Need hair dye suggestions...

[tcufrog]

I have dirty blonde/light brown hair depending on how much time I'm in the sun. Since I'm not really going anywhere, I thought I'd try dying my hair red. Does anyone have a brand suggestion that won't irritate my scalp (I have sensitive skin) and will wash out after shampooing it several times? I don't want to dye it permanently in case it looks bad.

 

[kymom99]

My hair sounds just like yours. Is yours super straight? I don’t have any suggestions, but let us know how it turns out. My niece does my hair. One time we thought dying it brown with a semi permanent color would be a good idea since my winter roots were mostly that color. The look on people’s faces when they saw it was priceless. The good news was after a couple weeks of washing, the highlights started showing through and it looked better.

 

[tcufrog]

Yup. My hair is really straight.

 

[fla4fun]

I used to use Clairol Natural Instincts for years before I needed permanent color. I didn’t have any issues with it irritating my scalp, but all hair color I have used ask you to do an allergy test before using the product on your head. It took at least four weeks to wash out, with 3-4 shampoos per week.

One thing I have noticed over the years is that my hair (kind of a light mousy brown) turns out darker than what the box says it will. So you may want to start out with a color a shade lighter than you think you want.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

So if you want something that will wash out after only a few washes then you want semi permanent aka deposit only color. This has no developer/lightener and basically just sits on top of the hair instead of going into it.

A few things to think about. 1) since the color is deposit only it is going to show up less the darker you hair is 2) semi permanent colors tend to be a bit bolder so it will be difficult to find a natural red in a semi permanent 3) these colors don’t always fade nicely or completely for quite awhile so you may need to do a bleach wash or color remover if you hate it or it fades to a weird orange or pink.

be careful not to get something that says demi permanent as it does have developer/lifters and will act much more like permanent color on your hair. Most box dyes are either permanent or demi permanent.

semi permanent dyes are often called temporary hair color or gloss and come in a jar or conditioner like bottle.

Artic Fox is great but again it’s a straight up fire engine red.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I think I'd go to a salon. In high school (back in the stone age) my friend dyed her dirty blonde/brown hair (can't remember the target probably blonde) and it turned GREEN! We were 16 and had dates that night and it was a scramble to try to darken it. I don't remember how it turned out but it's pretty funny to think about it now!

 

[tcufrog]

I'm avoiding the salon due to COVID. I figured that since I plan to chop off a lot of length anyway once I go back to a salon, that this is the perfect time to experiment.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I'm avoiding the salon due to COVID. I figured that since I plan to chop off a lot of length anyway once I go back to a salon, that this is the perfect time to experiment.

Gotcha! A friend cut her gray/white hair back to nothing and it grew in beautifully. She figured she wasn't going out anyway so she went for it. In NH we're wearing masks but pretty much everything is open...sorry I wasn't thinking that everyone doesn't live in NH LOL!

 

[wildride]

This is my favorite and very easy to use, best of all it doesn't stink like some dyes. Permanent

this is the non permanent version, a little brighter red though.

 

[disneychrista]

If you hate it you can always color oops it and dye it back to your natural color.

 

[tcufrog]

If you hate it you can always color oops it and dye it back to your natural color.

My hair isn't all one color, which makes dying it back difficult. It's light brown with natural blonde highlights that get stronger depending on how much time I spend in the sun.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

I have dirty blonde/light brown hair depending on how much time I'm in the sun. Since I'm not really going anywhere, I thought I'd try dying my hair red. Does anyone have a brand suggestion that won't irritate my scalp (I have sensitive skin) and will wash out after shampooing it several times? I don't want to dye it permanently in case it looks bad.

If you want semipermanent you'll want to try something like Arctic Fox or Colorista. Traditional box color brands are pretty much all permanent, and there won't be any easy returns to dark blonde from red using those, depending on what shade of red you are going for.

 

[DisneyOma]

I've found that red hair dyes (even the permanent ones) fade much more quickly than other colors. Even a "permanent" red will fade out pretty quickly, at least on my hair Just colored mine today, with L'Oreal GInger Twist. It's a discontinued two part color kit, but my DIL drove all over Houston and found four boxes for me for my birthday! It's the only shade of red that doesn't look fake, IMO. It would look great with highlights, as it comes with a highlight kit of its own.

 

[mefordis]

Looks like there are some people on this thread who know what they are doing with hair color. Not to hijack this thread (I'm sorry, op!) but a quick recommendation for natural red hair that is looking washed out? Semi permanent?

For the op: has anyone tried Madison Reed? I bought some but I'm afraid to use it.

 

[SueInBoston]

Try Overtone. I've stopped coloring my hair and am now completely grey. I color some strands with fun colors (pink, purple and red) and they washes out after about 5-7 washes. I use Silver on a regular basis to give my grey some shine and dimension.

 

[disneychrista]

am now completely grey. I color some strands with fun colors (pink, purple and red)

This is what I plan to do if I go grey.

 

[wildride]

I've never heard them, but I love Ben and Jerry's Phish Food ice cream.

I've found that red hair dyes (even the permanent ones) fade much more quickly than other colors. Even a "permanent" red will fade out pretty quickly, at least on my hair Just colored mine today, with L'Oreal GInger Twist. It's a discontinued two part color kit, but my DIL drove all over Houston and found four boxes for me for my birthday! It's the only shade of red that doesn't look fake, IMO. It would look great with highlights, as it comes with a highlight kit of its own.

I have the exact opposite trouble. Mine stays for at least 5-6 weeks with L’Oréal Rr57. I have so many compliments on my hair color

 

[lisaviolet]

I have dirty blonde/light brown hair depending on how much time I'm in the sun. Since I'm not really going anywhere, I thought I'd try dying my hair red. Does anyone have a brand suggestion that won't irritate my scalp (I have sensitive skin) and will wash out after shampooing it several times? I don't want to dye it permanently in case it looks bad.

This is permanent and is now difficult to find in the States, but it is a very natural red.

Couleur Experte 6.4 Ginger Twist. It comes with base and highlights, but the base is lovely on its own.

(tcufrog, you can see how natural the colour is over on the mask thread. )

 

[lisaviolet]

I've found that red hair dyes (even the permanent ones) fade much more quickly than other colors. Even a "permanent" red will fade out pretty quickly, at least on my hair Just colored mine today, with L'Oreal GInger Twist. It's a discontinued two part color kit, but my DIL drove all over Houston and found four boxes for me for my birthday! It's the only shade of red that doesn't look fake, IMO. It would look great with highlights, as it comes with a highlight kit of its own.

Maybe I should actually read the thread first.

What we all won't do for that colour, well in addition to harassing the crap out of L'Oreal.

 

[porschegrl]

Try Overtone. I've stopped coloring my hair and am now completely grey. I color some strands with fun colors (pink, purple and red) and they washes out after about 5-7 washes. I use Silver on a regular basis to give my grey some shine and dimension.

Thank you! I was going to ask if anyone here had experience with Overtone. I've wanted to try some of the fun colors, but I wasn't sure how well (or how quickly) they would wash out. I just may place an order tonight.