Bottle blonde grows long!

[spidermom]

This came up in another thread. Inquiring minds want to know:

1) What is your starting color?

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

3) How do you care for your hair?

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

This is meant to be a positive thread to help those who want to go blonde. Please don't be negative here.

If you don't have one already and you can, please include a picture.

[Anje]

I'll be watching this with interest. I've seen posts badmouthing how bottle blond looks, but I'm convinced that this usually comes from the bad cases. The good-looking bottle blonds with healthy hair aren't readily spotted. They look more like natural blonds.

[spidermom]

Yes, enough of the bad-mouthing (self especially). Let's open our minds and eyes and learn from the successes. There used to be a thread like this at the old LHC. From what I remember, it was quite popular.

[flapjack]

The fact of the matter is... if you are of European heritage (or look like you are) and have light skin and light eyes, there are many shades of blonde you could have that would go with the different tones in your skin and it will look so natural that no one ever thinks you're the bottle blonde. Girls and women do it all the time. I'm mixed with Asian and I still pulled it off. With hair ranging from waist to knee length with no visible damage, dryness... and to this day, I have yet to find an actual split end. I had dirty blonde hair until I got older and everyone thought the bright blonde I had was my own. Now my hair is much darker, but I know I could still pull it off without a problem. Many people can.


If anyone thinks all bottled blondes look fake, the joke is on them, hahaha. Half of their naturally blonde friends get it out of a bottle and they have no idea, probably. Edit- the only issue I did have a little of was the brassiness. And you can solve that by using "blue" shampoo. Or... by going lighter, hahaha. But it's not that bad. Some people also look really good with the brassy tones because of their skin, as well.

[Loviatar]

This is a great idea, Spidermom. I'd be interested to read it as I know we have some great coloured blonds on LHC. I'd be interested to read about bottle redheads, too. :)

[Curlsgirl]

[1) What is your starting color? Light to medium brown mixed with grays (mostly on the crown)

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? Mine's not beautiful but I like it :) I now get highlights and sometimes lowlights at the hair salon. Used to do it myself but couldn't get it even and in my opinion it didn't look as natural.

3) How do you care for your hair? I CWC or wash and condition once or twice a week and usually let it dry by itself with a leave-in conditioner and curl cream.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? I have I think solved the unnatural and uneven look mostly by going to the hair salon to get it done, highlights and lowlights. My avatar is a few months old. It's not quite that light now but has some darker lowlights mixed in.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Almost waist pulled straight so not really that long by LHC standards but I have had a lot of trims to keep it thick and more healthy looking.

I have pics in my profile.

Oh and I have decided if I can't get to my goal of tailbone relatively healthy I would still rather be a blonde and live with a shorter length.

[Katze]

The fact of the matter is... if you are of European heritage (or look like you are) and have light skin and light eyes, there are many shades of blonde you could have that would go with the different tones in your skin and it will look so natural that no one ever thinks you're the bottle blonde. Girls and women do it all the time. I'm mixed with Asian and I still pulled it off. With hair ranging from waist to knee length with no visible damage, dryness... and to this day, I have yet to find an actual split end. I had dirty blonde hair until I got older and everyone thought the bright blonde I had was my own. Now my hair is much darker, but I know I could still pull it off without a problem. Many people can.


If anyone thinks all bottled blondes look fake, the joke is on them, hahaha. Half of their naturally blonde friends get it out of a bottle and they have no idea, probably. Edit- the only issue I did have a little of was the brassiness. And you can solve that by using "blue" shampoo. Or... by going lighter, hahaha. But it's not that bad. Some people also look really good with the brassy tones because of their skin, as well.

Thread hijack!

I have to disagree. Blue shampoos didn't stick for me, especially after coming to LHC. Also, my bleached hair really didn't look good, since the brassiness contrasted with my cool coloration. And going lighter made the problems worse - real platinum might have looked good, but was almost impossible to achieve or washed out.

I am of Scandinavian/N European descent and arguably already 'blonde' (a bit darker than Spidermom I think). I have blonde eyebrows and blonde eyelashes, and green eyes and pale skin. But bleached blonde didn't look natural on me. I thought it did, and it didn't. My natural color looks much better and I get compliments on it that I never got with bleach.

According to your logic, my sister (full sister, but olive skin, dark brown hair, black eyes) should also look good blonde, but that is not the case. She does look good in henna, though.

This is all to say that I have great admiration for our long haired members who keep their bottle blonde hair healthy. It didn't work for my hair and I have had to learn to like what nature gives me. But for those who can and do keep bleached hair reasonably healthy, more power to them!

It was disappointing at first, but ultimately liberating and enlightening for me, to embrace my tawny, puma colored hair. For all those who think they CAN'T, you can! I did!

end thread hijack. :)

[earthdancer]

Thread hijack!

Also, my bleached hair really didn't look good, since the brassiness contrasted with my cool coloration. And going lighter made the problems worse - real platinum might have looked good, but was almost impossible to achieve or washed out.


Cool-toned skin usually looks better with ash-blond hair (no reds or golds). Any tone that hints at red can look wrong. My once-blond brother bleached his hair once as an adult, and it was a terrible mistake.

For me, I started out with medium reddish-brown hair, and I need the red tones or my skin looks gray, like a corpse! I tried an ash-blond color once, and it was ghastly. I thought I did something wrong, so I tried on an ash-blond wig, and it was still ghastly. Therefore, when I bleach my hair and the golden-red tones appear, it is a big improvement over my current natural color, which went dull with age to a truly mousy brown (same gray skin problem). I tried growing out a couple of inches 2 years ago and went right back to the bleach, with great delight!:D

[Curlsgirl]

Okay! Next? :D

[justgreen]

Ok, I'll play.

1) What is your starting color? Medium to dark Auburn with silver running through.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? I have highlights and lowlights woven in with foils every 4-6 weeks for $40. Plus someone is giving me a scalp massage and pampering me, definitely worth every penny.

3) How do you care for your hair? I used diluted shampoo, mostly Nature's Gate Original Herbal, condition with Sebastian Volume. SMT with the NG Herbal conditioner mixed with Wyoming raw honey, not heated. I'd use SMT every time if I could remember to.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? I keep the brassies away by doing a final rinse with about 12 ounces of distilled water. This sluices all the minerals off my hair, we have hard well water with lots of minerals.

5) Last but not least -how long is your hair. 40+". I grow in a 'U' shape, so the longest part is over 40". The front part of my hair is waist length.

Pics are in my profile. Those are from summer of 2007, so hair is much longer.

[prosperina]

I was only able to keep my bottle blond hair (just past bra strap length at the longest, but I wasn't actually growing it) really healthy when I moved to a humid climate. I used the same dye in a dry climate and it didn't work out so well. But this was before I knew about oiling and CO washes.

Also, even though L'oreal Feria has pretty pictures on the box, don't be sucked in! That stuff ate my hair!

I'm not saying it's impossible to get nice blond hair from home kits, but I think that even if you're just lightening a bit, it's better to go to a salon. That way the colorist can control the amount of peroxide and make up a batch to suit your needs. The home kits are heavier on the chemicals and have a one size fits all approach.

My starting color was medium to darker honey blond with tons of red underlayers. So avoiding the brass was hard since I have a lot of red in my hair anyway. Going platinium was impossible, even though I would have liked to give it a shot.

I agree with flapjack; if you are of European ancestry and you have a light complexion, blond is possible on nearly everyone.

[brok3nwings]

Right now i have virgin hair and also bottle blonde hair. The bottle blonde was made with 20 vol peroxide and left for about 20 min, and it gave me for the first month lots of brassiness. i made it myself and only aplied it to the top with the intention of matching my lenght.

Now the brassiness turned into a much better colour, and that is a caramel colour and thats the colour i like the most for my skin tone. When i had lighter hair i hated it. I was always looking for my "natural" shades... so im happy how it turned out. I have absolutly no visual damage from the peroxide or ammonia.

I have never used bleach with sucess, the two times i used it it i had very dry hair. First time it was after lots of dyes so my hair was in a lot of stress. The second time again and my hair broke, so probably my fault.

I was able to do my sisters some foils at home with 20 vol peroxide same as i did to myself and there was no brassiness and it looks very very natural. I also know a girl that used to do several highlights and her hair was extremelly light and very shiny. Probably she would be able to grow it really long if she wanted to. I also have friends that cant get near chemicals that their hair will be completly ruined.

I love blonde hair, and in my opinion virgin or bottle the best way for blonde is to look natural and dont go for extremes. Also always have in consideration the hue that looks best on you

[Tap Dancer]

I'll be watching this with interest. I've seen posts badmouthing how bottle blond looks, but I'm convinced that this usually comes from the bad cases. The good-looking bottle blonds with healthy hair aren't readily spotted. They look more like natural blonds.

