I'm looking to start dying my hair at home. I'm considering semi/demi-permanent options and need more advice on what to choose. Previously having it done at a stylist. Color treated, previously bleached/highlighted, going-grey hair.
Long time ago, I always dyed my hair with whatever box colors I could get ahold of. Some crazy colors, some more normal ones. About a year and a half ago, I decided I wanted to go blond (from unnatural reds - though my natural color is a medium ash brown - I think, its been a while.) The blond seemed to do a number on my hair and I got sick of the roots and the cost of the upkeep. So I had my hair stylist dye it to a caramel brown color, which she did the last two times I had it done. I was thinking I could save some cash by going back to dying it myself.
The reason I was thinking of going semi-permanent is that its less harsh on my hair, and I could do it more often to deal with the roots and the grey hairs. I hate the faded look my hair gets after a few weeks anyway, so I think with a semi-permanent I can do it more often. I'm not sure about the grey coverage though. Some people say semi-permanents work well, some say otherwise.
I've been looking at Clairol Natural Instinct, but also checked
Makeup Alley and L'Oreal Color Gems sounds interesting and has a higher rating. But I'm nervous about the lack of "for dummies" box/packaging.
My hair is definitely overprocessed, both from the bleaching and because I usually style with a blow dryer and/or flat iron (if i don't, it's impossible to manage). I wash it every other day-ish, though I often rinse it every day. My hair is medium/short, but I'm trying to grow it out to at least shoulder length.
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If it's the former, and you're considering semiperm colours, I'd consider just how damaged your hair is from the years of peroxide. You may have already had a discussion with your colourist about how he damaged cuticle on your hair will soak up dye and give you a much darker hair colour than you'd think from the colour on the box. If you are sticking to box dyes (from the drug store or from a beauty supply), you'll have to be willing to experiment with what colour you want and to be a little patient with the results. If your hair has been professionally coloured, your colourist has likely mixed several shades to give you the colour that you have. You will very likely not achieve the same result at home.
If you're concerned about the damage, talk to your colourist about hair treatments to help repair the damage, and consider your styling products and tools. I.e. how much heat are you using, and what are you using to limit damage?
If you are looking for a longer term solution, I can't say enough nice things about henna. It's cheap, it is semi permanent (lasts roughly 6-8 weeks), it conditions your scalp, and it gives a lovely, glossy shine to your hair. It also has the bonus of not leaving a dye line when your hair grows out. It just gradually fades in a very natural look. Henna doesn't always mean ginger/red hair. You can get brown, red, black, strawberry, chestnut brown - you name it. You can even get clear henna to just act as a treatment if you wish. The only thing you can't do with henna is to go a shade lighter than your natural hair colour... but that's true of any semiperm colour.
If you do decide to try henna, just keep in mind that some colourists don't know how to work with henna treated hair and might not want to work with it. It will be something you need to mention before you book in with a colourist. In this day and age, though, I've found it isn't hard at all to find a henna-friendly colourist.
posted by Grrlscout at 7:38 AM on November 29, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]