dying red hair blonde without using bleach

ali-t

I could do with a hairstyle change but don't want to have to spend much money doing it. My hair is naturally red and doesn't take very well to being lightened by bleach. It needs a strong solution of bleach and needs to be left on for ages.

Lifting the colour from my hair also leaves it in terrible condition that is difficult to remedy without cutting it. Has anyone successfully used a home dye kit to lighten the colour of their hair? there is a thread on here just now that mentions the garnier dye and I would be interested in whether that would lift the colour of my hair or if it would just make it go a funny colour? I would prefer to go lighter than darker but have a feeling that the only way to do this is by using bleach which I am reluctant to do.

blackribbongirl

nothing apart from bleach (or lemon juice & sunlight for some people, although if you need a high strength/long time for bleach to work then I don't think lemon juice will make any difference to your hair) will work.
If you are taking your hair lighter then you really need to get it done professionally, or use a proper lightening kit. I have seen alot of people try to just put a blonde colour (as in.... your standard dye) onto brown hair and it always comes out wrong/not the colour they where intending. If you do home dye it, you would have to go through the process of using a pre-lightener to take it to a very horrible base colour, and then add a box of whatever blonde you wanted to go - TERRIBLE news for your hair, which would be frazzled by the end of this! and there is no promise that it woud even come out the right colour at the end.
I dye my hair at home, but i would never dream of going lighter by myself.
Go to a hairdresser (or stick with a lovely, beautiful red!!!!)

littlerat

I honestly don't think there is a way.

I had my hair dyed with a red semi-permanent which had almost faded out (naturally I'm a dark blonde) and it took a lot to strip the remaining out and get it a decent blonde, the only way you'd do it is a lot of bleaching then using a cool toned blonde (ash I think) to counteract the natural redness.

I can tell you though, I stayed proper blonde for 6 weeks then it got boring, not all it's cracked up to be, I'm now bright red instead

blackribbongirl

littlerat wrote: »

I honestly don't think there is a way.

I had my hair dyed with a red semi-permanent which had almost faded out (naturally I'm a dark blonde) and it took a lot to strip the remaining out and get it a decent blonde, the only way you'd do it is a lot of bleaching then using a cool toned blonde (ash I think) to counteract the natural redness.

I can tell you though, I stayed proper blonde for 6 weeks then it got boring, not all it's cracked up to be, I'm now bright red instead

mmmeeee too! look at us trying to get our hair red, when the poster is trying to turn hers blonde :rotfl:

xxvickixx

Red is the hardest colour to remove from hair, this is why strong bleach left on for a long time is the only way.
A home dye that lightens to a greater extent will contain bleach, but not in the strength that you will need, plus you won't be able to leave it on long enough for the bleach component to work as the other colour chemicals will be on for too long.
This is a really good article on hair lightening if you want a technical explaination.
http://killerstrands.blogspot.com/2010/03/balayage-hair-paintingthe-theory-that.html
What about having a few slices of blonde put in to try and minimise the damage it will do to your hair, or some clip in blonde extension pieces to give you a different look?

flippin36

You are going to struggle to do this but I have heard honey has natural peroxide properties

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=148&highlight=honey+lightening

This goes into more detail

BitterAndTwisted

Honestly, I really, really wouldn't go there. Lightening hair always entails bleaching and as already mentioned bleaching red hair is very difficult indeed and so hard on the hair. If you're determined to go lighter I'd say only get it professionally done and consider having some sections or streaks done rather than a full head.

Can I just say that naturally red hair is such a beautiful asset? Women spend fortunes to get what God gave you and I'm sure there are millions out there so envious of you. I have redheads in my family although I am not one myself and I'd love to have their colouring.

lilac_lady

Red hair can be very beautiful. Julianne Moore is an example. Don't spoil your hair colour. Enhance the red if you want to do something, don't hide it.

jenniewb

I've had this done a few times now (lifting the colour) its not possible to do it any other way then to strip the colour from the hair itself. The only way to do that is with some form of bleach (of which lemon juice, amonia or common garden bleach are all of IYSWIM) The mere fact your stripping your hair of anything is going to leave it drier and therefor cause damage.

I hate to say it but the best way is just to cut it shorter and grow it out. Each time dyeing it a little paler until you have it the desired colour- salons can do this but it can cost alot as you need many appointments.

tara747

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Can I just say that naturally red hair is such a beautiful asset? Women spend fortunes to get what God gave you and I'm sure there are millions out there so envious of you. I have redheads in my family although I am not one myself and I'd love to have their colouring.

lilac_lady wrote: »

Red hair can be very beautiful. Julianne Moore is an example. Don't spoil your hair colour. Enhance the red if you want to do something, don't hide it.

I was going to say exactly the same thing. Make your red more striking if you want a change but I would bet any money that all your friends envy your hair!!!

p.s. I know a couple of girls with red hair who have had it (professionally) lightened, and it looks AWFUL. Love your hair!!! I would love to see a pic if you are brave enough to post one (maybe just the back of your head?).

ali-t

Alright, alright I was only asking I just fancied a bit of a change but without the expense and damage of bleaching it and having to get a keratin treatment again to repair the damage. This would cost in the region of nearly £350 to get a hair cut, highlights and a keratin treatment - not very money saving!

I do love having red hair and like looking different to everyone else's hair and standing out in a crowd etc but would like to be able to be more flexible with what I can do with it. Thanks for everyones advice and it is as expected that: no I can't dye my hair cheaply and leave it undamaged