Yeah, I don't get the negative comments. Any "dye job" can look good or bad, and that goes for any color hair. As always, I look forward to pics. :grin:

[GlennaGirl]

This is fantastic. Thanks for the idea, spidermom.

I'm watching with interest too, as I know I won't be henna-ing forever. As I get gray, I'm not going to want the very light red highlights it gives. Just not for me. I've NEVER been able to color blonde-blonde (I'm naturally a light brown...lighter than my avatar) without damage and this is very eye-opening. Thanks to those who are sharing how they do it.

[invisiblebabe]

1) What is your starting color? Dark ash blonde

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? Chunky highlights on the top layer only, at a salon

3) How do you care for your hair? Shampoo the scalp every day in the shower, condition the ends every day in the shower, put leave-in conditioner and shine/anti-frizz cream on it, comb it with an extra-wide-toothed comb, and let it air dry usually (occasionally I will blow it dry with a diffuser, especially if it is very cold outside).

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? My hair is naturally light enough that it doesn't get brassy when adding highlights.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Currently BSL, thick all the way to the ends. I would rather have BSL highlighted hair with the light blonde effect, than waist+, natural hair. I cannot stand my natural hair color on me, with my skin tone and coloring it looks very dull and drab.

[flapjack]

Katze- I have to ask for clarification... I'm talking about any shade of blonde hair that you can get from a bottle. If everyone is talking about only white-blonde hair, then I agree with you. But there are tons of blonde shades out there. I've seen girls with olive skin dye their hair a dark blonde and it looked amazing. But if we're only talking about one shade of blonde, then... yeah, that white shade only works for a select few.

[Kuchen]

Katze- I have to ask for clarification... I'm talking about any shade of blonde hair that you can get from a bottle. If everyone is talking about only white-blonde hair, then I agree with you. But there are tons of blonde shades out there. I've seen girls with olive skin dye their hair a dark blonde and it looked amazing. But if we're only talking about one shade of blonde, then... yeah, that white shade only works for a select few.

Absolutely. I saw a :thud: Spanish girl in Zara the other day: profile of a Botticelli, deep olive skin and waist-length hair that was every shade from dark blonde through to true gold. She was absolutely stunning.

[Polyhex]

1) What is your starting color? Light ash brown.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? Very light/partial foil highlights with bleach and 20v peroxide, done once a year. I am long overdue for it now.

3) How do you care for your hair? Shampoo+condition once every 5-7 days. Shampoo: Nexxus Therappe (no cones.) Conditioner: various coney conditioners from Pantene, usually daily moisturizing. No heat styling, otherwise I do as I please which includes wearing it down a lot.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? My hair lightens so well with bleach+20v peroxide that I don't need a toner to de-brass. When I had short hair, I used bleach and toner to achieve colors ranging from honey blonde to platinum, so I was very familiar with how my hair reacts before I ever put bleach on my long hair.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Knee or 55".

[Katze]

Katze- I have to ask for clarification... I'm talking about any shade of blonde hair that you can get from a bottle. If everyone is talking about only white-blonde hair, then I agree with you. But there are tons of blonde shades out there. I've seen girls with olive skin dye their hair a dark blonde and it looked amazing. But if we're only talking about one shade of blonde, then... yeah, that white shade only works for a select few.

I just know that artificial looked artificial on me, because the toner/drabber faded really fast. My hair may go brassy quicker than other peoples' hair but I do see a lot of orangey, brassy bleached hair around town. Since many women in this part of the world have dark blonde/light brown hair, many do bleach it, because this natural color is somehow considered dull or ugly, and I can almost always tell when it's bleached/highlighted/dyed...years of experience looking at my own roots, and mom explaining that most lighter blondes are artificial.

Yes, some bottle blonde looks good, and some highlights, especially in the caramel shades, look nice on "non blonde" types. But personally - and this is my opinion - dark eyes and dark eyebrows and the lighter shades of blonde don't look good on most people. I also think it is easy to overdo and go lighter and lighter, thus damaging hair and looking artificial.

What troubles me is the "blonde is better" attitude that I used to have myself and still struggle with. Being blonde made me feel special, even superior. Now that I have my natural color I can't remember what I was thinking all those years. I have started getting compliments on it, too, because it's "rare" (since most people with this color bleach or dye), and I enjoy it just as much, if not more, than my bottled/foiled/streaked/highlighted etc etc "blondeness."

While I fully support choices that make individuals happy, I just wish more women would accept themselves as they truly are, and embrace their natural beauty. :)

[Kuchen]

You do not need to have virgin hair to feel secure in yourself and "fully embrace who you are". It's possible to want to play around with hair colour AND have great self esteem.
This thread is about celebrating bottle blondes, not implying that they do not accept or love themselves.

[Janka]

1) What is your starting color? Darker tawny ;) I never considered myself blonde or light-colored, just mousy-greyish. I always got highlights from the sun in summer and wanted more. But I'm "only" highlighted and not blonde all over, or a double-tawny, if you want ;). My hair looks darker in the avatar.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? Salon high- and lowlights (to better blend in), every 3-4 months. My one and only experiment with home bleach was a disaster (yellow!), I put a cap on and ran to the store for some darker color. My great luck was, it fitted my natural color perfectly, no-one noticed...

3) How do you care for your hair? CWC and SC, using products for highlighted/colored/damaged hair, every 3-5 days, depending on weather and personal feeling. Light oiling almost after every wash. Deep treatements every few weeks, if I remember. Mostly air-drying, or blow-drying on low. Wearing hair up almost every day, braiding for the night.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? No brassiness here ;) When I was getting highlights only, my lentgh was almost blonde only, so I started low and hightlights, which blends better in. The only problem is that the I need go to the salon after 3 or 4 months, because my darker roots show. I find I look older with darker color (been there, done that).

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Halfway between BSL and waist, my last salon visit "cost" me 2 cm, but it brought me nearer to a blunt hemline...

[Sherri]

1) What is your starting color?Light Ash Brown

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?I use a box color. It is L'Oreal Colorsillk Med Ash Blonde. It is the cheap one usually from a dollar store.

3) How do you care for your hair?I use shampoo/condition with leave-in on ends. Wide tooth comb blowdry top/damp dry rest of length

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?No not really. My hair tends to pull a lot of red so I'm not even sure I fit into this catagory of being blonde.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?Right now it is at about 31"

[spidermom]

You do not need to have virgin hair to feel secure in yourself and "fully embrace who you are". It's possible to want to play around with hair colour AND have great self esteem.
This thread is about celebrating bottle blondes, not implying that they do not accept or love themselves.

Exactly, and you know what they say? If you want to do something, talk to the people who are successful at it, not the ones who have failed.

[atlantaz3]

1) What is your starting color? I guess caramel would be a good description for my starting color (although when little it was white and I am northern German descent)

2) How do you get your blonde color? I had highlights almost a year and half ago. I have made an appt with my hair dresser who really likes to do highlights and does a good job. She blends my natural color as the low lights making growing out less painful. (She also understands the two week rule and knows I may cancel that appt!) Also my hair lightens up really quickly in sunlight, but it's thick so I end up two toned - darker underneath.

3) How do you care for your hair? SMT and experiments. Sulfate free shampoo I am terming a bust. I think it made my hair dull. I end up going back to HE Rose Hips blend. Honey helps my hair and lately aloe has done wonders.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? That has never really been an issue for me.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? I just passed BSL on my way to waist - go hair go!

I too will be watching this thread!

[utdesertrunner]

Great thread! I've been trying for the last year to not highlight, but my hair is so dull to me. I just don't really enjoy it. I think I will head to the salon soon, I really miss my highlights! I'm excited to see the other reply's.

[flapjack]

Katze, I definitely understand where you're coming from. I've been to Germany and parts of northern Europe and I definitely noticed that most girls have varying shades of darker blonde and brown hair. I can see why the people in the area would think those hair colors are "boring" (even though they obviously aren't any less boring than any other color...). It's no different than people who have brown eyes or black hair and live in areas where all the people have those traits... ask them if they think brown eyes and black hair are boring traits and you'll get an earful. So it's all about location. And I agree with you that these girls and women should see past that and know how beautiful their real hair color truly is.

But, I do think Kuchen brings up a good point. You can have excellent self-esteem and want a different hair color. It doesn't mean you hate yourself or your natural hair. We can't assume every German girl who dyes her hair a lighter shade of blonde hates her hair, because that will not be the true story. I applaud your newly found love for your real hair color, that's amazing news and it's great to hear, I'm glad you're happy. And I agree... your hair color is awesome, there was never anything wrong with it to begin with, we all know this. But that's not always the answer for everyone, you know? There are girls who are dyeing their hair for the wrong reasons, sure, but it's not everybody.


As for the "blonde is better" attitude, well, those girls have kinks to work out that no amount of hair dye will ever fix. Because if it's not their hair, it will soon be something else and then something after that, etc.

