General Chat

If you are happy with it that's fine Louise, will you go for the permanent version next time?

I always knew when my dark hair needed a retouch, lol, I was a school dinner lady and when bending down to tie up shoelaces etc, if a little voice asked what the sparkly bits were in my hair, I knew the retouch was over due lol

Too many sparkly bits now, so I do it blonde, doesn't show the regrowth so much.
Lizx

CANT USE DONT LAST LONG ENOUGH ONLY LAST ME 2WK MAX

When the semi-permanent colour washes out is there any evidence that you had used colour or are you back to your original colour?

ohforgot i had at one time
8 shades red
6 copper

omg


i must be colour queen
went from brilliant red
to jet black with hint blue

been every colour imaginable

Well I did it! I finally bought a Clairol semi-permanent, washes out after 24 washes, in dark brown. I looked at the next shade down but didn't like it, so opted for the dark. Apart from the grey blending in now, the condition is great and it looks even coloured and a touch more black/ brown but I'm happy! My children can't see any difference.

My hair colour is a mixture of natural brown with a few bits of natural grey....I just cover it up with dye LOL

I was very blonde when I was little, but as I got older it got darker. It's now a mid brown with red tones, which needs renewing now as its a bit faded LOL

Hi Louise,
i suggest you get highlights,maybe a couple of colours, this way you wont get a definate regrowth,which you will get if you colour all over.this will look more natural and subtle as sometimes hair thats coloured all over can look a bit solid.
If you've not been to a hairdresser for years i'd suggest going into a couple for a consultation and ask their advice...any good hairdresser will be more than happy to give advice and not put any pressure on you.

I would add that you don't need to go blonde...maybe just a couple of shades lighter than your natural colour but with some warmth added to help with your skin tone ,


Karen

I am also a member of a forum where women are in the minority. I made the mistake of saying that I fancied a Mallen Streak. I just thought that it was a distinguished look not realising what each grey hair was supposed to stand for, as pointed out by one of the guys!!

Used to use a colour for fun until I made the mistake of getting a brown one which went very RED and I had to go about like that until it washed out. I had to put up with a lot of rude remarks from the patients I had at the time,who were long stay ones. I have been totally white since age of thirty and have been quite happy with that, It's the face underneath thats got a bit worn. I am told the white suits me, but I now wear rouge when I go out or I look like a sheet. Jean

I have dark blonde hair but I have noticed that I have several white hairs growing in at the top right hand of my forehead.

I am cultivating a streak like Morticia so I pull the other ones out!

I never ever want to go blonde I'd rather go grey, I've got olive skin so blonde would just not look right!
I've not been to a hairdresser for about 10 years, my oh just gets the scissors out and cuts a few inches off every now and again as it's mostly the same length.

I never did colour my hair. I was also dark brown.
But if you are going to colour yours, then colour it DOWN.

Nothing looks worse that a woman who is unnaturally dark headed as she gets older.
Our skin loses colour so we have to think Blonde!!
Perhaps this is your chance to be a blond.
But I would go to a saloon and ask for advice... I can't see your hair... but they will be able to help you.

Good luck with that.

Deanna X

It may be worth getting a proper colour test / match done at the hairdressers before you start mucking about and find out what it is.

I dont dye my hair and how dare anyone suggest I do!!!! But I do 'enhance' it GRIN.

Every Month or so I use a non permanent colour a few shades darker than my own as it gives it a richer look and leaves the condition nice. It fades thoughout the month - but always looks natural as I dont have dark roots and I dont get that colour build up get get with permanant dyes.

I used to get highlights done reguarly with a proper hairdresser but found my 'Roots' as such showed far worse with lighter bits in my hair - than a slightly darker shade (only slightly though).

The only thing I can say about different brands is the smell. I did my hair on Friday with a diff brand as I couldnt get the one I was after and I spent an hour that evening cursing at my cats and trying to find where one had had an accident!!!! Turned out I hadnt put the bottles in the bin and it was the hair colourant in the bathroom that had smelt and no one had had an accident!

added

I am a natural blonde though not dark haired so I use a darker blonde as I think lighter blondes look too un natural.

You should never worry about going grey. Ask any bald man - he doesn't.

I know it sounds strange but I use the lightest (light brown) Just For Men!

It is great. It only takes 4 or 5 minutes and the colour is amazingly natural. It doesn't cover every grey hair so looks very natural and in fact a number of people (if dyeing hair has come up in conversation) haven't believed that mine is dyed. It just looks as it did several years ago.

The colour gradually fades over about 6 or 7 weeks so no dark roots either. I have my hair cut about every 7 weeks so tend to do it just after each cut.

I hate it when hair looks really unnatural and flat or if people look as if their heads have been dipped into a pot of ink!

Worth a try if you haven't attempted a home dye before.

Sue

a bit of advice, dont put a darker tint on your natural
hair. cos if you dont like it its very hard to lighten it up again, as tint wont lift tint. you would have to bleach it.

wendy

When I only had the odd grey hair, I used the Inecto shampoo in colours, but I don't know if they are available now. If you could go during weekdays, why not look for a salon or college where the students practise colouring and cutting, you could ask the advice of the tutor who is well qualified and get whatever treatment they suggest done very cheaply or even free!
If you can't do that for whatever reason, then I have used the Clairol Nice and Easy products and find them very good. As others have suggested, get the semi permanent one first to try it out, and then you can use the permanent one when you have decided on the best colour to suit you. Definitely don't go darker, try for your natural colour or a shade lighter. I always put mine on with a tinting brush and a basin to mix the products rather than doing it from the bottle, you can get a tinting brush cheaply from Body shop, Boots or S-drug I think and use a plastic bowl. Always use the gloves provided and make sure you do the tests first in case you have an allergy to the product.
Good luck, I have been colouring my hair for about 40 years now and it gets easier each time you do it.
Lizx

Kay and Athena,

Thanks for that! I suppose the various brands are about as good as each other, or are some more reliable? I spent ages last time wandering up and down the aisle in Boots then decided I'd better ask someone for advice. I think my 12th wedding anniversary yesterday has had something to do with it too. My oh has been looking at old pics and set the ball rolling.

Louise - with the 6 week dyes, I think it all depends on how often you wash your hair - the more you wash it the quicker the colour will fade. Don't forget, also, that as your hair grows the grey roots will be showing well before 6 weeks.

If it's done properly you shouldn't really see any obvious bands of colour on your hair. A tip is to always comb the colour through even if you are only dying the roots. Just comb the colour lightly through to blend with the rest of your hair. (A hair stylist advised me to do this).

I would say to have a check through your hair and see where the grey is - if you have long greys then you really need to do an all-over colour first. (you might need 2 bottles if your hair is long).

Try a semi-permanent to make sure you get the colour right. Once you're satisfied with the colour in a semi, the next time you can move on to a permanent in the same shade.

Then once you've got the whole head coloured with permanent, after that you will just need to touch up the roots to cover any greys growing through. You won't need more than one bottle for that.

Hope that helps - Athena