who specializes in color correction. The more you pay sometimes, the better the results. When it comes to hair, you get what you pay for.