I swear I'm not emo or goth.

June 18, 2007 8:47 AM

HairDyeFilter: Used the stuff in the box with bad results. Help me not look like a freak!

I have naturally light brown hair. I decided I wanted to go to a darker brown. I used Garnier Nutrisse in Warm Brown.

Long story short, my hair is now really -really- dark at the roots and almost black at the ends (good thing I didn't leave it on for the full time!) and it looks incredibly unnatural, and the whole gothic/emo thing just doesn't work for me. What are some cheap, easy ways to lighten it up? A friend suggested lemon juice for five or so minutes, which sounds like a good suggestion, but I'm afraid it'll go orange. I would dye it a lighter color but I don't think it would have the intended result, and might make it worse.

Please no "get thee to a salon!" remarks. I can't afford that option.

posted by sephira to clothing, beauty, & fashion (33 comments total)

Really, don't do anything, it'll only get worse. Start washing and it'll fade in a few days. You'll never be able to get rid of it totally w/o a professional who can strip your hair then re-dye a good color.
posted by tristeza at 8:51 AM on June 18, 2007

I would really, really not use lemon juice or anything else - for the reason you suggest, lightening is best left to the pros.

How many times have you washed your hair since you dyed it?
posted by lalex at 8:52 AM on June 18, 2007

I'm surprised it went so dark, 'cuz it sounds like you went for the right color. Don't try to bleach it out, it will just make it worse.

Get a "deep cleansing" shampoo to try to strip out some of the color. It will fade out some of the dye.
posted by radioamy at 9:00 AM on June 18, 2007

Yep, it'll fade over the next few weeks as you wash it. You could try buying a color-stripping/clarifying shampoo as well. I've used them with decent results (to get unnatural colors out of my blonde hair). YMMV.

Might I suggest though, that you experiment with makeup so that your dark hair doesn't make you look too washed out. A tan (or some bronzer) looks exotic with dark hair. If you are and wish to remain fair-skinned, a bit of plum blush and red lipstick may look fabulous if you're so inclined (think Rose McGowan).

Don't worry - you'll get used to it!
posted by infinityjinx at 9:01 AM on June 18, 2007

You can't "dye" hair a lighter color; dye only adds additional pigment. To lighten, you would have to use a bleaching agent -- not a good idea to try yourself in these circumstances.

Wash, rinse, repeat, repeat repeat. Concentrate on the ends where it's really dark. Try using dish detergent instead of shampoo -- you need to get in there with some serious surfactants, but you should be able to lighten the color somewhat. And invest in a good deep conditioner to finish, because all that washing will totally strip your hair of its natural oils and protectants.

I once put red hair dye on parts of my hair that I'd bleached/highlighted too much, and ended up with pink spots. One afternoon of vigorous washing, followed by a week of daily shampooing, got rid of the pink completely. Red dye, however, is more prone to fading/disappearing, so YMMV.
posted by junkbox at 9:04 AM on June 18, 2007

From what I hear normal Prell shampoo helps make color fade quicker, but it's a little rough on your hair.

I tried dying my hair red with Garnier Nutrisse once, it turned it stop sign red and I looked like a bad anime character, so I know how you feel. I don't think they have good dyes. I just used pantene classic clean shampoo and it made it fade quicker. Get a leave in conditioner because if you wash your hair alot to get it to fade, you need something so it doesn't get brittle.

If you find your hair holds color well, you might want to just stick with semi permenant dyes. Easier to wash out if you pick a color wrong. Good luck, it will fade eventually. I speak from experience.
posted by Attackpanda at 9:09 AM on June 18, 2007

Popping back in to enthusiastically agree with infinityjinx! I've gotten unexpected results with hair color before and have felt much, much better once I altered my makeup a bit. Find some pictures of a celebrity with your coloring and new hair color and emulate the makeup palettes that you like.

If you are indeed pale-skinned and want a bit of color, I heartily recommend the idiot-proof genre of gradual tanners like Jergens Natural Glow. I will say, though, that I find the dark-haired/fair-skinned/rosy-cheeked combo of people like Rose McGowan extremly lovely.
posted by lalex at 9:11 AM on June 18, 2007

I'm fairly brown already, so I'm not getting the "whoa!" washed out look. It's just a big shock from expecting brown and getting black.

I guess it's not so much the dark color but the fact that it's a dark brown at the top (like I wanted) and damn near black at the ends.

