Calling all hairdressers or "do it yourselvers"

[Ratpack]

I usually color my own hair (medium brown with a hidden reddish color). I really like the 2 part color/highlight kit from Loreal. However, I have tried "warm" and "cool" in a couple different shades- but my red always tends to become "brassy and strong". I think the last one I tried was called "Praline".

I really would like a light brown color with a hint of highlight (strawberry blondish, I guess) I wouldn't look good as a blond due to skin tone and all. Which do I need to get- warm, cool, ash, golden, etc? I know that the more I blow dry it and stay in the sun, the lighter it becomes, so I need to have one that is not so light to begin with.

Any suggestions? $100 for a "professional treatment" is out of the budget right now. I don't mind doing my own, always have. Just need a guidance lesson on these terms. Thanks

 

[Ratpack]

Noone colors their own hair on the boards???

 

[icebrat001]

Sorry, I go to the salon.

 

[FreshTressa]

Sounds like my hair...it always turns brassy.

 

[Southern4sure]

Bumping for you. I wish I could help you out but I'm afraid of coloring my own hair esp. with highlights. It is well worth the money for me to have it done professionally.

 

[poohluvrs]

Last time I colored my hair at home I ended up spending twice the cost of a color to get a color correction at the salon to fix what I did! There should be a # you can call online for the brand you want to use, they usually have someone who can walk you through the correct color for you!

 

[CathrynRose]

I went to Cosmetology School, and still do it for friends, etc (and my own)

1st thing you need to remember, is if you pull red, you'll always pull red. What you'll need to get is an ash. It may look dull and almost greenish on the box, but those colors are formulated starting with white hair - your hair isnt white underneath...it's red. All youre doing is minimizing that “brassy” orange color you end up pulling – especially if youre choosing a “golden” or “honey” or “warm”, etc. Honestly, no one really should be picking up any warm colors, unless theyre looking to be really red – most people have red in their hair, naturally.

IF you end up choosing the wrong shade, and still feel pumpkin-headed – you go to Sally’s and ask them to point you towards “Toners” – you choose a toner (again, choose ash! The one that looks green…that’s the one you want!) and also pick up a 10 volume peroxide. It’s mixed equally (1 part toner, I part toner), slap it on your head and give it about 7-10 minutes (depending on your shade of pumpkin) Most salons use a toner after highlites – they just don’t let you know.

Let me know if you have any more ?’s

 

[vettechick99]

I do!!! I have dark brown hair and I highlight it with Loreal Colour Expert. It hasn't failed me yet! It sure helps that I have curly hair and accuracy isn't imperative (like it might be for straight).

Anyway, the boxes come with an overall color and a highlight. I choose 5.4, which offers an overall color close to my natural color. So I don't use it, just the highlights. Highlighting takes about 15 mins and it sets for another 20. Can't be easier!

If I were you, I'd go with a friend and have them help you pick a box that is very safe. That way if it bombs, you don't look terrible. If you like the results, you can move to a more drastic color.

LCE costs about $17 at Wal-Mart, but I've seen $3 coupons in magazines.

HTH!

 

[Jingle]

I color my own hair and I had a similar problem. I was advised to go with an Ash color, which really helped a lot!!

 

[Crankyshank]

I color my hair but my problem is that my natural hair color is very dark brown with blonde highlights and all of the hair colors in my shade that aren't black or burgundy have too much red highlights and it comes out orangey after a few days. Anything with ash in it is too light brown

 

[marydmjj]

I went to Cosmetology School, and still do it for friends, etc (and my own). Let me know if you have any more ?’s

Cool! You can be the official Dis Hair Person.

I have a question: My hair is naturally dark blonde with red mixed in. I used to have it colored professionally but have let that grow out to my natural color. I want to lighten my hair without paying alot of money. I've been thinking about a wash-in color. Will an Ash wash in give me a lighter blonde or will it still turn red?

Hope I'm not hijacking this thread...