Using professional hair colour at home

Flipjango

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!

Uniscots97

I'd be interested in the replies as I asked the same thing.

Beenie

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.

Flipjango

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.

beth.stephenson2009

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.

beth.stephenson2009

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.

Casati

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!)

beth.stephenson2009

Casati wrote: »

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.

beth.stephenson2009

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.

Flipjango

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!

beth.stephenson2009

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.