[spidermom]

Flapjack, you reminded me that it's like any other kind of personal adornment. Sometimes you do it because it pleases you to create something that you find beautiful, whether it be clothing, makeup, jewelry, or hair color. There's nothing wrong with that. However, there may be something wrong if you're doing whatever it is that you're doing to cover up something that you think is inadequate about yourself.

[flapjack]

^ Exactly. Hair color is just hair color. Changing it should be no different than changing your shirt (psychologically speaking... obviously it's much more complicated and can be more permanent and drastic than changing a shirt, etc.). It should never change who you are or how you perceive yourself. I love hair just as much as the next lhc member, but... it's just hair! Really.

[Babyfine]

I really enjoyed my highlights when I had them. And I did grow from a chin length bob to BSL while I continued to get them.(Touching up just roots) I had a golden blonde color.I don't know if I could have grown any longer than that-maybe I could have. My natural color is a medium brown with a few greys. My dh likes them better on me then my current med/auburn color. I have greys in front(about 10%) and I think they camoflouged them much better - they stick out like a sore thumb with my medium brown color.
On the other hand, my hair is less damaged now than then(I still color every 3-5 months with a brown demi-perm).
The Jury is out on what looked better on me. I did have more upkeep with them as since I don't have THAT much grey- the dark roots showed fairly quickly.
I never thought my hair grew still I started touching up roots.
I have very fair, fair skin(freckles) with brown eyes. As a child my hair was a light golden brown. My eyes were always darker than my hair.
Very light blonde looks awful on me- washes me out- but golden highlights look good.
Some people really like my current(dark) color better on me-says it makes my hair look thicker and healthier, others preferred the highlights.

[Hypnotica]

ness."
While I fully support choices that make individuals happy, I just wish more women would accept themselves as they truly are, and embrace their natural beauty. :)

Nah. In my case, nature clearly did an error :D

[ktani]

I have seen a number of bottled blondes on the boards here, with long, beautiful hair that looks great!

This is a very good idea for a thread, IMO.

[Heidi_234]

You girls make me want a blond hair.
:justy:


:)

[ktani]

You girls make me want a blond hair.
:justy:


:)

You have a great hair colour, dark hennaed or not. I think that it looks really cool (not as in shade, as in good).

[Heidi_234]

You have a great hair colour, dark hennaed or not. I think that it looks really cool (not as in shade, as in good).
Thanks Ktani :flowers:

[spidermom]

I agree; Heidi 234 - you have fabulous hair; everything about it.

[Euphony]

Nah. In my case, nature clearly did an error :D
I'm in the same boat :D Dark blond hair with nearly black eyebrows and very dark brown eyes just looked wrong on me!

[ktani]

Thanks Ktani :flowers:

You are most welcome. And I see that I am not alone in my opinion.

[ktani]

I'm in the same boat :D Dark blond hair with nearly black eyebrows and very dark brown eyes just looked wrong on me!

Yes, nature can be playful that way. Do what pleases you!

[GlassEyes]

I think some people look great with bottle blonde, even that shade of blonde that's never found naturally, like this girl with long, straight, obviously bleached blonde hair (she has roots), and it looks awesome.

And then there's Pegs, who had two long, nearly white frontal facial pieces that were bloody awesome. : D

Edit: Why do I say bloody? o-o;; I'm not English in the slightest...well, in descent, yes, in nationality, no. XD

[ktani]

I worked with a woman years ago, who was naturally blonde but she had every shade of blonde there is streaked throughout it. Many, including me at first, thought that she must go to an amazing colourist. It was unlike anything I had ever seen and looked awesome!

It turns out, that she had had almost white hair when younger, and it was gradually darkening but only in some areas.

What we may think looks unnatural, can well be natural.

[feralnature]

I started the "I'm thinking of bleaching blonde" http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=21089awhile back. I am still going to go by the 2 week rule. However, when I dropped a subtle hint to my hubby about changing my hair color, his eyes lit up and I could tell he liked the idea. I was blonde in the past and he liked it alot. So i am still really considering having professional high and low lights put in on a regular basis. I was happy blonde. I have green eyes, freckles and am of European descent so it looks "right" on me. So still thinking about it (while still loving my virgin hair).

[Anje]

I'm in the same boat :D Dark blond hair with nearly black eyebrows and very dark brown eyes just looked wrong on me!
MIne looks OK, but I've had several people think that I lighten my hair to the shade it is now because of my dark eyebrows. And the hennaed parts are quite a lot darker than my natural titian. (I'd put H2O2 on my eyebrows, but I suspect I'd look stranger with lightened eyebrows than with my naturally black ones.)

[Tangles]

There ARE women out there with bottled blonde hair that looks superb. Most of them, seem to be those who invest in the very best hairdressers that can carefully tone out any brassy hues.

I think silvery blonde is gorgeous, but very few younger women can pull it off.

Most women in my opinion look best with their natural hair color--I feel like those with light brown or hair-colored-hair often have delicate features that are washed out by blonde.

Celebrity examples: Catherine Deneuve pulls off blonde so well I didn't even know she was a natural dark brunette... unbelievable.

Many actresses, such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston (I think GP has naturally dark blonde and JA brown) would probably look better with their natural color, IMO.

[Tangles]

Katze- I have to ask for clarification... I'm talking about any shade of blonde hair that you can get from a bottle. If everyone is talking about only white-blonde hair, then I agree with you. But there are tons of blonde shades out there. I've seen girls with olive skin dye their hair a dark blonde and it looked amazing. But if we're only talking about one shade of blonde, then... yeah, that white shade only works for a select few.

You're right, I tried dark blonde on Taaz and it looked surprisingly good on my olive-ish skin. I would never do it IRL though.

[bella77]

Being blonde all my life I thought I would chime in. My hair was so white when I was little and it got gradually darker, especially after I had my first child. I started coloring after that and have been every shade of blonde. Although my hair is not long, I am scissor happy and tend to cut too much, I am trying to get to BSL at least within the next 2 years. My hair is very healthy and I use the cheapest box of color- Revlon Colorsilk. I use regular shampoo and conditioner, right now my favorite is Aphogee from Sally Beauty Supply stores.

[ktani]

Club soda, has also been reported online, to reduce, remove brassiness on blonde, hair, depending of course, on the cause, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=115.

[goodenough]

It seems like a lot of the women who posted have hair that was blonde or brown when they were kids. Anyone dye theirs from almost black? That's my natural color-I've been blonde twice, but never longer than chin length. Anyone have BSL or longer blonde hair dyed from dark brown? I want to go blonde in a few years. I think the way I would do it is to lighten all over to a light brown, then do highlights after that to get lighter.

(my hair is dark, but it doesn't hold the darkness all the way down. So I have almost black near the scalp, dark brown to the chin, and by the time it hits my shoulders, it's reddish brown. the ends (waistish) are med. reddish brown with some blonde. I was the same color as a kid.

Thoughts? I'm not considering this anytime soon, but I would love to see who goes from very dark to blonde.

[GlassEyes]

Celebrity examples: Catherine Deneuve pulls off blonde so well I didn't even know she was a natural dark brunette... unbelievable.

Many actresses, such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston (I think GP has naturally dark blonde and JA brown) would probably look better with their natural color, IMO.


Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Pots comes to mind. xD

[Velvettt]

1) What is your starting color? Light brown with grey

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? L'Oreal Med Ash Blonde only on roots and left on for an hour, while length is coated heavily with coconut oil.

3) How do you care for your hair? Non-sulphate, diluted shampoos and conditioners like Giovanni and Aubrey Organics, weekly ACV rinse, occasional oiling of ends.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? Occasional use of "blue" shampoo and conditioner if brassiness occurs, but mostly I just let it be.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Currently 30 inches. Before I learned NOT to pull the dye through my hair to the ends, I damaged them by repeated bleaching. I've been cutting off the bleached out ends with microtrims every month or so. My siggy pic with the Chinese bun is old and shows the bad ends. This pic is new and shows those ends are gone.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb245/Velvettts/profilepic309small.jpg

[steff8ryan]

It seems like a lot of the women who posted have hair that was blonde or brown when they were kids. Anyone dye theirs from almost black?

I was thinking this too, my natural colour is a dark brown with no red in it at all. I've henndigoed it now because i wanted to cover greys but i have tried to go blonde quite a few times before without success. The last time the hair dresser singed my hair right up so i had to have it cut off from below my shoulders to just longer than pixie.

Stephanie xxx

[brok3nwings]

Steff8ryan i think it is possible but i think that the condition of the hair will be very weak. When i started looking for information for hair colour (cause i had done a mistake and wanted to fix it) one of the things i´ve learned is that to go from black to blonde in the process you first take the blue, then the red, then the orange to get to the yellow (blonde) thats why many brunettes deal with brassyness when trying at home, cause the process ends with the red or orange colour. But i dont have an answer to your specific question, i once saw on youtube an asian girl that explained how she turned her black hair into platinium blonde

[ktani]

Different people have different levels of natural pigment in their hair, as well as other factors to consider, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=291820&postcount=2342

[sandigirl]

came up in another thread. Inquiring minds want to know:

1) What is your starting color? Dark chestnut brown with some grays.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? Salon highlight/touchup every 8-12 weeks.

