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Dye my black hair back to brown?

I've had long black hair for years, my natural colour is very dark brown but when my roots start to show there is an obvious difference.

I tried to persevere and letting it grow out but that's really not working. Is there a way to strip out the colour after all these years or am I stuck growing it out?

I dont mind paying a hairdresser if it can be done!
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Comments

  • jen77_2
    jen77_2 Posts: 84 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    It can be done, I had it done about 10yrs ago.
    My natural hair colour is mousy -mid brown colour and i had taken to using hair colour in dark brown years ago. I never just dyed the roots i just used to slop it all over my hair and this ended up with the ends really dark and over-dyed.

    I went to hairdressers and it took them all day, literally from 0900-1600h to strip hair. They apply a stripper and it went a gingery patchy brown colour, as it was so over-coloured it took several attempts of applying stripper, letting it work, rinsing, seeing it hadnt taken all the colour out, and then applying all over again.
    Once the majority of dye was out they dyed it a light brown colour. It was still fairly patchy colour but it had worked.

    Sadly my love of dark hair has over-taken again and i have been dying it a darker brown again...its not the black/dark brown it used to be though...i just dont learn lol!

    It cost about £70 back in the days..i guess it will be more now though

    Hope it helps
  • morocha
    morocha Posts: 1,554 Forumite
    Hi, when was the last time you had your hair done ? there is a product in Boots called Time Rewind that has excellent reviews...
    Mejor morir de pie que vivir toda una vida de rodillas.
  • pulliptears
    pulliptears Posts: 14,583 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    jen77 wrote: »
    It can be done, I had it done about 10yrs ago.
    My natural hair colour is mousy -mid brown colour and i had taken to using hair colour in dark brown years ago. I never just dyed the roots i just used to slop it all over my hair and this ended up with the ends really dark and over-dyed.

    I went to hairdressers and it took them all day, literally from 0900-1600h to strip hair. They apply a stripper and it went a gingery patchy brown colour, as it was so over-coloured it took several attempts of applying stripper, letting it work, rinsing, seeing it hadnt taken all the colour out, and then applying all over again.
    Once the majority of dye was out they dyed it a light brown colour. It was still fairly patchy colour but it had worked.

    Sadly my love of dark hair has over-taken again and i have been dying it a darker brown again...its not the black/dark brown it used to be though...i just dont learn lol!

    It cost about £70 back in the days..i guess it will be more now though

    Hope it helps

    I asked my usual hairdresser a few years ago and she did that 'suck air through teeth thing' lol.

    Might try a few more upmarket salons then thanks!
  • Sagaris
    Sagaris Posts: 1,852 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Photogenic Debt-free and Proud!
    I had mine done as a 'model' for my friend's daughter who wanted a guinea pig for her final exams - the yellow patchy hair was very scary! She works in a salon off Oxford Street in London, and they charge almost £200!!! I was very glad to donate my time and hair for free!
    :j Almost 2 stones gone! :j
    :heart2: RIP Clio 1.9.93 - 7.4.10 :heart2:
    :p I WILL be tidy, I WILL be tidy! :p
  • dundeedoll_2
    dundeedoll_2 Posts: 1,199 Forumite
    edited 23 July 2010 at 9:15PM
    Scott Cornwalls Colour B4. It does have mixed reviews but I honestly think this is more to do with what people had actually used on their hair previously/after using it. I used it and it was FABULOUS. It's available at Boots (& other places but not entirely sure where)
    There's a brilliant page on Facebook..........lots of advice from Scott and users + pics of before and after. Think you can access that even if you don't have an account - just google Scott Cornwall Facebook and it should let you view. Yep....just tried it and it worked.
    The main thing is to rinse it properly (all in instructions) and then rinse it for at least 5 mins more than it says. Also DO NOT use a SEMI-PERMANENT or PERMANENT colour for a while after use - it will reoxydise (go back to black) You can use a TEMPORARY 6-8 washes colour (look at the facebook page to see what Scott recommends - shades/make)
    Also Scott recommends (in cases like yours with the over-coloured ends) to use a bicarbonate of soda/lemon juice wash for a couple of weeks before using CB4 to get rid of some of the colour. Scroll down the posts to older posts and you should find a post with that advice.
    Hope that helps a bit.
    BTW it is NOT a bleach so much kinder to hair.......and cheaper!!
    Nicotine Free since 01.08.2010 :j:j:j

    Sealed Pot Challenge member 1097 2011 £1024.78 :T

    I feel the two are connected :D
  • xmaslolly76
    xmaslolly76 Posts: 3,974 Forumite
    Colour b4 is fab under certain circumstances but be warned if you have used xxl products or are fond of using straightners you will end up with horrid orange hair that is terrible to try and cover as the silicon in the products actually bonds with the hair making it impossible to shift. Scott recommended Washing my hair with baby shampoo as apparently that breaks down the silicon eventually and only use wash in wash out colours for a good while until my hair starts to recover but its takes a long time. On the plus side unlike alot of salon products colour b4 wont damage your hair or dry it out
    :jFriends are like fabric you can never have enough:j
  • pulliptears
    pulliptears Posts: 14,583 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Some great advice thanks! does it make a difference that its been black for at least 6 years though?
  • dundeedoll_2
    dundeedoll_2 Posts: 1,199 Forumite
    * you will end up with horrid orange hair*

    It does seem to leave hair with a 'gingery' tone but this is due to the peroxide (which lightens hair) in the hair dyes used even if they darken.
    Scott often recommends Clynol Loving Touch 6-8 week in Light Ash Brown to combat this. (Some people have difficulty in getting hold of this so you try Clairol Nice n Easy but only the 6 - 8 week one.)
    There are websites that sell it tho'.

    Have a look at that facebook page!
    Nicotine Free since 01.08.2010 :j:j:j

    Sealed Pot Challenge member 1097 2011 £1024.78 :T

    I feel the two are connected :D
  • pulliptears
    pulliptears Posts: 14,583 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Wow the reviews of that Colour B4 are great! Sounds like its worth a shot, although Im slightly scared as I straighten my hair once a week...
  • pulliptears
    pulliptears Posts: 14,583 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Had a look at the FB page, thats amazing! I think I'll try the build up remover shampoo for a few weeks and then give it a go. The dyes Ive used have been various over the years, but mostly clairol etc

    Problem is now I have graduated I need to job hunt in September (taking the summer off with the kids!) so I'm going to need to lose the black hair for interviews. I can hide the piercings lol

    I'm so glad I asked now! Thank you all!
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