Haircolor

[Kate B]

OK, so I've finally had it with paying $75+ to get my hair highlighted. This may be a loaded question, but does anyone have any experience (good or bad) with any particular type of home hair color? My hair is shoulder length and naturally light brown, but now has blonde highlights (oh, and some gray) on the top. I'm thinking of using the shampoo in type (no home highlights.... tried that in high school and ended up looking like a bengal tiger).

If I really shouldn't try this, please enlighten me!

Thanks for your time; have a good day!

Kate:confused:

[ChristyMarie]

Ok somehow my reply was eaten...trying this again:

At home I've had good results with minor changes (like going medium brown to medium red) but I do notice that the at home stuff seems to fade a lot more than the professional stuff. Maybe a color enhancing shampoo would help with that.

However when I went blonde and then when I went back to brown I had it done - brown/blonde is tricky and going from blonde to brown can leave you with greenish tinges if you aren't careful. You could do a test patch and see how it goes but I'd be hesitant to just jump in and go for it.

[sneezles]

I use Loreal products. I have very strong red tendencies so no matter what color I try ('cept browns or black) I end up with varying degrees of red. Shoulder length hair, I recommend buying two boxes. My hair is shoulder length and fairly thick so it takes more than one to really cover.

[alisajean]

I would recommend going to Sally Beauty Supply or the like. Using a Loreal Professional Color is better then the Loreal at the drug store IMO. Ask the person working at the store what they would recommend. I started coloring my own hair last year but got tired of it because I couldn't get that salon highlighted look. I'm back to paying $75 every 5 weeks which I feel is worth it because if I feel I don't look good everyone in my house pays!!! LOL

[tperes]

I did mine at home for many years (been coloring since I was 18), when I had hair way past my shoulders. I used L'oreal creme haircolor b/c it didn't drip and run all over the place. I have extremely gray/white hair (especially in the front), and this color used to work very well, but after a while it seemed like it just wasn't staying long enough. Even w/ DH doing the application, which was very good and thorough I might add!

I also felt that my hair was getting very dried out b/c I know store-bought hair colors are much harsher than salon colors.

So, I am back at the salon, one I really like b/c they use Aveda products (the best for hair color IMHO), and I go every 4 wks at $55-75 a trip. DH complains, but really it is my one vanity, and I am much too young to have white hair!

If you decide to do the home hair coloring thing, just be prepared for results that don't quite compare to salon hair coloring.

[hlao23]

My hair is half dark brown and half gray. I use Nice n Easy light auburn with very good results. Everyone thinks it's natural and I don't have a problem with dryness. That said, I also don't use heat on my hair ever (no blow dryers or curling irons)...so that may make the rest easier.

[ilikecats85]

I've been coloring my own hair at home for the last 15 years or so. I use Clairol Nice N Easy, never had a problem. My hair is lightish brown (or at least it was til I went MAJORLY grey starting at about 24) I don't try to make any major shade changes, I mainly just cover the grey and maintain a nice medium/darkish blonde color. I redo only my roots every 6 weeks or so. I don't have any trouble with my haircolor fading or washing out. My stylist never chides me on home haircolor and I've had compliments so I save many $$ and do it myself.
:)

[leebee]

I have also been coloring my hair for many, many years. I am about 50-60% gray now, and my once-beautiful red hair has turned mousy. I have always said I will die a redhead. That said, I've tried just about every product on the market and have had pretty good results with most. The "natural" products don't seem to do a lot for me. I stick within a few shades of a medium red (I went a little lighter this last time to see if it helped disguise my grays better)and when I color (every 6 weeks, give or take), I only put color on my roots for the first 20 mins & then cover the rest for about 5 or so. That keeps the color from building up and looking streaky (I have medium-length hair). My stylist has been very complimentary. I told her that I wanted to schedule an appointment for color, and she said not to bother. I'd spend 20 times the money & the results would be no better than what I do myself. My mom, on the other hand, hates to color her hair so much (and it's only about 1 1/2 inches long!), that she gets hers done once a month. I don't mind doing it (it's one of the few times I get 1 hour of uniterrupted time in the bathroom), so I'll keep it up.

[Kate B]

Thanks to all who replied. I went to a beauty supply store and bought a color and developer that the salesgirl recommended after looking at my hair. Shockingly enough, both products were no more expensive than the products I was looking at at the drugstore. Now I just need to be brave enough to do it!

Thanks again! I'll let you know how it turns out.

Kate

[Melman]

I also buy my color products at Sally. I think it's Clairol Essentials. I know it's permanent color and is called 7N. I guess I don't have to know the name of it...I know exactly where to find it in their store. :D

The guy who cuts my hair told me how to get the color to look natural instead of died from a box. When you color it from now on (after this initial time), primarily color the roots. I use a squeeze bottle and squeeze the color in a straight line every 1/4" to 1/3" apart...(as close as I can make them). I sometimes will put the last little bit in the bottle on the long part of my hair, but not always. He said that by putting it on the roots, it helps with the different shades that will appear. He also had to point out that the blonder streaks I have in my hair is actually the gray hair. Because I use permanent color, the gray is the part that highly penetrated with the color more than the regular color hair (whatever that is anymore.)

Good luck! The first time is definitely the scariest!!!!!