3) How do you care for your hair? Wash and condition with Garnier Fructis for color treated hair once/week in the shower. Wash bangs-only with any non-moisturizing shampoo as needed.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? Used to get HORRIBLE tangling when hair was rear end length. Trimmed to bsl. Problem gone. Hair is VERY thick. I've had brassiness and actually embraced it.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? About 4" past bsl.

This is meant to be a positive thread to help those who want to go blonde. Please don't be negative here.

I will NEVER go to back to dark. I LOVE my highlighted hair. My face looks younger/brighter according to my friends. And with the grays coming in more I don't like the contrast with dark hair. It looks like witch hair on me.
If you don't have one already and you can, please include a picture.

[ktani]

This is meant to be a positive thread to help those who want to go blonde. Please don't be negative here.

Yes it is, and from a lot of the gorgeous long haired, bottled blondes I have seen on these boards, including yours, I see no reason why bottled blonde and long healthy hair, cannot go hand in hand.

[Kazazi]

I am reading this thread with interest. I used to love my highlights but not the upkeep and my last experience with getting some was not so good (October 08) so as I am also still growing out henna I am going to stick with my virgin roots for a while, but I am sure the time will come when I want to highlight again.

I would be delighted to hear some more tips from those bottle blonde longhairs here who regularly get highlights at a salon:

What do you think is key for getting good and non-damaging results there?

How would you spot / choose a good highlight stylist if you moved to a new town (like I have recently done, new country in fact)?

What technique(s) does your stylist use to (a) minimise damage (eg, how do they manage to do roots only?) and to (b) keep the look natural?

I am just really interested in your answers to these questions as I hope they might help me make the right choices when the day comes when I next get highlights again.

Thanks!

[ktani]

Another example of a bottled blonde, (her hair is shorter in her new profile pic), with hair and ends to die for (this time I spelled die right, lol), http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=1502

Gorgeous, healthy, bottled blonde hair.

With what one learns here about hair care, one can have it all! There is no one way to do things (some methods may be better than others though) but LHC members embrace different kinds of hair care philosophies and approaches to hair colour.

[Toadstool]

I was thinking this too, my natural colour is a dark brown with no red in it at all. I've henndigoed it now because i wanted to cover greys but i have tried to go blonde quite a few times before without success. The last time the hair dresser singed my hair right up so i had to have it cut off from below my shoulders to just longer than pixie.

Stephanie xxx
I recently bleached my dark brown and grey hair with a bleaching product that said "for dark brown hair" I think it was Born Blonde. Then I put a semipermanent toner on it. I ended up blonder than I have ever managed before and it hasn't broken off yet.:)

[frangipani]

1) What is your starting color? dark ash blonde / light brown

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? 20 vol and bleach , done by a talented and trusted friend.

3) How do you care for your hair? I have committed every hair felony imaginable in the past, but since joining LHC, I have been conditioner-only washing and coconut oiling, and have had great success so far. Hair is softer, more manageable, and others have commented on it looking nice.


4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
If hair becomes brassy, I use purple toned products. I am constantly trying new ones on my quest for the best, but favourites include Redken pure pearl conditioner (smells nice) , matrix 'so silver' shampoo, and Goldwell toner mousse '10v'. The problem with a lot of toning products is that they are drying (as if bleached hair needs to have any more moisture sucked out of it.) So i tried mixing a drop of "RUSK scream" purple hair dye with conditioner, and leaving it on the hair for a while. It actually works quite well, but i'm still on the lookout for other solutions to this problem.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Shoulder length

[Tornerose]

I don't know if I qualify to post here, but I've done blonde stripes in my hair before, and the bleached strands are not weaker than the other strands. On my pics you can see the difference of the roots since I stipped doing it when I joined this site.

1) What is your starting color? This mousy light ashbrown shade

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? My hairdresser makes streaks with foil

3) How do you care for your hair? I used to just do a SLS & Cone shampoo, very mild because I have a dry scalp, oncea week. After I've started here I've tried to go more natural.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? My streaks has't gone brassy. My sister bleaches her whole hair with homeproducts and hers go alittle yellow. She uses Silk Drops and purple shampoos & conditioners that help to some extent. Hers is shoulderlenght though

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Tailbone.

[Phalaenopsis]

I'm jealous of the ones who can get away with it :)

I have a light skin and light green eyes, but my eyelashes and brows are really dark so I'm afraid it would look funny.

I have fine textured hair and now I've seen what one time using a curling iron did to it, I'm even more afraid to dye it.

[misstwist]

I had a childhood friend with pale, straw colored blond hair and heavy black eyebrows. It does happen. If you want blond don't worry about the eyebrows.

[Unnamed]

Phalaenopsis -- I got asked a *lot* if I was a white-blonde when I was a child when I dyed my hair a light blonde and I have the really, really dark brows (jet black at the time, although I think right now they're more of a dark brown), and half super dark/half translucent thick eyelashes. Ie apparently it looked quite natural. I'm quite pale with light grey eyes.

The dark eyebrows also didn't bug me more with light blonde hair than they do with dark blonde (just as-is sometimes I wonder if they could be lightened :lol: ). So I wouldn't let your eyebrows being dark stop you.

[Gypsygirl]

1) What is your starting color? My natural color is a medium golden blonde.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
I get it highlighted.

3) How do you care for your hair? I'm in experimenting mode right now...but I use a lot of conditioner and I do hot oil treatments.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? No- I have a great stylist and we're friends, too, so all I need to do is call her and whine a little and she'll solve my problems for me. ;) I'm just kidding...she does a great job, so no problems.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? The longest part is about waist length.

[Demetrue]

My eyebrows were always darker than my hair color when I had glden blonde hair as a child. I wouldn't worry about eyebrow color - you can always dye them to match your hair if they bother you.

[Phalaenopsis]

I had a childhood friend with pale, straw colored blond hair and heavy black eyebrows. It does happen. If you want blond don't worry about the eyebrows.


Phalaenopsis -- I got asked a *lot* if I was a white-blonde when I was a child when I dyed my hair a light blonde and I have the really, really dark brows (jet black at the time, although I think right now they're more of a dark brown), and half super dark/half translucent thick eyelashes. Ie apparently it looked quite natural. I'm quite pale with light grey eyes.

The dark eyebrows also didn't bug me more with light blonde hair than they do with dark blonde (just as-is sometimes I wonder if they could be lightened :lol: ). So I wouldn't let your eyebrows being dark stop you.

Thank you, this is nice to know :) I also remember Simon from Seventh heaven. That kid had really black eyebrows with pale blond hair.

[Gypsygirl]

Oh yes, my natural color may be a little darker than my current color, but it's still a shade of blonde, but my eyebrows are dark.

[Curlsgirl]

I am still highlighting/lowlighting at the Aveda salon. I went somewhere else and she really damaged it. I have about 3 more inches on the ends that need to come off but they don't really look bad so I am trimming slowly to keep at waist. My gray is coming in fast but it sort of mixes with the highlights and is not noticeable. I love my blonde hair and do not feel like "me" without. I take very good care of it otherwise and I think that is the key. I hope I will be able to grow to TB trimming a bit along the way so it will take a while since I have about 5 more inches, then I will see where I am and if I want to continue. My ends are fairly thick so I don't think I am anywhere near terminal. :pray:

[spidermom]

Bumped for blonde wannabe.

[Bellona]

I used to have really long bottle blonde hair. No one knew it was from a bottle, though :) Had a really good colorist (who was cheap, too!)

I'm growing it out now for a change (and because I got a bad haircut, so I'm growing anyway!)

[JCFantasy23]

I do not currently have bottle blonde anymore but thought I would chime in since I dyed blonde for five years. I liked medium to light blonde and naturally have medium to dark brown hair. I dyed at home using Loreal Preference and Ultra blonde shades. The first few months I dealt with brassiness and of course it was more red than anything, but after months of dyeing the color will keep lightening.

When I dyed my hair back to brunette three of my close friends thought I had been naturally blonde, although I don't see how. The roots were a pain!

[juliaxena]

1) What is your starting color? Light brown/ashy/gray

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? I use gold blonde semi permanent dye

3) How do you care for your hair? Lots of deep conditioning...that's it really.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? I didn't experience any problems

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Short...but I will get it long hopefully

[Rini]

1) What is your starting color? medium ash blonde with MANY silvers :D

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? I blend my roots in with the rest of my hair, every 6 weeks or so using a permanent dye which is slightly lighter than my natural hair colour.