I'd washed my hair maybe three times last night before I gave up, but this was with a gentle shampoo, and frankly my arms got tired. Guess I'll try scrubbing with the clarifying shampoo and see if that gets me anywhere. If I find a clarifying shampoo for light haired brunettes would that help? Or am I playing with fire at that point?
posted by sephira at 9:20 AM on June 18, 2007

Would it be worth it to experiment with a shorter haircut for the summer so you can all or most of those dark ends snipped off? I know that when I dyed my dark blonde/light brown hair years back, that the colour just got sucked right into the ends and I had a well of a time getting it out again.
posted by maudlin at 9:34 AM on June 18, 2007

(Err -- *hell* of a time, and this was red semi-permanent dye).
posted by maudlin at 9:35 AM on June 18, 2007

The last time I had a problem like that I was told by my stylist that I should buy some of the John Frieda Sheer Blonde and just wash my hair over and over and over again, being sure to not condition between washes so that your hair is being worn down. This is really bad for your hair, but I think you're at a point where a few deep conditionings later are better than weird black tips and roots mishaps.
posted by banannafish at 9:36 AM on June 18, 2007

Call the number on the box. The person on the line may give you the "get thee to a salon" line, but they are trained hairdressers, and should be able to help over the phone as much as one can over the Internet. I've called those lines a few times (for me and for customers I was helping when I was working at a drugstore) and they do help.

I'd avoid putting anything super-strong on my hair if I could help it. But I tend to shed a lot after a dye job, so I could be paranoid.

Good luck.
posted by melissa at 9:38 AM on June 18, 2007

1. Do NOT blowdry your hair

2. Get thee a hot oil treatment - apply

3. Wash with the strongest shampoo possible (Prell, or dishwashing liquid)

4. Repeat steps 2 & 3
posted by wayward vagabond at 9:41 AM on June 18, 2007

(mean to add: there's something about the hot oil treatment that loosens the excess dye from the hair - it makes a big difference over just washing.)
posted by wayward vagabond at 9:42 AM on June 18, 2007

I wonder if by not keeping the dye on for the full time, you inadvertently caused the discrepancy between the roots and ends. Maybe if you had left it on longer, the roots (which are probably not as porous as the ends) would have caught up to the ends. It might have ended up all the darker blackish color but at least it'd all be a uniform color. At this point, I'd almost be inclined to put some temporary/semi-permanent darker color on the roots to even it out, even if it means going to the darker color you don't seem to like so much. Maybe you'd acclimate to it better that way? Apart from trimming the ends to get rid of the darker parts, if the Prell doesn't work, that's probably what I'd do.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 9:45 AM on June 18, 2007

Yep, just keep washing it. Buy a hair mask or deep conditioner to use though too, because all that washing will just dry out your hair and make it look unhealthy. And, if possible, get a trim to get rid of the dark ends.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 9:45 AM on June 18, 2007

I did this once, and my hairdresser recommended buying a highlighting kit and following the directions. Having brown mixed in with the black made it look natural and un-gothy until the darker stuff faded.
posted by happyturtle at 10:02 AM on June 18, 2007

My hairdresser says that the original Neutrogena shampoo (squat, square bottle) just strips semipermanent color right out... he told me as a cautionary tale, but it might help in your situation.
posted by nkknkk at 10:06 AM on June 18, 2007

Call the number on the box, and they may recommend a product that will remove the dye. I forget what it is called, but you can find it in the store where you bought the hair dye.

You will need a serious condition to apply if you go this route, as the process is very drying and can damage your hair.

This will leave your hair very slightly darker than before all the processes.

(I speak from experience--I tried to get my hair a bit lighter and it turned magenta!)
posted by misha at 10:08 AM on June 18, 2007

Dish soap. Wash your hair several times with dishwashing liquid (Joy, Dawn, or what ever you have on hand). You will want to deep condition after as this will strip natural oils from your hair and it will feel gross. Your roots were regrowth and I am guessing the ends had been dyed before. The ends were more pourus so they sucked up more color. It may fade after a few washing w/ the dish soap. If not I have another suggestion which I seriously SWEAR by...

If you have a Beauty Supply place near you, see if they carry Sebastian Colorshines (sometimes called Cellophanes). If not see if you can order some online. I have used it whenever I end up with an uneven Home Dye job. It is a translucent deposit only color that will add alot of shine and even out color (make sure you use gloves if you do try it). I think the stuff is amazing and it's temporary so you can do it once a month or so.

Try the dishsoap a few times first though... Good luck! (I have been where you are more times that I care to count)
posted by MayNicholas at 10:31 AM on June 18, 2007

Seconding the John Freida sheer blonde suggestion.
posted by hazyjane at 10:47 AM on June 18, 2007

Good luck! (I have been where you are more times that I care to count)
posted by MayNicholas at 12:31 PM on June 18

I'm not trying to be snarky, but if this is the case, why do you continue to self-dye your own hair? After a few calamities, would you not just start going to professionals?

I used to have a feeling of dread come over me when my mother would buy hair treatments at the store, because I knew a night of sorrow was upon me.

Based on my mother's habitual disasters in the hair department, washing it 15 times in a row with Prell seems to cure many ills.

