Thread: Any blondes here? Need advice on hair dyeing...

Hi, ladies!
I'm a natural blonde. Not platinum blonde, but "honey blonde" or something like that.
Now my hair is getting grey and I feel that I have to do something!! ,f::
I never ever dyed my hair... Psychologically I feel sad, confused and even depressed, because I know that if I start dyeing my hair, it will never be the same again... ..cr.:
I even have nightmares with this subject. I wouldn't like to use any chemical products and I don't want to change much of my natural colour.
My mother and friends keep on telling me to dye my hair and even change colour a little bit, because everybody does it. But for me this is the end of the world! ..c::
Can anyone please H-E-L-P me?????
Thanks in advance,
Ana

Here's me:

first off, start collecting hair from your brush to do tests on- I just convinced my mum to start using Casia Obviata- for most folks, it is similar to henna but without the red dye- if left on long enough for light enough hair, it dyes it yellow-blonde. Mum's hair was white, so it worked well for her- she has moved on to a bit of henna too- an hour with cassia for the blonde, 5-10 minutes with henna for a touch of red (she doesn't want it TOO red!) You can experiment with coffee added to the henna for a browner effect, chamomile supposedly gives the henna a more yellow tint- it is fun to experiment, you can use your extra test henna on your skin so it doesn't go to waste if you don't like it, and the cassia is a good deep condition, even if you decide not to leave it on long enough to dye anything-

I think it is a lot of fun to play around with, but I was the kind of person always doing 'science experiments' when I was a kid too- always had to be investigating something!

whether you decide to dye or not, your hair will never be the same again anyway. dying is NOT permanent, hair keeps growing & you might like a nice gradual change. It's not like you have to make a sudden drastic change! Treat it like a little adventurous fling, not like a permanent, life altering relationship change.

Oh, Ana, I understand!!!

I've been a natural blonde all my life. I always assumed my hair would go dark by around age 30, but it never did.

Everyone assumed that I colored my hair, always. Even hairdressers and my own mother! I finally broke down and tried coloring it a brighter blonde shade last year, I'm not sure why... now I have dark roots, waaaay darker than my hair ever was before. I'm so upset. I keep highlighting, hoping to blend it until those roots can grow out and get enough sun to be their old color.

On the bright side, though, I didn't feel like coloring changed the texture of my hair as much as I expected. Unless you're going lots lighter than your old shade, and therefore 'bleaching' the hair, it's not as damaging as we think. If you color it your current shade you shouldn't have a lot of damage. Even the at-home kits don't seem to fry up the hair.

Coloring DID give my hair more body, though, for a little while. That was nice! And once you get used to the idea, being able to play around with color might be fun.

Cassia Obovata? ..c:: Is it similar to henna?

Oh, yes, roots is my major fear... ,f::

You could try the level-1, wash-out, non-permanent dyes first, to see whether you like what it does to your hair. That's what I did the very first time I dyed my hair - those dyes don't last long. Dunno what they are called in Europe, but you want the products that are not mixed and where the package says that it washes out in ~8 times of washing the hair.

Over time, I have come to love what henna does to my hair, but it took me years of the non-permanent at-home dye kits to decide that I really, really, really like my (naturally ash-blonde) hair red. Based on my own path, I'd say - take it sloooow, and don't commit to anything unless you are 200% sure. And, ignore what your mother tells you - if I were to follow that advice, I'd have a light perm and "natural" blonde color with highlights, go with what makes you happy.

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

Cassia Obovata? ..c:: Is it similar to henna?

Oh, yes, roots is my major fear... ,f::

Will highlights cover some of the grey? Highlights are sooooo much easier, the roots aren't that solid LINE so it's much less of a problem. And if you add highlights every few weeks, you get a great multi-dimensional color all over that blends toward a lighter shade at the ends, very natural.

I'm not a fan of the chunky 'stripes' that are in style now -- like them fine on other people, I mean, just not for me. I go for tiny, tiny streaks and add more often to keep the color blending.

How about highlights/lowlights? Done well, they will camouflage the grey and preserve your natural color in the back (where I'm assuming oyu have less grays)

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Will highlights cover some of the grey? Highlights are sooooo much easier, the roots aren't that solid LINE so it's much less of a problem. And if you add highlights every few weeks, you get a great multi-dimensional color all over that blends toward a lighter shade at the ends, very natural.

I'm not a fan of the chunky 'stripes' that are in style now -- like them fine on other people, I mean, just not for me. I go for tiny, tiny streaks and add more often to keep the color blending.

I think it would cover, but... it's permanent, right?

