Figured I'd try this to lighten my roots as it's been six months and I wanted something gentle and this is ammonia free. According to the swatches on the back of the box, it looks like it should lift 2-3 shades, plus it was on sale ... so I got a light ash blonde, as I'm naturally a medium-light ash brown.
I am disappointed. I got somewhere between half a level and one level of lift from it. Yes, it didn't smell caustic, and yes, it was very gentle to my scalp (and the odd bit of my cheek), but I would have had more lift from a bleach bath (and you can do those once a week instead of once a month ...).
Was hoping to have evenly red hair this month ... and not so much. Can still see the root line.
So, verdict: Good if you need something gentle and are only looking for a slight lift (so if you're trying to go from dark blonde to golden blonde). Not so great if you're hoping for more than one level of lift.
*hair* I'll be sticking to my XXL blondes in the future, I think.
Topic starter
Posted : April 7, 2012 10:53 am
I've used the 'Very Light Ash Blonde' shade twice about ten days apart on the basis that it is clearly no stronger (and therefore no more damaging) than a bleach bath. Intend to do so again too! 😮 Would obviously never have done that when using Live XXL reds, IMO they are far more potent. Did you coconut oil beforehand? I did but wondering if this slows the reaction time, given how few agents it contains that can lift the hair cuticle (no sulphates, persulphates or ammonia).
I achieved a couple of shades at the inches closest to my virgin roots the first time but nothing the second time (only used on cuticle stained lengths tho). I think it needs some heat to activate, even if that is just keeping yourself and your head warm, but I don't recall that being specified in the instructions. For me it's worth the effort because it is the ONLY lifting product I have found that is free of sulphate surfactants. I also liked that it contains lauric acid (=coconut oil).
Posted : April 7, 2012 9:17 pm
I didn't coconut oil beforehand as I hadn't washed my hair in three and a half days, so there was plenty of natural oils to protect my scalp.
I had it under a cap and could feel the heat from my scalp within ten minutes of capping it, so between that, doing roots only and sitting near a radiator I decided not to blow-dry it. I knew it wouldn't be as much lift as the XXL blondes, but it basically took me to a very dirty blonde colour (not even dishwater blonde, darker than that). My red looks more even than when it was just roots (as it lightened slightly and will have lifted the cuticle to soak in more dye than virgin roots), and blends ok at night in indoor lighting, but in natural light I can still quite clearly discern what was my roots from what was previously processed.
Topic starter
Posted : April 8, 2012 9:18 am
Thanks for the heads up on this product Intemp, I have a box of this lying around that I bought before getting some XXL on the advice of people here. It will probably never get used now.
Posted : April 8, 2012 10:52 pm
That sounds like you did everything by the book, Intemp. I have another box so will post any further results. I am thinking of trying Nice & Easy Perfect 10 which I *think* could be sulphate free.
Posted : April 8, 2012 11:19 pm
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