Gentle/subtle lightening and toning? PICs INCLUDED

Stay away from bleach for the time being. You don't want to damage your hair and bleaching, or dying with any blonde oxidative dye or toner, will damage your hair. And that is what the hairdresser, very rightly for once, is trying to avoid.

However, she should have used a colour remover. Sadly they're reluctant to do this, many thinking they damage the hair for some reason. They don't, they just dry out the hair a little, nothing a deep condition doesn't sort out. You could try that now, it might lift enough of the red that you can tone the orange with a diluted blue direct dye (no peroxide). You need to use ColourB4, JoBazz or Decolour Remover (NOT the stripper).

You won't get your ends that colour yet though. It's just got too much orange/red in it. If you tone it with blue, it'll go more towards brown, if the colour remover lifts some, then it'll be a paler brown and a bit less golden depending how much you dilute the blue you'd have to experiment on a strand test. It's the best you can hope for at the moment. If you want to keep your hair in good condition, with springy curls, don't rush this, you will almost certainly regret it.

Thanks for the advice, I don't want to cause any damage! So will be cautious and take it slow

I always thought colour removers were more damaging than bleach. I will do a strand test, to measure condition and colour. I have a a blue toner at home too which I will test.

Will post pics when/if I do it following results of strand test.

🙂

Bleaching colour out is generally far worse, I don't understand why hairdressers are so against removers still... Other than  you do them at home at that doesn't sit well. Who knows! Bleach can sometimes drive the colour further into the hair making it even harder to remove the last bits.

Just have a good deep conditioner ready. Oh, and open all your windows because it is a bit smelly!

Colour removers are pretty safe, they do lift the cuticle but unless the hair is already damaged they don't do permanent damage like bleach does. They don't remove proteins from the hair at all.
I think the main reason hairdressers don't use them more is firstly time, it is a long process; application, then an hour to process and a LOT of rinsing. This would make it an expensive service, and they cannot guarantee the results. Also a colour remover cannot be followed directly with any oxidative process, so their hands are tied, they may have to send the client out with hair half done, which is something salons avoid.

You might be right about that. However, I have had now 3 hairdressers tell me how dangerous and bad for hair they are. One told me my 'hair will literally fall out', which is just stupid. This is in 3 different salons in 3 different areas. There's definitely misunderstanding and ignorance of what they are.

This is really interesting! I am always worried about how things will effect my curls. I used to bleach my hair a lot (to light blonde) when I was younger and this definitely changed the texture of my hair, I lost the ringlets.

Now I am worried about the integrity of my hair. Luckily my hair shows damage straight away (usually), I just pull the curls and if they don't spring back then there is damage! Which has saved me as I always do a strand test, these days anyway, and get a good indication of condition and colour.

This has definitely intrigued me.  *thx*

*ott*As you can see in my profile pic, I have curly hair. Colour removers have never affected my curl at all, where as anything to do with bleach or peroxide makes them drop for at least a while. Of course, all curly hair is different, but like you my hair shows damage immediately and doesn't always recover.

Hi, I have noticed there are 3 types of colour before: regular, frequent use and extra strength.

Which would you recommend for my hair?

Thanks

I have also seen the scott cornwall decolour hair colour remover (not stripper) which says it's got less chance of re-oxidisation and less rinsing time. I think it's pretty much the same as colour b4,

Is this also recommended?

*thx*

Moderator combined posts

Decolour Remover seems to reoxidise about as much as the others, so really, that's not a great reason to pick that one. However, for me, it's the one I've had most success with removing colour. I've been using it for direct dyes though, rather than remnants of permanent dyes.

I've no idea what frequent use means in removers, I've not come across that. Which brand was it? I tend to just use extra strength if there's a choice.

Sorry I meant the brand 'colour B4' has 3 types: 'regular', 'frequent use' and 'extra strength'

It must be new since I last used them. Not really sure why they've introduced that!

So I did a strand test ! I used scott cornwall decolour

On the left is the 'before' the original copper colour.

On the right is the 'after' now a light golden blonde!

I am amazed at how well it has worked. And as you can see the condition has not been affected

I will do the proper application tomorrow. I might use the nice and easy 8 wash semi beige blonde it it's too light compared to top, but it looks much better than before.

Thanks for the advice!

Great result!

With the scott cornwall decolour there is a 'conclude balm' to return hair to normal PH level, so do I use my anti-brassy blue toner before or after the conclude balm?

Sorry so many questions. I am new to colour remover  *stars*