Originally Posted by kemintiri

How about highlights/lowlights? Done well, they will camouflage the grey and preserve your natural color in the back (where I'm assuming oyu have less grays)

Lowlights? What is that? .w.:
Well, yes, greys are not that many YET! ..l;,

Hair dye is not as horribly dangerous as the package might lead you to believe. The newer products are not at all harsh and some actually smell good.

I've been dying my hair for almost 35 years. At first, I just played with the color. I started going gray in my 30s (my brother had pure white hair when he was 35), and used blonde dye to even out between the white and my natural mouse brown.

I've found the color chart on the packages, the one that shows the results for your hair color, are generally accurate.

If you're nervous, start with the temporary colors that wash out, in a color close to your own. If you're REALLY nervous, pick a weekend and make no plans to go anywhere. Dye your hair with temporary color on Friday night and you'll look perfectly normal on Monday :)

Oh, yes, just the idea of it makes me feel really nervous... Actually, I was thinking of staying at home for a week if I do it... ..l;,

ANA - you are a gorgeous woman with BEAUTIFUL HAIR!!! It's very helpful that you posted the photo of yourself.

I am also a natural blonde who has gone gray in the last few years. Before the grey crept in, I'd put in the occasional highlights myself to "brighten it up" (FYI, "lowlights" are streaks of a darker shade that break up the color to avoid blonde "helmet head" effect, LOL).

Grey and blonde, unfortunately, tend to make the complexion appear sallow - I can always tell when my roots are really showing when people start telling me I look "tired."

If you want to be blonde from here on out, you will need to use dye that will be permanent. I've taken to going to a professional for this, because my husband is adamant about my hair remaining blonde. It's an expensive process, I get the roots done, as well as highlights and lowlights.

As stated by the others, using highlights and lowlights (streaks of lighter (must be bleached) and darker colors, do minimize the harsh lined appearance of roots as they grow out.

Your hair looks dark enough that there may be a temporary dye similar to it that will cover your grey.

HOWEVER - I have another suggestion for you, just throwing it out there - what about a temporary dye in a medium shade of AUBURN? From your photo, that shade might look fabulous on you, and it's a fun color (it's the color I'd choose if hubby didn't insist on blonde). Yes, you'd have to touch up the roots every few weeks, but temporary color is not harsh. When mine's been auburn, everyone tells me I look younger, and you can use a whole different palette of makeup.

It can be FUN!!!!

-Devora

P.S. Hopefully there are some professional hairdressers on Bhuz who can weigh in on whether pros ever use the temporary stuff.

I've been dying my hair for about 35 years now too. The kits you can get nowadays are pretty good. I don't know if Garnier Nutrisse is available in Portugal but it doesn't damage your hair.

Thank you for the kind words, Devora!
Auburn looks like my mom's hair (dyed) colour. Maybe I'll do it one day... I just want to stay blonde not to feel a huge difference from the moment I start dyeing it...

Catwomyn, yes, Garnier Nutrisse is available here!

I was a natural blond and after high school it was turning mousey brown so I would go to a pro and get it high lighted. I think you should go to a pro and they can just tough up what needs to be touched up and leave the rest natural.

Ana I have to jump in to say you are beautiful, and your hair colour definitely is!
I've never dyed, but fear the day I'll have to. I shyed away from chemicals until now, I am on the opposite end of the spectrum though. always had hair as black that the hairdressers kept asking whether it was dyed.
Hm my "sin" was wanting CURLS rather than waves. I did permanent curls 3 years ago. Against the hairdresser's advice who told me they would not last in my hair (too heavy), and it would damage them. Hm I had to at least try that Shakira look :)
Well I'll not do chemicals again. My hair turned brownish within a few months. I have the impression it did not grow out as dark as it was. And it is less full IMO. A pharmacist told me it is possible the colour is changed permanently through the chemicals. I don't know how.. it was only once, and after all it should grow out.. right?
Well everything's grown out, and I am black again, but I have the impression not as black as I used to be :)

that scares me off regarding dye even more.. but well my experiment was just useless (and no, the curls did not stay longer than a few hours after washing :) I loved rain though :) ) and if you have grey hair our colour's fading anyway.
oh the reason for the lightening up was the permanent curling chemicals contain hydro peroxide.. so I doubt dying is as little damaging since that is exactly the chemical used for lightening up and it did not do my hair that good. On the other hand, you are so light haired that you will most likely not need to lighten up but dye slightly darker I guess. Going with dark blonde from Garnier nutrisse etc might be the better option. or one coming very close to your natural one. I think the most aggressive always is going lighter, not darker.

