I'm really struggling with colour at the moment. It's possible I've suddenly started doing it wrong (although haven't changed any methods over the last 2 years), or I may need to change brand - but I did wonder if hair actually reaches a 'saturation point' where it simply won't absorb colour any more? Not so much 'over-processed' or damaged - (I can see those bits in the last 2" and they're due to be cut out later this week!) - but just simply that the hair won't take in or keep colour. (It's almost like it slides off).
Just to be clear - I don't bleach bath more than every 8 weeks max, only wash every 6-7 days using SLS / sulphate free, always clarify before colour, do vinegar rinse etc etc. (I.e. I follow all the usual advice on here - which up until now has always worked.)
The last 2 times I coloured - the 1st time I used my normal diluted version, and it just didn't seem to take at all (weak wishy washy colour, which I've never had before). The 2nd time I used it undiluted and it looked great until I washed it for the 1st time when it's gone back to pretty much what it was before I dyed it. It's like the dye is just sliding off my hair. I use 2 colours, and it's happening with both (Directions Cerise & Adore Velvet Black), so have to assume it's my hair rather than a specific brand?
Has anyone else had this happen? Any advice on what to do?
Posted : June 2, 2015 10:03 am
When you say you bleach bath every 8 weeks, do you mean just roots/regrowth or do you apply it to all of your hair?
Are you using any products with silicones in? Conditioners, masks, serums etc?
Posted : June 2, 2015 2:29 pm
Do you heat style?
Posted : June 2, 2015 5:40 pm
The BB is roots only. I don't use any styling products at all - just shampoo / conditioner which are SLS / sulph free, and coconut oil overnight before the BB.
I do heat style - I use temp controlled straighteners at 190C.
It's odd though that this has just started happening - I've not changed anything in terms of my routine or how I do things - either colouring or daily maintenance.
Posted : June 4, 2015 8:04 am
Shampoos and conditioner frequently contain silicone. Can you check post the ingredients? It might not even be silicone, it could be something else.
Posted : June 4, 2015 9:26 am
I think it is either silicone build up blocking the absorption of the dye, or your cuticle is too damaged to hold colour.
My bet is silicone build up, especially if you only use sulphate free shampoos.
Damage is cumulative and can sneak up on you, so a routine that suited our hair a couple of years ago may not be working now. Have you tried clarifying and air drying without any conditioner to check your hairs true condition?
Posted : June 4, 2015 3:57 pm
If you heat style, there is a possibility of silicone welded to the hair too. Clarifying can't always remove it. I know you say you use temp controlled straighteners, but it's possible the thermostat is broken or wrong. It could be a combination of things.
Posted : June 4, 2015 5:22 pm
Hmmm - ok thanks. I use the Everpure shampoo & conditioner - I'm fairly sure they don't have anything in them that I haven't noticed? I've checked the condition with clarifying / air drying and it's actually in quite good shape. (last check about 10 days ago) The ends were dry, (but I had those cut out yesterday anyway) but apart from that it doesn't seem to show any damage.
The straighteners are fairly new (about 4 months old) so I HOPE the temperature is correct - but I guess it's always possible they're not.
Thanks both for the replies though - I guess I'll just wait & see what happens next time I add colour (and just cope with weird shades in the meantime!) .
Posted : June 5, 2015 7:52 am
I think it is either silicone build up blocking the absorption of the dye, or your cuticle is too damaged to hold colour.
My bet is silicone build up, especially if you only use sulphate free shampoos.
Damage is cumulative and can sneak up on you, so a routine that suited our hair a couple of years ago may not be working now. Have you tried clarifying and air drying without any conditioner to check your hairs true condition?
*off*
Sorry I just had to ask, sulphate free shampoos can cause silicone build up? What about if it's sulphate and silicone free shampoo, can that still cause silicone build up?
Posted : June 5, 2015 2:45 pm
I think it is either silicone build up blocking the absorption of the dye, or your cuticle is too damaged to hold colour.
My bet is silicone build up, especially if you only use sulphate free shampoos.
Damage is cumulative and can sneak up on you, so a routine that suited our hair a couple of years ago may not be working now. Have you tried clarifying and air drying without any conditioner to check your hairs true condition?*off*
Sorry I just had to ask, sulphate free shampoos can cause silicone build up? What about if it's sulphate and silicone free shampoo, can that still cause silicone build up?
They won't cause it (unless they have silicones in) but they won't remove it - so if it's present in another product that's being used, eg conditioners or serums, you'll get buildup.
Posted : June 5, 2015 3:10 pm
Yes, some silicones are much easier to wash out than others, the non water soluble ones need sulphates to fully remove them. This is why people who CO wash avoid silicones, you need shampoo with sulphates if you use silicones.
Posted : June 5, 2015 3:22 pm
Thanks! I've made the switch to sulphate and silicone free shampoo and conditioner a few weeks ago and the only thing I've applied on my hair besides the shampoo and conditioner is coconut oil and argan oil. I don't know if my hair was already full of silicone before the switch and I'd really rather not use a commercial clarifying shampoo to get rid of it(to minimize my purple dye fading), is there a way to remove it with just the organic shampoo I'm using?
Posted : June 5, 2015 3:27 pm
No way that won't remove a lot of colour unfortunately.
Posted : June 5, 2015 9:58 pm
Ohhhh! I'm due for a trim soon anyway, the salon will probably use some commercial clarifying shampoo with sulfate so I will probably just wait until then so I don't have to use non-sls free shampoo twice.
Thank you so much to everyone who answered my questions here and in other threads. I know I'm all over the place recently lol. I'll try to keep my questions to a minimum. *cheers*
Posted : June 6, 2015 5:11 pm
Keep asking the questions, it is what the forum is for, but you will get more responses if you start a new thread for each query rather than hijacking other peoples threads.
Posted : June 6, 2015 5:23 pm
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