Hi all,
So I'm at about 5% gray, and it stands out. I'm looking for the best home solution for doing it myself but I'm not sure where to start researching a pro product since box dyes are said to be harsh.
Box dyes I've used in the past always faded out red (L'Oreal Preference 4A Dark Ash Brown) and anything red looks horrible on me so I'd really like to avoid this - I'm a very ashy brown with copper/yellow/ orange undertones. Is there any deposit-only only that might turn the grays into highlights? Any specific products you'd recommend? Should I use a drabber to achieve an ashy shade or just pick the right shade to start with?
I thought about asking a stylist to do it the first time and tell me what products they use, but then how might I know going into it that the salon will be using the right line for me to replicate it myself (something less damaging, something I can buy by myself, and that fades without turning red)?
I'm say I'm level 5 or between 4/5 since L'Oreal's 4A was darker than natural on me. Currently my hair's undyed.
Posted : June 16, 2014 2:38 am
The level will vary between the brand, though I would opt for a shade that is a level darker than your natural in a demi, like a 4A. Most permanent box dyes in browns use 20 vol, which lightens the natural color, revealing red tones (for your natural level), which you then see when it fades. Demis use 10 vol or less and barely lift the natural color at all, so when they fade the hair doesn't look much different at all from your natural level and tone. If you were to use a demi, it would just fade out back to your natural brown color and grey.
Depending on how resistant your greys are though, you may still need to presoften your roots beforehand. Like if the dye doesn't take or it fades quickly, I would presoften them and dye them. To presoften, just apply some straight peroxide, either 10 or 20 vol on the roots, rinse it out, dry, then apply the dye.
Redken Shades EQ is a great professional demi line and I think the vol of their processing solution is 7. It's hard to tell in the photos, the last 2 look really red toned to me + you said your natural color is ashy, in the first photo it looks like a golden/neutral and their 3G mixed with 3N would be good for it. It may come out a little darker than your natural, but it may come out being you natural level, it's hard to say with greys. Really though I think that would be a really good route to at least try, I think it will work out well for you. If you were sitting in front of me, that is exactly what I would use on you.
Posted : June 19, 2014 5:37 pm
Thank you so much for your detailed response. I'd just read about Shades EQ and this convinced me to try it. I may try a lighter color at first though just to get those grays covered and leaves the rest as is, unless I notice it warms my overall color because of the peroxide. Shade 4 previously was very noticeably darker on me so I'll probably start out with 05N walnut. You are definitely right about there being some red in my hair, but it's like a highlight to an ashy base... hard to describe, I just know from previous dye jobs that when something moves my base color towards orange it looks bad on me, whereas cooling colors flatter more. I will try to post back with results
Posted : June 23, 2014 1:34 am
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