Wanting to dye my hair red!

Jo_R_2

Hi all

I have been thinking for a while of dying my hair red all over - a bright pillarbox red, something like Jane Goldman, Jonathan Ross's wife, or Pink in various videos, just so you get the gist:D

I have very, very dark brown hair (with some greys - ssssssh;)) that currently is quite long, past my shoulders. I've had red streaks before, done professionally, which looked fabulous, but that was a while ago.

I'm wanting to get it done professionally again. My hairdressers is Toni and Guy, who I have been very happy with. What I was wanting to know from anyone was if anyone else has had such fashion colours as a whole head of hair, what sort of price they paid, and how did they find the upkeep in terms of getting roots done, how often, how much that cost, how did the colour last, and anything else useful!

Minxy_Bella

When I dyed my hair red, my hairdresser had to strip it of colour first and then put this bright orange dye on it which made me look like a witchypoo!

I can't remember exactly how much it cost - about £50 I think - but my mate does own the salon

Also, the red faded REALLY quickly, so be prepared to have it freshened up often.

Have fun!

jenniewb

Yeah- if your hair is darker (and it sounds like it is) you'd need to strip it first.

You may also need to go to a specialist high fashion type salon as most salons annoyingly tend to have natural colours only and anything slightly different from the basic natural colours they just don't do. They say they do then you end up with a totally different hair colour and some lame excuse about how it suits you getter etc etc and how it wont fade as much. So make sure you try somewhere with either a good reputation or buy your own colours from a punk style store. Somewhere like Camden (in London) would be my best bet.

I would say though, that as reds go, they fade more then any other colour- its to do with the colour particles not adhereing to the hair as well- something to do with the reactivity or something so you may end up redying it the following week -and take care not to sleep on your pillows for the first week after dying as the pillow will no longer be the same colour....(sleep on an old towel lined with a pillow liner or plastic).

I'd say make very sure your OK with all the work that comes with it- red takes alot of looking after and after a while your hair may not thank you for it and you may require a few deep conditionings, especially if you have had to strip your hair. If its any help I've tried a few (Aussie, Kerastase, Bumble and Bumble...etc) and rate Phillip Kingsley far and above any of them. The others are OK, B&B is good but with all of them you need to leave them in overnight or at least an hour to get the full benefit and really notice the difference. Also if you do blow dry, use a heat protective leave in conditioner. Its very important to look after your hair as when your dark roots begin to show and you want to redye, you'll have two different hair types going on which means the colour will begin to take unevenly and look a mess!

Good luck with it all though!

Jo_R_2

When I had my red streaks done a while ago (have had them done a few times in the past), they didn't strip any colour out. I gather something about there being the bleaching agent in the colour already - but don't quote me on that, all I know is that the red did come out bright on my very dark hair.

I was prepared for the 'fade' factor, and I have to say, looking at my roots ths morning (I seem to have to do them every three/four weeks to cover up the greys), I am seriously thinking that the work involved is going to be too much. I love, love, LOVE the idea, but at this point (three young kiddies with another on the way!) being realistic, the upkeep I think is something I won't be able to keep up with.

I think I'll probably go with a load of red streaks as before through the top, I found that reasonably easy to keep up with and to keep in by getting them redone every so often, or when I was done, just to go back to my normal colour. Tis a shame but the last thing I want is to spend a lot of money and it be a waste.

jenniewb

Maybe try it, see how long it lasts and if its too much for you then just overdye it back to your natural colour and it should be fine.

The reason that highlights don't always have a separate colour lightener is that it doesn't matter too much with smaller clumps of hair- its easier to get it even, but with a whole head you really need to get the colour lift even as you end up with streaks and not an even overall hair colour.

HTH

little_miss_messiah

Hi brave bunny

On a slightly more MSE note - you could get the stripping done at the hairdressers and then apply directions colour - I used this A LOT back in the day in red, peacock blue and baby pink (not all at the same time) and they still do it - hop along to your local indie/goth/emo store etc - these are they http://http://www.lariche.co.uk/directions-hair-colour/

THey are semis but do last a while altho red fades quicker - and they now do their own shampoo/conditioner as well - they are highly conditioning and altho I went a bit overboard with them way back when never wrecked my hair (quite a range of reds too)

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Whats a good way of keeping coloured red hair from fading too quickly?

System

La Riche Directions-Pillerbox Red (after home bleaching with Jerome Russell B Blonde)



Have always home dyed my hair and my friend's hair (I'm currently Plum!)

the_devil_made_me_do_it

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

La Riche Directions-Pillerbox Red (after home bleaching with Jerome Russell B Blonde)



Have always home dyed my hair and my friend's hair (I'm currently Plum!)

You are really lucky that your hair can handle home bleaching. Everytime I've tried to bleach mine, it ends up really dry & damaged. Have had to have it cut off so many times because of it.

chelleybelley

i would also consider that it will fade more in this weather so the maintenance will be more cos of the sun, i would be more inclined to do it in the autumn for better care of it but if ur that determined go 4 it!!

Jei70

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

La Riche Directions-Pillerbox Red (after home bleaching with Jerome Russell B Blonde)



Have always home dyed my hair and my friend's hair (I'm currently Plum!)

I love your hair! Does that brand wash out quickly? How often do you colour and does it damage your hair? (I gather that Directions is like Manic Panic, slightly conditioning, but bleaching might damage it?) I saw it locally for £3.99, I have long hair and would probably need to use 2 tubs - I would like to freshen up my henna a bit...

Sorry, OP, a bit of a tangent - still, you may want to try temporary home dyes like these to freshen up your colour without hairdresser prices (and time)!