Calling MN hair colour experts! I need yooouuuuu!

[BunnyLebowski]

Right.

My hair is darkest brown with almost completely grey roots. If I shaved my head I'm pretty sure it would grow back completely white. Alas I am not brave nor beautiful enough to do that.

I'm sick of dyeing my roots and generally a bit bored of my colour so have decided to be drastic and bleach my hair and then dye it
this colour

I'm going to use powder bleach (is blue or white better?) and 40 volume developer.

How long after bleaching can I dye it red? Will the bleach make me orange or white? How long should I leave it on for?

Oh and am I crackers to be doing this at all?!

[BunnyLebowski]

[piratecat]

hiya, my hair sounds like yours, tho over the last few years i have dyed it a light brown, so that the roots don't show quite as much in contrast to the 'colour'.

If you do this you will still have white roots! It's hard to say what colour the bleach will do to your hair.

how long is your hair? be careful not too over bleach it. Is it coloured at the moment?
A good way of taking hair colour back a bit is colour b4.

[PinkFairyArmadillo]

I wouldn't use 40vol, it's nasty stuff and it's very easy to end up with chemical burns not to mention frying your hair. I'd try using some ColourB4 (I think you can actually use up to three in a row) and see what colour you can get to with that. It's drying but not really damaging so it's preferable to just slapping the bleach on. A few years ago I got from years of permanent black to a gingery colour with ColourB4 then was able to just bleach once with 30vol to get light enough to go neon pink.

What dye were you planning on using for the red? If you're bleaching beforehand you'll really need to use a true semi permanent like Directions, Manic Panic or Special Effects. A lot of box dyes sold as "semi permanent" are actually demis and contain peroxide which isn't good if your hair is already highly processed.

If you're using a true semi permanent then you can dye it straight after bleaching. My routine is coconut oil for an hour or so, bleach bath (one part bleach powder, one part 30vol developer and one part clarifying shampoo, it's less damaging than straight bleach), Joico K-Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor then the Manic Panic dye of choice.

This website is a fantastic source of information for dyeing bright colours.

[plannedshock]

Good god you are going to do that yourself? Firstly if you bleach your hair, because it's dark colour, it will lift reddy anyway-so far so good but when you re-apply the red dye it will take differently on the roots and ends, bleach makes hair very porous so will fade really quickly so prepare to keep reapplying a few times, invest in a good conditioner.
Also white is cold, red is warm so when your regrowth comes through you will have a super clash, if you are lifting your hair with 40vol that's 12%, use 6% it will lift just as well but slower and won't damage as much.
If you are trying to disguise roots the most productive thing would be to hi light (not necessarily blonde, light brown?) to start to break up your old colour and gently lift your base, not as instant but gentler!
If you are looking for more of a fashion colour go for it but remember when you're fed up if red, it's one of the hardest colours to get rid of!
Good luck x

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

it will go orange and streaky unless you really bleach it in which case your hair will feel like straw. I second colour b4 its a bit gentler. even when hairdresser bleach bathed my very dark dyed hair it went orangey and streaky

[damejudydench]

I don't like that colour at all...

Why don't you just go lighter?

[SteppedOnaFrog]

Go natural and be ethereal with silver hair....

[WallyBantersJunkBox]

I think that kind of red is the hardest to upkeep and with 90% grey you will end up with an orange aura around your head. It fades so quickly too, and the colour can be draining.

The only way I have been able to keep the grey at bay is to go nude. I'm not Madonna nude yet, but more an Annette Benning type. I don't have highlights - I just have my roots dyed nude every 6 weeks, which removes the dark and grey colour. To be honest I don't even notice the grey in the 6th week as it blends so well now.

I have been 80% grey since I was 28, I have tried all sorts but am finally happy with my colour choice.

[HaveAGoodDay]

Okay, try this first, the Vitamin C tablets & shampoo mix. When mixed together it acts like a colour remover, google it, you tube it for how to's. If that doesn't lighten your hair enough, I'd go for colour B4.

That colour you want is pretty 'in your face'. I like it & would have it myself but I know I'd not suit it & probably wouldn't like it once I had it & red is the hardest colour to get out! Anyway, can I suggest this, after the vit c mix and/or colour b4, how about some highlights (prob best done at hairdressers) then something like this

hairstyesone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/dark-red-hair-color-ideas1.jpg

So then you have something subtle as a base colour and your brighter red highlights. Either way you still have to maintain the colour. Hth!

[Marrow]

Go natural! I haven't dyed my hair since Christmas and I'm loving not having to dye it and then get grey roots two weeks later. Have a look on Pinterest for some grey haired inspiration.

[BunnyLebowski]

Thanks everyone for the advice!

I am definitely not going natural. I don't want white hair and even if I did I would have to shave it all off to let the white grow in as I have below shoulder length hair and about an inch of grey at the roots. Not happening!

And I don't want highlights.

I'm more of a statement/in your face look kinda person anyway so am going to go for it this weekend. My hair has never been bleached before and is in great condition so according to all my research it can take the bleaching without damage.

And I always cut/colour my own hair. I have a few friends who are long term full on colour fiends so will have them on speed dial

Thanks again!

[piratecat]

hi that link someone gave for hair dye forum was a good site.
colour b4 is still great for lifting out dye before bleach. its clever stuff.

[BunnyLebowski]

UPDATE* (for anyone that cares )

I did it!

Bleached my hair twice and achieved a gorgeous (not) shade of blonde.

Today I dyed it red and it is amazing!

It's this kinda colour i.e. a fab pink based red. I'm chuffed

Thanks for the tips and hairdressers be damned

[piratecat]

piccy?

[BunnyLebowski]

I'll stick one on my profile tomorrow once I've cut my fringe back in

[BunnyLebowski]

Picture on my profile

[Jammygal]

It looks lush Bunny...good work!!!!

[BunnyLebowski]

Thanks Jammy

I'm rather pleased with myself

[frankietwospots]

Love it! You look great.

[mumofone25]

Your hair looks fab! Good work!! :)

[piratecat]

not surprised you are pleased, what bleach did you use in the end

[BunnyLebowski]

I used this powder bleach mixed with this L'oreal developer

I got a compliment from a group of teenage girls on the school run. That's good, right??

[piratecat]

deffo!

looks well good

[BunnyLebowski]

Cheers pirate

[DisappointedHorse]

LOVE it!