Quick question for Affinage B red users

Hello Nikki, welcome to the forum!

I don't use Affinage, but I've used two products that work very similar to them.  My husband helps me apply the dye with a tint brush, and he does his best to get as close to my scalp as he can without getting much on it.  Some does still, and I've been fine.  If you use more than a 20 vol developer, the risk is a chemical burn because of the ammonia in it to boost the lifting ability.  I have naturally dark hair (about a level 4 or dark brown).  I do use 30 vol developer with Majicontrast which works just like Affinage.

It would be wise to perform a patch test to see how your skin will react (see the directions in the box of dye on how to do this).  If you don't have a reaction with a patch test, I'd say as long as you are careful and don't intentionally load your scalp with product, you'll be okay.  I'd also suggest putting some petroleum jelly around your hair line to reduce staining and skin contact.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the advice.

Aren't husbands great!  🙂
I've roped mine in for my first foray into self redding  😀

I'm kind of a light mousy colour so shouldn't need too strong a developer

If you're naturally lighter color, I'd maybe even try 10 vol as the highlift products are really designed for use on dark hair.  For sure don't use higher than 20 vol and if you do use 20 vol, even check it sooner than the full time (maybe 20 minutes or so?).  Are you using a veggie dye over top?  If you are, you don't need to go very light to get a bright, true red.  🙂

Was thinking of using something like Directions Tulip over the top...mines a more pinky/violet based red...to keep it vibrant

You can get vibrant reds with orange (Nuclear red is blinding and is orange-based), it all depends on how you want the fade to look.  Pink base plus orange base equals crimson and a more balanced fade, pink and pink equals pink fade, orange and orange equals orange fade.

And agree, you won't need more than 20vol if you have ash brown hair, but always patch test with new products just in case!

I used the Majicontrast version and I covered my head in it and I was fine! I put LOADS of coconut oil on first and it was a bit tingly, more so than my usual developer&powder mix. I will be using it again as I wont be changing from red any time soon. I prefer it to bleach. Smells strong though. Also pricey, I paid 13.30euros and then had to buy developer. I used 20vol. on my also mousy brown hair.
I normally pay about 3.50 to do my roots.
I think 1/2 tube will do my roots next time i use majicontrast though. 🙂

I think 1/2 tube will do my roots next time i use majicontrast though. 🙂

Yes, I only use 1/2 tube and it covers my roots with even a bit to spare (that's with approx 1/2 inch of new growth).  🙂

thanks for all this folks....

Update time....My hairdresser dye had faded to something very orange but roots no trouble yet so I thought (applying advice from above in reverse) to go for something veggie with a pinky base to even it out.

Chose directions rubine as I thought with the red/orange base...but.....

I've gone pink...no trace of red whatsoever. It's a nice violety pink so I'm not worried but it was (to me at least, unexpected)

Will post a picture when I can get some decent light (house is so dark with this rain)

There is a thread here about what the different veggie dyes fade to:
http://www.hairdyeforum.com/index.php?topic=812.0

This will give you an idea of which ones have a pink base and which have an orange base.  Mixing a pink based dye and an orange based dye will help give you more of a true red and can help tame the fade a bit (if that's what you're after).

Can't wait to see the pic!  If you want to be red again, there's no harm in putting another application of your veggie dye over (you don't have to wait for when you retouch your roots).  🙂

red/orange base

meaning my hair in this case

My hair seems to have selected the pink particles in the dye and rejected the red  🙂

No worries...I'm off on hols in 3 weeks..will be red again for then. If not before....this chameleon lark is quite addictive  ;D