grey roots - should I go from dark (dyed) to blonde? Is it possible??

foreign_correspondent

Right, I have a dilemma - I have been dying my short hair dark brown for years - my natural colour is mousy/dark, but I generally prefer it darker - however, unfortunately, going white early runs in the family - and now I find I have visible white roots in some places within a week of colouring it..

I have always fancied trying being blonde, but worry about looking a more 'pat butcher' than 'annie lennox'

However, I am wondering whether it would be worth trying now - I am assuming white re-growth would be less starkly visible on light blonde hair than it is under dark brown hair.. I am quite paranoid about the white roots, and end up colouring it far more often than I should...

So, can anyone tell me - am I right in thinking the regrowth would be less visible if my hair was light?

And, secondly, is it possible to go from (coloured) dark brown to blonde without having to grow the colour out and have an awful splodgy grey look inbetween times?

I may well embrace the grey when I'm a bit older, (and when the white is solid, rather than patchy!) but for now, it's not a look I'm ready for!

Amanita_2

High lights and low lights are your friends.

Much more subtle than an all over colour and will blend the grey into your hair so it becomes much less obvious. It can also be done over your existing colour so no need to grow it out.

I'd head to the hairdresser though rather than try and do it yourself especially if your hair is coloured. At least for the first time!

the_becoming

I'm in pretty much the same boat! I have been dying my naturally dark hair since I started to go grey at 17 (how unfair?!) but my roots are so white now that it may be time to go light. My naturally black haired mum went blond at 40 as her hair was white and her root regrowth is barely visible for 2 months after colouring.

I have just used a product to strip the colour build up and its a bit lighter - I have been dying mine very dark for 20 years though so am impressed with any change at all! I am hoping to go lighter in stages. It may be worth giving it a go to see if you can get back to your natural colour which will make going blonde much easier!

Cant remember who its made by, I have chucked the box but its called Colour Before? Colour b4? Summat like that, its from Boots. It stinks and needs rinsing for ages I will warn you now!!

birduk

I dyed my hair a very dark brown (naturally mousey) for quite some time, then decided I wanted to go light. NOTHING would take the colour off. I dyed it a lighter colour, ammonia, nada.

I then tried the Colour B4 stuff and it does indeed STINK- but it worked a treat. I ended up a rather fetching shade of ginger, but I could then dye it a normal colour on top. It will strip the colour out (which is why I went to ginger as it was the bleached out colour) but won't add any more in, so you need to get your desired colour too. I can't recommend this product highly enough and wish someone had told me about it sooner. Follow the instructions to the letter though- including timing the long long rinse.

If you go to a hairdresser you will need to book in for a sensitivity test as well, but once you are back to your natural colour- I'd go for the highlights if you can afford it?

SneaksyWhippet

I had light blonde highlights for years then decided to go dark brown all over for a change. I went to the hairdresser to have it done then maintained it myself at home. I then decided I wanted to go back to blonde again, so was at the stage you are now. I went back to the hairdresser and she did a brilliant job. Apparently there is a risk that it can go khaki so I'd really recommend having it done professionally when doing a big colour change like that. She did it gradually over a couple of visits so it went from dark brown to light brown to blonde, thanks to a combination of colouring, toners, colour fading and regrowth/trimming. She did this rather than strip the colour and bung on a load if bleach as apparently the stripping really damages your hair.

If I were you I'd get myself down to a reputable salon, one with a stylist/colourist you trust or at least one that comes recommended. Have a chat with them and see what they suggest.

SneaksyWhippet

Deleted pics for privacy reasons!

foreign_correspondent

hmm.. I understand what you guys are saying about getting highlights done at the hairdressers, but it would cost a fortune I think... may be the only way though I suppose...

meer53

I am 100% grey but have blonde and caramel highlights, the grey is much less noticable than if you have a dark colour. My hairdresser does mine, i couldn't manage 2 colours !

foreign_correspondent

meer53 wrote: »

I am 100% grey but have blonde and caramel highlights, the grey is much less noticable than if you have a dark colour. My hairdresser does mine, i couldn't manage 2 colours !

Yes, it would seem ligical that with the contrast being less, fairer hair wouldnt show the white roots as much - I think I'm a little worried about whether blonde would suit me, I like my hair a cool dark brown best.

I am quite pale, but have green eyes, and dark eyebrows... I just wish I wasnt quite so grey really, then it wouldnt be such a problem!

Bronnie

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Yes, it would seem ligical that with the contrast being less, fairer hair wouldnt show the white roots as much - I think I'm a little worried about whether blonde would suit me, I like my hair a cool dark brown best.

I am quite pale, but have green eyes, and dark eyebrows... I just wish I wasnt quite so grey really, then it wouldnt be such a problem!

I have very similar colouring to you and as a lifelong dark brunette, now pretty well naturally grey, but still dark with roots retouched every 3 weeks. Have often fancied a whirl as a blonde............hoping the result would be more Sharon Stone than Pat Butcher though!

The advantage you have is that your hair is short, I've spent the last couple of years growing mine to shoulder length and don't want to lose the length or compromise the condition too much.

I recently had mine lightened at the hairdressers and went a few shades lighter in colour. It's not a massive difference, but enough that even I can see whereas before my dark hair was draining the colour from my skin, now it's enhancing it. Magic! It's not making much difference with the regriowth issue at the moment, but I'm viewing mine as a work in progress.

Why not have the colour stripped at the hairdressers, see how it will go without compromising condition too much and then have a much lighter ash brown put on? Maintain this, until all that hair has been cut out, then experiment going lighter again on the new hair. It's the dark brown permanent dye that is persistent and difficult to remove evenly.

@sneaksywhippet........your hair looks lovely :-)

WolfSong2000

Getting your hair coloured at a salon doesn't have to be expensive. When I was at uni I used to go to the local beauty college - dirt cheap (usually under £20 for a cut and colour) and the results were just as good as in a salon, and students were closely supervised. Only difference was it took twice as long.

Now I use a chain salon called Celly's (think that's how it's spelt!). They do everything for £9 - e.g. basic cut, £9, limited number of highlights, £9. I got a base colour and 2 different kinds of highlights for under £30.

But yeah, highlights/lowlights would definitely be the way to go