3) How do you care for your hair? I was COing for many years, but recently I've started washing with Nioxin about twice a week and using my regular Natural Instincts Conditioner (Australian brand). I let it air dry and sometimes I put AVG in or Camelia Oil.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? I have major brassiness on my lower lengths due to the old henna I removed. I trim regularly and tone with Goldwell mousse toner in purple and it is gradually lessening.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? It's slowly approaching BSL, in that annoying stage between APL and BSL :o It's grown heaps since my post-henna chop back to chin length though :)

I have many pics in my profile (and below in my sig). Actually, I will be blonde for the rest of my life now. I've tried practically every colour, but Blonde suits me the best and I just don't have time or the inclination to maintain pale roots against a darker hair colour. I'm looking forward to having "long blonde" hair one day. I also like how it can appear darker or lighter blonde depending on the lighting (or the wash day!!)

Spidermom, I did start a blonde thread some time back which I think might still be going. There are lots of good ideas in there too if you want any more info :)

[PurpleAshes]

Edit: Why do I say bloody? o-o;; I'm not English in the slightest...well, in descent, yes, in nationality, no. XD

[mini hijack] I thought you were! :eek: [/mini hijack]

[jojo]

1) What is your starting color? Light brown with natural blond streaks with come out in the sun. I did a couple of henna glosses prior to highlighting in July. Was strawberry blond as a little girl.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? My hairdresser does these for me, twice a year, the roots are not so obvious for me as the colour is golden blond, i also have more in the front than the back.

3) How do you care for your hair? I use sulphate free shampoo (emu oil at present but what evers about) and I condition with any cone free product. I also do a deep condiotioner once a week and add oil daily to my ends.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? I have not yet experienced any problems such as dryness, breakage or brassiness. My hair feels and looks as soft as ever. I think home jobs are more likely to suffer with problems. Overal If you continue to not use heat very often and treat hair kind, it should be ok. Forgot to add I only ever or will be getting my roots re-done.
5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? when wet it reaches waist, when dry 2" off waist and I am holding on for classic!

[ckf1963]

I was soooooooo glad to see this thread. I lighten my hair, and the thought of not being able to do so anymore was very saddening to me. Mostly because of all of the gray that I have now and the fact that it is practically unnoticeable in my hair when it is lighter.

1) What is your starting color? Dirty dishwater blonde. When I was a child, it was white. (I am of German descent, too.)

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? I have it colored in a salon. I don't try to go extremely blonde, just to a nice golden color.

3) How do you care for your hair? I just came across TLHC and am trying different things now, but up until just a few days ago I was using well-known salon-quality products for colored and damaged hair, shampooing every other day and using a leave in conditioner and glossing serum. I have recently started a trial of the CWC method and washing only the scalp - not the length - and really like the results so far. Just today I oiled my hair for the first time with Jojoba oil. I have to say it made my hair very soft. I have a lot of damaged hair, but, as someone else said in an earlier post, it's due to using a flat iron - not due to coloring. The length of my hair that is colored but has never been ironed is healthy and shiny.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? I've never had a problem with brassiness.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? My hair is between BSL and my waist.

I can't post a picture as I'm just a newb and this is my first post. But let me say that I really enjoy this site and look forward to getting to know you all better. :waving:

[Avani]

Hope you dont mind me posting as I used to have natural blonde hair but now have box dye brown.

1) What is your starting color? Virgin colour is mid blonde, very suscentable to sun bleaching.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? (Before dying it dark brown) I used to use Chamolile tea rinses, sun in (!) and the occasional hairdressers highlights. Yearly holidays in the sun did the hardwork for me though

3) How do you care for your hair? 1 wash a week, as natual as possible products. Anti-snag hairbands. Only wore it down once a week on 'wash-day' Did not blow dry it unless absolutely nessesary. Regular oil / deep conditioning treatments

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? Did not suffer brassiness. Hair quite difficult to manage though as hair dye really dried it out. As it was kept long (between BSL and WL) Tried to keep it nice but I had to make a decision - Healthy Hair Vs Lighter Hair.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Was between BSL and WL. Would get it cut every 4 months from WL to BSL to keep it healthy.

[kmangus]

1) What is your starting color? Mousey blonde :rolleyes:

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? Sun in and salon highlights :)

3) How do you care for your hair? I wash every 3 days, do a SMT when i have the time, and wear it up alot
4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? Brassiness was a big problem for me....but i use clairol shimmer nights (purple shampoo) to help.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? just after APL

[GoldLady]

1) What is your starting color?


Medium blonde, slightly ashy.


2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?


Thanks for the beautiful comment for we blondes! I get highlights and lowlights from Aveda in gold only, no ash, foiled in. I go maybe two to four times a year for a partial and stay close to my natural color to avoid roots. They use no ammonia in my color.


3) How do you care for your hair?


I use Carol's Daughter shampoo and conditioner and L'Oreal Mega Moisture (the tub, with 'cones) on my length. I also use Kerastase on my length occasionally: aqua oleum, age recharge or vita-ciment spray.


4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?


I expose my hair to the sun as little as possible. I always wear a hat or headcover when I'm going to be outside for any length of time.


5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?


Waist.

Thanks for asking, great post.

[GermanCurl]

1) What is your starting color? Dishwater Blonde mixed with some gray. Used to be light blonde as a child.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? With Clairol Nutrisse #82 Champagne Blonde.

3) How do you care for your hair? Weekly deep treatment. Either SMT or Africas Best Herbal Oil.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? If my hair get's brassy I shampoo once or twice with purple shampoo. That usually does the trick.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Currently 17" but I am aiming for BSL.

[GermanCurl]

This came up in another thread. Inquiring minds want to know:

1) What is your starting color?

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

3) How do you care for your hair?

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

This is meant to be a positive thread to help those who want to go blonde. Please don't be negative here.

If you don't have one already and you can, please include a picture.


Spidermom, what kind of color do you use? I just love your picture and the natural looking blonde.

[jennyjukes]

Flapjack, you reminded me that it's like any other kind of personal adornment. Sometimes you do it because it pleases you to create something that you find beautiful, whether it be clothing, makeup, jewelry, or hair color. There's nothing wrong with that. However, there may be something wrong if you're doing whatever it is that you're doing to cover up something that you think is inadequate about yourself.
I do it because it accentuates my hair and makes it look more full of life, my hair is light anyway but most blondes i know do it to fit in.

there is one girl whos goal is to "have white hair", she got that goal! however her hair is now really thin (due to straightening aswell) and you can see bits have fallen out, i feel sorry for her but it's as though she doesn't care for her hair :(

I'm jealous of the ones who can get away with it :)

I have a light skin and light green eyes, but my eyelashes and brows are really dark so I'm afraid it would look funny.

I have fine textured hair and now I've seen what one time using a curling iron did to it, I'm even more afraid to dye it.
i have quite light skin and green eyes that can go bluey/grey, my eyelashes are really long and dark and my eyebrows are dark brown. i think it looks more quirky than people with lighter features :) never know until you try, i also have fine hair and it feels as though it thickened with the dye! but i don't want to push you into anything incase something does go wrong :p



1) What is your starting color? i actually have no idea, like many others it was blonde in childhood but started getting darker. looking as pictures from a holiday when i was younger, the roots would go really white because of the sun, i'd have brown (almost brassy looking?) highlights + the bottoms were a light brown with some blonde so i'm unsure :P my eyebrows were blonde but got darker. i started dying it when i was 13 because i felt my hair was too dull compared to everyone who was getting theirs done blonde but it wa probably jut because i straightened, blow dryed and washed with hot water and shampo everyday!

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
i get it highlighted two different colours only every 3 or 4 months though. last time was november so i'm growing to see more of my roots. by summer time i'm hoping it goes blonder than my light brown growing in so i don't need to top up roots and see if i like it enough to continue growing out :)

3) How do you care for your hair? not much. i still shampoo every 2 days but go longer if i'm not going out. thankfully that's normally only twice a week. i deep condition after one wash, one week i'll just condition normally & the next week i'll vinegar rinse aswell. haven't seen any ill effects on my colour so far ;) oils however don't like me so much :(

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? when i didn't care for my hair (ie shampooing, straightening, blowdrying etc) my hair turned brassy and i had no idea why! i just use a shampoo and conditioner for highlights now and no problem:cheese:

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? 17" if i remember correctly. that's about APL. i'm small.

[Phalaenopsis]

Oh, Jennyjukes, now you're making me curious how it looks on you, since you have kind of the same features as me.

Two days ago I saw a girl with sleek, blonde hair (about waistlength), but it was actually bleached. She had the same haircolour as me at the roots. I totally fell in love again, I sooo want to bleach my hair now. I'm having the "I'm feeling dull"-moment again. It looked really good on her and her hair still looked healthy for bleached hair.

[JenniferNoel]

I guess I can sign in here now, eh?

I'm naturally a dark ashy blonde. For some reason, no matter what color or length my hair became, I always ended up blonde in the end.
Here I am again, blonder than ever.


1) What is your starting color?
It was pretty dark this time, a purple-ish color that required some fun stuff to get the green out.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
HiColor number 16 honey blonde.

