Need to minimally bleach...possible? - Blue Black after

Clairol Natural Instincts is a 28-wash demi-permanent (I know the box says semi, but if you mix a dye with peroxide it's technically a demi), your hair is in no way virgin now.

First step is to use a colour remover such as ColourB4 or Decolour Remover (NOT Decolour Stripper) and see what your base is under the Natural Instincts. Then you can use a diluted bleach mixture over the top of coconut oil-saturated hair (it will help maintain the protein bonds in the hair, there's science behind it!) to get you to a lighter shade, peroxide on its own will not do much at all to lighten but will still do some damage. Then if you were to lift your hair to a level 5, I'd try a dark blue such as Adore Royal Navy instead of a blue-black colour. I should point out that a level 5 will be a copper-red, not a nice light brown. As dark hair lightens, the red tones are revealed first, then the orange, then the yellow. Don't be scared of the ginger ^_^

If you do choose to lighten with bleach, go slowly with low vol peroxide and buy the best bleach powder/creme you can get your hands on.  Apply to roots last as heat from the scalp makes it act faster. Try a strand test of a bleach bath of 1 part 20vol bleach mix to 1 part shampoo, you may need a little less shampoo to get the lift needed.

Clairol Natural Instincts is a 28-wash demi-permanent (I know the box says semi, but if you mix a dye with peroxide it's technically a demi), your hair is in no way virgin now.

First step is to use a colour remover such as ColourB4 or Decolour Remover (NOT Decolour Stripper) and see what your base is under the Natural Instincts. Then you can use a diluted bleach mixture over the top of coconut oil-saturated hair (it will help maintain the protein bonds in the hair, there's science behind it!) to get you to a lighter shade, peroxide on its own will not do much at all to lighten but will still do some damage. Then if you were to lift your hair to a level 5, I'd try a dark blue such as Adore Royal Navy instead of a blue-black colour. I should point out that a level 5 will be a copper-red, not a nice light brown. As dark hair lightens, the red tones are revealed first, then the orange, then the yellow. Don't be scared of the ginger ^_^

If you do choose to lighten with bleach, go slowly with low vol peroxide and buy the best bleach powder/creme you can get your hands on.  Apply to roots last as heat from the scalp makes it act faster. Try a strand test of a bleach bath of 1 part 20vol bleach mix to 1 part shampoo, you may need a little less shampoo to get the lift needed.

What would you recommend for a diluted bleach mixture?
Also, I thought adore was a semi-permanent color?  I have thought of just using a straight blue or dark blue dye, but did not know how it would come out.  I DO want my hair "black" in the end, but yes, blue "shine" or highlight".  I would dye if I ended up with dark blue hair

You can put a bright blue over black if you only want the blue to show in the sun. I used to do this when my box blue blacks used to fade to brown.

You can put a bright blue over black if you only want the blue to show in the sun. I used to do this when my box blue blacks used to fade to brown.

Do you have a blue dye you would recommend?  I can't find one with decent reviews.

Do you have a blue dye you would recommend?  I can't find one with decent reviews.

I find directions and adore to be the best and most long lasting. They both have nice blues and it will depend on how blue you want the blue black. I really like adore indigo blue as it is a dark, yet bright blue.