Also, if you could stand to have an inch or two trimmed off the ends, that would undoubtedly help.

But, trying to imagine in my mind a dark-skinned girl with the hair you describe actually seems kinda hot. Have you gotten another person's opinion on what it actually looks like? You might be surprised at others' reaction.
posted by Ynoxas at 10:49 AM on June 18, 2007

The ends sucked up so much dye because they are generally more porous and dryer than the rest of your hair because it's older hair. If you can trim the ends, that would help get rid of the super dark parts and overall, should be better for your hair anyway. The washing is going to definitely fade the hair color. After you're done with the fading process, get a real good conditioning treatment/mask on your hair and use it regularly in addition to daily conditioning.
posted by jerseygirl at 11:14 AM on June 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Seconding what jerseygirl said.

The older more damaged parts of your hair will definitely soak up more dye. Also, when you buy dye don't look at the pic of the girl on the front, as ymmv on color that way.

Garnier Nutrisse had a burgundy color once that I just loved. Haven't dyed my hair in ages but it's not THAT bad a brand.
posted by konolia at 11:42 AM on June 18, 2007

I'm not trying to be snarky, but if this is the case, why do you continue to self-dye your own hair? After a few calamities, would you not just start going to professionals?

I'm a glutton for punishment? But seriously, with every calamity I have learnt more about the process. So now I don't have the calamites that I used to and can dye my hair myself with the confidence and insight to know what will work for me and if something should go wrong, I know how to fix it.

I used to get my hair done at the salon all the time. But after having them mess up my hair a few too many times, I figured why pay someone else to make the mistakes I could make for free. But, that's just me... (I have had some amazing stylists too though)
posted by MayNicholas at 11:44 AM on June 18, 2007

I don't want to cut my hair - I've been trying to let it grow out so that's out.

Ynoxas, so far the general reception has been that it looks good, but I can never tell if people are just being nice. I don't like it simply because it's not what I wanted. And I'm not quite dark enough to pull this off well, I think.

My plan of action so far is dish soap a few times, hot oil, treatment mask. Failing that, the Colorshines stuff. Thanks everybody, but feel free to keep the suggestions coming.
posted by sephira at 12:03 PM on June 18, 2007

Just occurred to me. L'Oreal makes a Les Brunettes hair color that is specifically for lightening darker hair. I know the instructions inside are going to say wait 10-14 days after any sort of chemical (perming, straightening, color processing) treatment before coloring your hair.
posted by jerseygirl at 12:24 PM on June 18, 2007

Do not try to lighten it yourself with any other product. I tried this once while in a similar situation and my hair turned push-up pop orange. I would try washing your hair quite a bit, but no chemicals.
posted by Elaisa at 12:27 PM on June 18, 2007

I actually like Garnier Nutrisse but I have had this problem myself (hair being darker than expected, ends sucking up dye and being much darker than the roots), albeit with their Soft Black color.

Have you considered re-dying your hair with the same color following the "root touch-up" directions? At least then your hair would be the same overall color from root to tip and you could focus on fading it out evenly with the dish soap. In my experience, Nutrisse color fades dramatically after about 10-20 washes, so it would not take long to strip things down. Make sure you condition heavily afterward.
posted by amber_dale at 12:49 PM on June 18, 2007

Ynoxas, so far the general reception has been that it looks good, but I can never tell if people are just being nice.

Understandable. Therefore, in the interest of good community building, I offer my eyeballs as disinterested 3rd party viewing devices.

Take a picture and email to me (in profile). Put the little black bar over your eyes if you wish to remain anonymous.

I'll be happy to give you an honest, completely objective, opinion.

In fact, maybe link to the picture here in the thread, and we'll all chime in.

ismyhairhotornot.metafilter.com
posted by Ynoxas at 2:15 PM on June 18, 2007

Mix equal parts Hydrogen peroxide with shampoo,apply to wet hair, just the dark ends,two minutes rinse, reapply if needed.
posted by hortense at 4:43 PM on June 18, 2007

Okay, I washed the FUCK out of my hair. But not the dark color, apparently. I tried the dish soap and hot oil route, but I got nothing. I'm hesitant to put any more chemicals in my hair. Cause you, know, I -still have hair- and all.

On the plus side, my roommates and friends all think it looks hot, so it can't be all that hideous. I'll just wait it out until it lightens up. Thanks for the suggestions guys.
posted by sephira at 6:12 PM on June 18, 2007

My hair is bottle fed into a lighter blonde. I wanted to go strawberry one time and picked up one of the lightest red boxes. Horrors! My hair turned PINK.

I called my hairdresser and he said to get myself some Tide detergent. (Not the with bleach alternative.) Sure enough, it took the color right out. YMMV, as I was able to wash out the dye within about 12 hours.

Poor Sephira!
posted by TauLepton at 4:31 PM on July 10, 2007