3) How do you care for your hair?
Lots of conditioning and DTs, evoo, frequent braids, and benign neglect. :eyebrows:

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
Unevenness and green. I knocked those out just enough the second time around last week.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
Short but healthy. BSL exactly. It feels like it's in the mood to grow to at least hip. I'm not worried. Just cautious.

Picture in album and current avatar.

[dropinthebucket]

I used to have coloured blonde hair - weirdly, it was also when my hair was the longest ever, just about APL. When i did it myself, and just did roots every touch-up, the rest of the hair was actually really nice. I have very fine, thin hair, and I also liked the way the colour plumped up my hair. The trouble started only when i tried to go back to my own colour - first, dying it brown several times, and the dye washing out. This left my hair dry and damaged. Still, i persevered - i had been blonde for nearly 20 years, and just wanted to see my own hair again, for a change. I grew it out for about a year, and it was just about chin length, two-toned mostly, 'cause the brown dye washed out. Then i got the terrible idea to get highlights, to blend the demarcation line better. *Such* a bad idea! The colour the salon used was way harsher than the box dyes i used, and my hair broke off in chunks where it was highlighted. Also, those sections that didn't break had this weird metallic glitter so the blonde highlight had an artificial shimmer - maybe they used a colour with metal salts?? I hated it, anyway. THEN i did henna, hoping the red would look ok and help heal the damage. Red did not look good, did indigo over that. Ok, the hair is less damaged now, but it's still not my own colour. BACK AT SQUARE ONE. Kinda sad. Anyway, if I had it to do it again, i would just keep box dying, or have the patience to grow it out two-toned. I know some people have had good results dying over, I guess I just didn't. Ah well ....

[JenniferNoel]

I used to have coloured blonde hair - weirdly, it was also when my hair was the longest ever, just about APL. When i did it myself, and just did roots every touch-up, the rest of the hair was actually really nice. I have very fine, thin hair, and I also liked the way the colour plumped up my hair. The trouble started only when i tried to go back to my own colour - first, dying it brown several times, and the dye washing out. This left my hair dry and damaged. Still, i persevered - i had been blonde for nearly 20 years, and just wanted to see my own hair again, for a change. I grew it out for about a year, and it was just about chin length, two-toned mostly, 'cause the brown dye washed out. Then i got the terrible idea to get highlights, to blend the demarcation line better. *Such* a bad idea! The colour the salon used was way harsher than the box dyes i used, and my hair broke off in chunks where it was highlighted. Also, those sections that didn't break had this weird metallic glitter so the blonde highlight had an artificial shimmer - maybe they used a colour with metal salts?? I hated it, anyway. THEN i did henna, hoping the red would look ok and help heal the damage. Red did not look good, did indigo over that. Ok, the hair is less damaged now, but it's still not my own colour. BACK AT SQUARE ONE. Kinda sad. Anyway, if I had it to do it again, i would just keep box dying, or have the patience to grow it out two-toned. I know some people have had good results dying over, I guess I just didn't. Ah well ....

Oh - I hear ya. I hear ya. Really.
It's awful isn't it? Haha. I too learned the hard way to just leave my hair alone until I desire a real color change for reasons other than lack of satisfaction with what is on my head.
A lot of us have probably been down a similar route. Dye dye dye, bleach bleach bleach, chop, dye, bleach. But whoa, hair grows! That's the cool part right? Unfortunately it's in my blood to be impatient. Over the years I've been learning to cope though. :henny:

[ericthegreat]

This came up in another thread. Inquiring minds want to know:

1) What is your starting color?

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

3) How do you care for your hair?

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

This is meant to be a positive thread to help those who want to go blonde. Please don't be negative here.

If you don't have one already and you can, please include a picture.

1. My starting color was an auburn copper red. But the red wasn't my natural color either, my natural color is of course jet black. As you guys know, I've been highlighting and lightening all of my hair since last summer(come to think of it that makes it almost a year now!).

2. I'm not a bottle blond, as in I didn't color my hair by myself. I had all my hair colorings and highlights done professionally at my salon.

3. I only use conditioner to rinse my hair every night. I have literally over 20 different brands of conditioners ranging from $1 to over $40, but normally I will use my $1 Suave Tropical Coconut on most nights and indulge in my more expensive ones for special occasions. I also do a coconut oiling once every week.

4. Luckily, I live in NYC and we have a very good water filtration system. I haven't seen any yellowness to my hair whatsoever. I don't use any special shampoos or anything, and my new blond color has stayed very bright and vibrant. I think my CO routine alone helps to keep my color so fresh.

5. Check my profile to the left. :) Its holding steady at 43 inches.

[VitaR86]

I recently turned my Asian friend blonde. I mention that shes Asian because if anyone has tried dying Asian hair.....you know what a pain it is. I tried to talk her out of it since I knew it was gonna take more than one bleaching, but she insisted. So.....

This is after bleaching twice. It was an ashy blonde with some oranginess in it.
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/Vita86/photos/Randoms/26041_420348241336_533436336_499389.jpg

I gave her strict orders to deep condition for a week before anymore bleaching was to be done. She mentions all this to a friend of her's who is in cosmetology school and this friend claimed she could "fix it" for her. Well this friend didn't know what she was doing at all and only managed to mess it up. She pretty much slathered the bleach on everything. The first 3-4 inches of hair on top was bright yellow but the tips were still orange Didn't use foil...and little miss pro didn't even get enough bleach. The whole bottom half of her hair was still orange. :rolleyes:

Now, by all means I am NOT a pro, but I have been doing my own hair since I was 13. So that's 11 years verses her few months of training. And my hostility towards this person is based on the fact that from day one of meeting her she acted like she was better than me on everything because she was in school and I wasn't. *cough cough* That a side... I do not have a picture of the "mess" but here is what she looked like after a fourth bleaching. This is right after taking out the foils and before washing the bleach out.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/Vita86/photos/Randoms/23831_424622296336_533436336_509156.jpg
Bright banana yellow. I evened out the color by concentrating the bleach on the bottom half of the hair and the tips of the top half. I then used a toner to get rid of the yellowness.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/Vita86/photos/Randoms/23831_424622301336_533436336_509156.jpg

So here we go. Four sessions of bleaching and a toner later, here is what it looks like. Her hair is very fried at the moment. I got her a good shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair and a leave in conditioner. She is using the CWC to wash her hair and the leave in.

She absolutely loves the color. And keep in mind that she was standing in direct light when this was taken.

[elina333]

1) What is your starting color?

Dirty blonde or "rat-color" as we call it in Sweden ;)

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

Highlights at the salon every 2-3 months or so

3) How do you care for your hair?

Wash with Matrix silverschampoo/Nioxin/Kerastase Bain Satin (I switch between all of these), use a treatment from Redken and then oil the ends with coconut oil when wet. Also do a heavy oiling (coconut) the night before wash (appr every 2-4 days). Havent trimmed since January 5th (and not planning to ever again :D), only S&D regularly.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

Have had lots of issues with brassiness and yellow tones, but it seems to be getting better now after I switched hairdressers. I think my first one just didnt use a "cool" enough color... With my complexion, my hair very easily looks yellow if the color is too "warm"!

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

Hmm BSL when stretched I would say ;) Otherwise between APL and BSL somewhere..? :D

[MsBubbles]

Dirty blonde or "rat-color" as we call it in Sweden ;)


This color seems to have collected the most negative descriptions of all the hair colors!! (Unless you love rats, I guess!). And I'm guilty of having used 'dirty' or 'dishwater' blond in the past to describe my own natural hair color. Now I just say dark blond. :)

[TawnyRoots]

This color seems to have collected the most negative descriptions of all the hair colors!! (Unless you love rats, I guess!). And I'm guilty of having used 'dirty' or 'dishwater' blond in the past to describe my own natural hair color. Now I just say dark blond. :)


I go for calling it Tawny or Mink, much more appealing! I think it's a very interesting colour, and lesser spotted too as so frequently it is dyed over. Maybe we will be like the red-heads and have a fashionable resurgence in a few years!

[lilravendark]

I recently turned my Asian friend blonde. I mention that shes Asian because if anyone has tried dying Asian hair.....you know what a pain it is. I tried to talk her out of it since I knew it was gonna take more than one bleaching, but she insisted. So.....