On another note. Henna, indigo etc. so many people recommend them. DO they really NOT damage the hair? I have such trouble believing that. They're natural, ok. But many ingredients in other hair coloration are natural too. Most colours come from plants. Any experiences to share?

Originally Posted by dinavienna

<snip>
On another note. Henna, indigo etc. so many people recommend them. DO they really NOT damage the hair? I have such trouble believing that. They're natural, ok. But many ingredients in other hair coloration are natural too. Most colours come from plants. Any experiences to share?

I've been using henna and a blend of henna and cassia to dye my hair for some time now - I used to use conventional dyes that certainly took their toll on my hair.

Some report some mild dryness after henna, usually easily solved by a deep treatment.

Most people however who use high quality, pure henna/indigo/cassia report no damage - in fact, henna can improve the quality of your hair, adding body and even some strength.

To the OP - cassia could be a good option for you, but getting the mix right requires a little more research than your standard hair dye. Worth it though.

If you're interested in reading up on it, I'd check out:

Henna for Hair

and/or the articles at http://www.forum.longhaircommunity.com

Best of luck!

Hi guys, I will open a henna thread in a second. do not want to hijack this thread that is supposed to be about you beautiful blondes for my question :)

Hi, Nadirah! I know the best would be going to a pro, but they would try to use chemical products for sure... That's what I'm afraid of...
Natalie and Dina, here henna is not so popular as anywhere else... (people use chemicals on dark hair and blondes prefer chamomile).
Thanks for the nice words, Dina!

I've never heard of using chamomile to make hair blond. But about 35 years ago I once tried the Lemon Juice method - soaking your head in lemon juice, then sitting out side and brushing it dry in bright sunlight, then washing. The lemon juice and sunshine were supposed to work together to bleach the hair. It didn't work for me, but it might work for someone else.

Well lemon juice and sun can give SOME effect on skin definitely. Getting rid of freckles. So it does bleach the skin relatively strongly, but I'd guess changing one's hair colour is beyond its power.. a few highlights maybe :) And it might be persistence that's key.. for freckles I heard one needs to do it oftentimes. And I know of a couple of blondes who rinse their hair with lemon juice after every wash.

Be aware it is acid though, however "natural" . I'm pretty sure it is aggressive to the hair. Many acids aren't synthetical, but natural anyway. That does not make them harmless, chemically :)

I never heard of lemon juice for that effect. But chamomile is very popular on this side of the world... I used it (in shampoo) when I was younger. It makes hair (at least) more shiny.

Lemon juice is *very* drying and it can also irritate the skin. If you're keen to try it I'd test it on a patch of hair first, keep it off your scalp, and do a deep treatment afterwards.

Chamomile tea is nice for hair, I use it as the liquid in my henna mix. On very blonde/grey hair it can add a yellow tint, but it's not permanent. I know a woman who gets a similar effect from catnip tea, but the effect only lasts until the next wash.

Here chamomile is available in shampoo. But it doesn't change hair colour and it doesn't cover grey hair...

i've been doing wash out dies at the hairdresser for five years. minimal damage. very happy. i went from blond to read before grey hairs appear. they are starting to appear now, and the hairdresser keeps saying it might be good to try a more permanent die to get rid of them... but i'm resisting. we'll see;

Yes... One should avoid permanent dyeing in the beginning... Maybe I'll try something that washes out... The problem is finding a non-chemical produt. I've heard of Herbatint, but non-permanent colours aren't available here. Anyone tried?

I work in a green(eco-friendly) salon and we use a color line called organic color systems. It has no ammonia and is non-toxic. I have been coloring my hair for 15 years (red, blonde, black, highlights, lowlights, you name it I've had it:) and this is the most gentle color I've ever used. Maybe they have it where you are or something similar? Please do go see a professional,at least for a consult.

Organic color systems? I have to check it out! ,r:;

Lemon juice does bleach hair. I am a golden brunette now but I was a dark-golden-blonde in my childhood and I tried to lighten it when I was a teen, using lemon juice in bottles from the grocery.

I do not think it would cover any gray it just lightens and brightens.

It is also fairly harsh and once being zealous and 16 I basically gave myself a WHOLE HEAD of split ends as my hair crackled and fried in lemon juice and sun. ..cr.:

It's like Sun-In or those products; I do not think it would do anything on hair that didn't have a lot of blond/gold in it already. It's not for turning brown hair blond it's just, used correctly, it adds some highlights to blond hair. And it's pretty cheap.