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Using professional hair colour at home

Flipjango
Posts: 103 Forumite


Hi everyone. Looking for some advice on colouring my own hair at home. I've been having salon highlights for a few years now, but I am never really happy with the results and can't really afford to keep doing it either (I live in London and a half head of highlights costs about £150 which is a hell of a lot to spend when you're not even happy with the results). I'm getting so sick of heading back to the salon and complaining!
My natural colour is a very flat, ashy light brunette/dark blonde, about a 7.1 level. I have about 30% grey, but mostly around the front where it is very visible. I've been having a mix of colours put in in, usually my natural tone and one to two shades lighter, so my overall shade is about a 8-9 level sun kissed look. Problem is, I really like a very ash toned colour, and at the salon, even when I make this perfectly clear, it keeps coming out really warm, so it looks coppery in sunlight, when what I actually want is a mousy ash tone.
I would quite like to just return to my natural colour and dye out the greys at home myself in order to save some money. I have a Sally nearby and a little knowledge of colour theory (have toned my own hair before), and would much rather invest in good quality professional colours if it will mean getting the results I want. I've tried boots/superdrug type colours before and even the ash tones always come out too warm, so I have a feeling I need to use a professional colour with a lower percentage peroxide and leave it on for a longer time (not sure if this is right, but I suspect I need 10% developer for 45 minutes, rather than 20%+ for 20 minutes - am I right?) So question is, firstly, what do I need to do to return to my natural colour, or close enough (so, taking my existing highlights 1-2 shades darker and toning out the current warmth without it turning green) and secondly, what would I need to use in future to dye my hair a completely natural, dark mousy blonde tone that would completely cover my grey hair, without it going warm at all? I would really appreciate suggestions of good brands and developer combinations please?
Thanks so much!
My natural colour is a very flat, ashy light brunette/dark blonde, about a 7.1 level. I have about 30% grey, but mostly around the front where it is very visible. I've been having a mix of colours put in in, usually my natural tone and one to two shades lighter, so my overall shade is about a 8-9 level sun kissed look. Problem is, I really like a very ash toned colour, and at the salon, even when I make this perfectly clear, it keeps coming out really warm, so it looks coppery in sunlight, when what I actually want is a mousy ash tone.
I would quite like to just return to my natural colour and dye out the greys at home myself in order to save some money. I have a Sally nearby and a little knowledge of colour theory (have toned my own hair before), and would much rather invest in good quality professional colours if it will mean getting the results I want. I've tried boots/superdrug type colours before and even the ash tones always come out too warm, so I have a feeling I need to use a professional colour with a lower percentage peroxide and leave it on for a longer time (not sure if this is right, but I suspect I need 10% developer for 45 minutes, rather than 20%+ for 20 minutes - am I right?) So question is, firstly, what do I need to do to return to my natural colour, or close enough (so, taking my existing highlights 1-2 shades darker and toning out the current warmth without it turning green) and secondly, what would I need to use in future to dye my hair a completely natural, dark mousy blonde tone that would completely cover my grey hair, without it going warm at all? I would really appreciate suggestions of good brands and developer combinations please?
Thanks so much!
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I'd be interested in the replies as I asked the same thing.CC2 = £8687.86 ([STRIKE]£10000[/STRIKE] )CC1 = £0 ([STRIKE]£9983[/STRIKE] ); Reusing shopping bags savings =£5.80 vs spent £1.05.Wine is like opera. You can enjoy it even if you don't understand it and too much can give you a headache the next day J0
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I know that salons charge a lot, but do you have mobile hairdressers in your area? My SIL and niece pay the same price for both of them (wash,cut and finish) that I pay on my own. Seriously considering a mobile hairdresser for my next highlights.0
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None that I know of, and to be honest, I feel like if the expensive mayfair salons aren't getting the results I like, then I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope for a mobile hairdresser (maybe I'm a snob, but I'm assuming anyone who's any good in London would be working in a decent salon where they could earn the bigger bucks!). I would actually rather do it myself anyway though.0
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Why not get a mobile hairdresser to do it. Mine charges me £20 for a full head colour, and £5 if I want a cut at the same time.
Better than buying a hair dye in a supermarket, doing it wrong, and looking like a numpty.0 -
They will come around to do a colour match if you ask- they come with a book of different hair colour samples, and you choose one you like. Its free.0
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Not necessarily so, there are some great mobile hairdressers out there, some just need or want the flexibility that comes with being self employed rather than being tied to a salons opening hours (child / parental care commitments or whatever) Your other option is ... next time you see someone with the hair you want...ask them who did it! Don't be shy...it's a pretty great compliment to receive!)2016: No Clutter to Be Seen 805/2016
2015 Grand total 2301/20150 -
Not necessarily so, there are some great mobile hairdressers out there, some just need or want the flexibility that comes with being self employed rather than being tied to a salons opening hours (child / parental care commitments or whatever) Your other option is ... next time you see someone with the hair you want...ask them who did it! Don't be shy...it's a pretty great compliment to receive!)
Well then don't go with expensive ones?? The most expensive I have had quoted in my area (L39) for full head colour is £40. Would cost me £80 in Andrew Collinge.0 -
http://www.homehairdresser.co.uk/
Search in your area- many have a telephone number on their advertising bit, so you can call/text and ask for prices.0 -
Nothing personal, but I'm REALLY not looking for a mobile hairdresser, just the info on dyeing it myself thanks. Even if a mobile HD is only £50, I can colour it myself for £10. It's only basic chemistry at the end of the day, so thanks for the advice, but would be great if someone could answer my original question. Ta!0
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The only way you can go back to your exisiting colour is to get the colour you have been dying it stripped out of your hair- don't think for a second of doing this yourself, go to a salon!
You can go into TESCO/ASDA or whereever you do your weekly shopping and look at their dyes and try and match up as best you can, and hope for the best.0
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