This is after bleaching twice. It was an ashy blonde with some oranginess in it.
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/Vita86/photos/Randoms/26041_420348241336_533436336_499389.jpg

I gave her strict orders to deep condition for a week before anymore bleaching was to be done. She mentions all this to a friend of her's who is in cosmetology school and this friend claimed she could "fix it" for her. Well this friend didn't know what she was doing at all and only managed to mess it up. She pretty much slathered the bleach on everything. The first 3-4 inches of hair on top was bright yellow but the tips were still orange Didn't use foil...and little miss pro didn't even get enough bleach. The whole bottom half of her hair was still orange. :rolleyes:

Now, by all means I am NOT a pro, but I have been doing my own hair since I was 13. So that's 11 years verses her few months of training. And my hostility towards this person is based on the fact that from day one of meeting her she acted like she was better than me on everything because she was in school and I wasn't. *cough cough* That a side... I do not have a picture of the "mess" but here is what she looked like after a fourth bleaching. This is right after taking out the foils and before washing the bleach out.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/Vita86/photos/Randoms/23831_424622296336_533436336_509156.jpg
Bright banana yellow. I evened out the color by concentrating the bleach on the bottom half of the hair and the tips of the top half. I then used a toner to get rid of the yellowness.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/Vita86/photos/Randoms/23831_424622301336_533436336_509156.jpg

So here we go. Four sessions of bleaching and a toner later, here is what it looks like. Her hair is very fried at the moment. I got her a good shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair and a leave in conditioner. She is using the CWC to wash her hair and the leave in.

She absolutely loves the color. And keep in mind that she was standing in direct light when this was taken.

Great end result, I bleached my hair too to get to blonde only so I could get it to white though. I have to say I found out on my asian hair that bleach does work and white make me look really dark but what works better is perfect blond by L'oreal and Nordic Blond by schwarzkopf, next time I decide to go blond I think I'm just going to use these I only have to use two applications and it will get to your friends end colour without frying it too much from multiple bleachings which usually turn it red first but since the blond box colour sort of deposits the yellowy gold tone then you dont have to worry about the orange tone. Also I used purple toner to get the yellow out. I had to do it myself cos no one wanted to touch my hair salons refused to make it white and said there's no way it could have been done.
You can see the different colours it was in the process in my photo album I love the ashy blond when my hair is longer I'll probably end up going to either back to my old ash blond like so or probably a darker honey blonde. :D
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=4993&pictureid=64999
sorry for the huge pic I dont know how to resize :(

[elina333]

I go for calling it Tawny or Mink, much more appealing! I think it's a very interesting colour, and lesser spotted too as so frequently it is dyed over. Maybe we will be like the red-heads and have a fashionable resurgence in a few years!


Hehe yeah I dont know... I guess its about "you always want what you dont have" :D But I really think the color is hideous! Even on my friends... Im sorry, no offense! But I really dont like it. So for me I've highlighted it ever since my light blonde hair disappeared somewhere in my teens :eyebrows:

[FrannyG]

1) What is your starting color?

My hair used to be naturally dark neutral blonde, but is now predominantly silver.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

I use L'Oreal Preference Medium (neutral) Blonde.

3) How do you care for your hair?

I CO, never brush or comb when my hair is wet, oil the ends, and wear it up as much as possible. I do like wearing it down when I have company, or if I'm going out for the evening. I do not use any heat products or hairspray (although I would use a blowdryer if there were an emergency in cold weather and I had to go out of the house ASAP). I do deep moisture treatments once or twice a month. I also trim 1/2 inch off every 3 months to keep my ends even.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

The only problem I ever had was when removed the dark brown dye from my hair. That caused damage, which of course I expected, and left my hair too brassy. I then dyed the whole head with medium blonde and now I have a neutral blonde shade. Of course it looks more ashy or more golden in photos, depending on the light.

Currently my hair is in great condition without so much as a split end (and no, it's not that I have bad eyesight :p). No problems with brassiness.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

My hair is about 24 1/2 inches right now. I've had it several inches longer with blonde dye, and it was healthy then too (until the brown dye experiment).

My goal is tailbone, but if I can't grow it below waist without it looking and feeling damaged, I'll be happy to stay at waist once I get there and maintain my length.

ETA: Thank you for starting this thread Spidermom. There are enough negative comments made about using permanent colour, and even more when it's blonde, for some reason. Using permanent box dye is just as harsh whether using a brown shade, a black shade, or a light to dark blonde shade.

It's when you go to the Ultra Light colours, or use bleach that there's more damage, as there are harsher chemicals, but many members here have grown very long hair successfully with those shades. They just need even more TLC.

[xladolcevitax]

1) What is your starting color?

Medium ash blonde

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

I get highlights done twice a year, just on the roots and top half of my head, none on the ends/underneath

3) How do you care for your hair?

Mostly CO, regular oilings, no heat, leave-in conditioner, combing.brushing only when dry, braid when sleeping

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

My hair doesnt tend to get very brassy and does a white colour from bleach very quickly, but once every couple of weeks i use a purple/blue silverising shampoo to keep it looking really white and less yellow.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

A bit shorter than in my sig pic just now as i had a trim (upper bsl) BUT I once had waist length highlighted hair that was more colour processed/damaged than mine is now, so it is possible to have bottle blonde long locks!

[MsBubbles]

:D But I really think the color is hideous! Even on my friends... Im sorry, no offense!

It's ok. But the funny thing is now that I have decided to embrace my, er, lesser spotted mink color, I feel my hair looks hideous WITH highlights! It has taken a few decades for me to change my viewpoint about all that though. I used to be such a blond-ist :p.

What's funny to me though is how much a of a sliding scale it's all on. Because my natural darker blond color is what some people with much darker hair end up wanting! And here I was the whole time wanting my childhood white-blond back and not settling for anything less.

[Demetrue]

Well, that very dark blonde color is fashionable if you look at Giselle Bundchen, Jennifer Anniston or Sarah Jessica Parker. Some stylists call it "Blondette" - a word made up of blonde and brunette.

[TawnyRoots]

I have decided to embrace my, er, lesser spotted mink color, *snip

Haha, love this! :cheese:

[VitaR86]

Great end result, I bleached my hair too to get to blonde only so I could get it to white though. I have to say I found out on my asian hair that bleach does work and white make me look really dark but what works better is perfect blond by L'oreal and Nordic Blond by schwarzkopf, next time I decide to go blond I think I'm just going to use these I only have to use two applications and it will get to your friends end colour without frying it too much from multiple bleachings which usually turn it red first but since the blond box colour sort of deposits the yellowy gold tone then you dont have to worry about the orange tone. Also I used purple toner to get the yellow out. I had to do it myself cos no one wanted to touch my hair salons refused to make it white and said there's no way it could have been done.
You can see the different colours it was in the process in my photo album I love the ashy blond when my hair is longer I'll probably end up going to either back to my old ash blond like so or probably a darker honey blonde. :D
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=4993&pictureid=64999
sorry for the huge pic I dont know how to resize :(
That looks sooo pretty. I've used that Loreal perfect blond on my self back in the day. It really is a good kit.

[MonikaHa]

I am Eastern European and my natural hair color *to me* is very blah.
Back home, since a lot of girls are various shades of blonde, I used to henna and loved it. When I came to the US, expecially to Florida, the sun started bleaching out my hair, so after my henna grew out and faded, I started to help out the sun and became a full time blondie.

I was like that for about 14 years.
Never had any problems with the color, hair grew, I practiced a lot of benign neglect, pretty much shampoo, condishioner, very rarely blow dry or any product, down most of the time.
I used whatever blonde hair color I felt like getting, but I never did full head applications or roots, I usually just colored chunks of hair here and there, and that gave me a nice multi-shade color.
Never had problems with brassyness, my hair always had a golden hue to it.

After my pregnancy last year my hair totally changed, got much darker, shed like crazy, so first I cut it off, and then used a much lighter color dye than I usually do, and that fried my hair.

Now, I henna it again. Most of the people who know me, are shocked. I could not care less LOL.

I have some blonde pics in my album, feel free to look.

[Pear Martini]

Yes, in Florida will definatly lighten anyones hair a shade or two. I am so happy summer is here, now I can sit in the ocean all day and not get cold :cheese:

Sorry for the thread jack, anyways.... BUMP

[elina333]

Well, that very dark blonde color is fashionable if you look at Giselle Bundchen, Jennifer Anniston or Sarah Jessica Parker. Some stylists call it "Blondette" - a word made up of blonde and brunette.

Yeah but those colors are far from natural... ;) But they are wonderful indeed! :D

Although I must admit, my "rat" color turned wonderful in the Florida sun as I spent ten months there a couple years ago! I didnt go to the hairdressers once. Its was beautiful with the natural highlights from the sun! But here in Sweden it gets really dark and it just doesnt feel right ;)

[atlantaz3]

1) What is your starting color
Dark blonde - probably showing a few silvers maybe I have a hard time finding them.

2) How do you get your blonde color?
Highlights and lowlights about twice a year done in an Aveda salon by a long hair friendly stylist. Currently experimenting with honey but having trouble finding the two hours in a day to soak!

3) How do you care for your hair?
Wash about once a week, diluted shampoos (stash of HE Rose Hips, Avalon Organics). Deep condition (such as SMT) about once a month. My hair loves oil, after washing, I use Moroccan Oil and mid week I put on some sweet almond oil. Yes, I blow dry once a week.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
I have been wearing my hair up for work which I think has protected and improved the ends. Between oiling and up dos I don’t plan to trim until September.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
25 inches – I think I have gained a ½ inch in the last month or so and hopefully will gain a just a few more inches. I would love to get to 28 inches!

[Lize]

I thought I would contribute to this thread now. And at the same time bump it. ;)

1) What is your starting color?

Dark/medium ashy blonde. I used to have light blonde hair when I was a kid, as so many others in this thread. I am Swedish.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

The length is highlighted using a home highlighting kit. To keep up the blonde color I have started to use Sun In (Or spray blonde as it is called where I am at). This way I am able to touch up ONLY the roots and do it cheap and at home. I find it really hard to use box dye or highlights to touch up only the roots when I do it at home. I don't wanna spend money on any salon. Also I think the lighting effect I get from the Sun In is enough to get the hair as light as I want. My natural hair color is not that dark.

3) How do you care for your hair?

After four years at LHC I still haven't stuck with a routine. But right now it's CO every day and clarify with an SLS shampoo as needed. I use a drop of coconut oil on my length when hair is damp or dry as a leave in. Always comb with a wide tooth wooden comb and sometimes use a BBB to distribute oil. I never use any heat on my hair and I try to wear it up as much as possible. But I try not to be too strict about it.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

My hair doesn't get yellow/golden tones when highlighted. It's naturally a rather cold color. When I use the Sun In it turns into a golden or strawberry blonde tone. I like that though since I look best in a warm hair color. I have green eyes.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

Right now it's only APL but I look forward to see it grow to great lengths!

[Chamomile betty]

I've let my natural color grow out but I still highlight the top and sides light blond so I hope I count.

1) What is your starting color?
Medium biege/golden blond

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
Blond highlighting kit from Sally Beauty Salon. My mom applies color at the top and sides. My Mom has always done my hair. Except one time I went one time to get my hair highlighted and she did it an awful brown/grey color.
Then she suggested I'd look good with really short hair.

3) How do you care for your hair?
I only wash 2x a week. I do use products with cones to help manage tangles. I use a widetooth comb and never brush. Oil my length with Olive Oil every other day this summer but it will be every day when the weather gets cold and dry. Deep treatment once a week. I wear a lot of low buns since my hair is getting longer. The peacock twist is hard to do now.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
My hair does not get very brassy (I think).

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
I'd say about 1/2" past BS

[spidermom]

Here's the thread!

[Hana212]

1) What is your starting color? I was blonde as a child and when I turned 11 I started highlighting my hair as it began to turn a mousey light brown. based on my regrowth I would say I am naturally dark blonde, light mousey brown.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? Half a head of foils every 8-12 weeks and a full head of blonde foils maybe twice a year.. Always in an ashy light blonde - my hair does tend to fade towards a golden colour though - always has.

3) How do you care for your hair? CWC with Love y'hair aloe vera shampoo and Australian Organics chemically damaged conditioner... I love my coconut oil as well! (and I've recently switched to no heat)

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? I used to solve this (pre LHC) with a silver (purple) shampoo... but upon reading the ingredients I have stopped that.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Almost BSL at the moment (was chin length, beginning of 2009)

Pictures on my profile :)

[Lianna]

I'm only a wannabe long hair, but I hope I can play too! :D

1) What is your starting color?
Dark ash *very ashy* blonde

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
A simple box color from L'oreal, number 7.11 at the moment (varies around that). It says ashy on the box but looks golden/caramel on my hair, the underparts are a warm dark blonde. I used over old highlights, not the stripey ones, some crazy stuff I did a while back, you can't tell it's conventional (stripes?) highlights from the top, only the under side, with some styles.

3) How do you care for your hair?
I wash everyday, I don't see harm from it, in fact makes my hair grow faster than when I was Co-washing. Cones or no cones aren't much of a difference, but I go with cones. I oil daily or every other day, sometimes deep oilings and protein treatments. At this length, really layered shoulder I do sock buns a lot, with occasional half-ups. I quit heat styling a few years ago and plan to stick to it, I don't see damage from dyes but I did from heat, probably because I did it everyday! I only had a bad case of tangles (it was a nightmare) when I bleached my whole head some years ago, other than that I don't tangle almost at all.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
I find honey makes my hair brassy, ashy tone dyes take it away. I've tried blue and purple shampoos, while the purple did nothing for me, the blue took away some yellow, from a day I went too light, I think it was last year. I don't have problems with brassiness with this level and tone (medium ashy blonde).

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
Well, I'm calling it layered shoulder. :D It's a grown out pixie, it's not uneven, but the waves help create an illusion of less choppiness.

I seem kinda too experimental, LOL. Maybe I am. :o

[tigerlily38]

I thought I would contribute to this thread now. And at the same time bump it. ;)

1) What is your starting color?

Dark/medium ashy blonde. I used to have light blonde hair when I was a kid, as so many others in this thread. I am Swedish.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

The length is highlighted using a home highlighting kit. To keep up the blonde color I have started to use Sun In (Or spray blonde as it is called where I am at). This way I am able to touch up ONLY the roots and do it cheap and at home. I find it really hard to use box dye or highlights to touch up only the roots when I do it at home. I don't wanna spend money on any salon. Also I think the lighting effect I get from the Sun In is enough to get the hair as light as I want. My natural hair color is not that dark.

3) How do you care for your hair?

After four years at LHC I still haven't stuck with a routine. But right now it's CO every day and clarify with an SLS shampoo as needed. I use a drop of coconut oil on my length when hair is damp or dry as a leave in. Always comb with a wide tooth wooden comb and sometimes use a BBB to distribute oil. I never use any heat on my hair and I try to wear it up as much as possible. But I try not to be too strict about it.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

My hair doesn't get yellow/golden tones when highlighted. It's naturally a rather cold color. When I use the Sun In it turns into a golden or strawberry blonde tone. I like that though since I look best in a warm hair color. I have green eyes.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

Right now it's only APL but I look forward to see it grow to great lengths!


My hair is lightened with color, but I am going to try the Sun In for my next touch up. You are the second person that I have heard that uses this product.

[MadisonMelrose]

I'm naturally dark blonde- light brown and added more high lights in july. Unfortunately, my hair was not processed long enough and I was left with a head of brassy high and low lights. I tried blue and purple shampoo and conditioners, adding more hilights and ash toners... But as soon as the toner washed out I was back to brass. After 4 months of trying to correct my color I had my hair dyed brown and I plan to start over. Now my hair is brittle, dry, and brown... So not happy!!!
The state of my hair health is making me very frustrated but I started using castor and jojoba oil, monistat, and upped my vitamins. So that, in addition to regularly reading these posts, is helping me feel better.

[princessp]

I had waist length blonde hair for ages. I just went to an Aveda salon and got high and low lights put in (natural light brown hair) about 3x a year. My hair is in better shape now with henna, but my hair was in pretty good shape then too. My hair care was similar to what I do now (no heat styling wash 1x a week with organic products, occasional coconut oiling etc.)

The reason I switched from doing the highlights was I started getting more greys than I felt comfortable with. i had to make a decision to dye more of my hair blonde, go grey, or choose another color. I decided I didn't want to dye my entire head blonde (fearing damage) so I went for natural henna instead. Strange thing is the red actually looks better (and more natural) than my natural (lighter) hair color. But then again blonde suits me really well too, like I said I liked the blonde I was just afraid of doing that much dye/bleach. Anyway, I have no doubt some people can pull it off without too much damage especially if their natural color is not too dark.

ETA: I also use a hair SPF, I really think that helped with damage control when I was blonde.

[Lianna]

I've notice a lot of people have troubles mostly when trying to go darker after the blonde. The color fades, and often doesn't look right. I was in the same boat, the process to go blonde, than back to brown, fading and dying again was horrible.

What I did, before mentioned as "crazy stuff", sorry I didn't know how to describe it, was lightening (bleach) just some chunks of hair, very very thick highlights (2 inches wide) but thin in layer thickness. It isn't much hair bleached but gives the illusion that it is, and after that I used an all over color (blonde) over the faded (bit brassy) brown (all hairs really). That helped me get a medium golden blonde color without bleaching all the dyed brown hair. Since blonde colors fade a lot less for me, I'll stick with it, mainly roots now, plus I like it better. :)

[Bonkers57]

Well, I used to have highlights and used the purple shampoo. I now have all virgin hair, which does nothing for my appearance, so I'm getting highlights as soon as I am able! After all the time I spent growing out the color- oh well, I guess that's what experimentation is all about! :p

[ilovelonghair]

I dyed my hair blond very very long time ago, I did it myself and because I had a perm too my hair couldn't grow past BSL because it was breaking off. And I had no idea of hair care :o
My own color is some sort of medium-darkish blond. This is what blond looked like on me:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1890&pictureid=78775


In my opinion is didn't go with my skin tone, so I am very happy with my red hair now :)

What exactly are brassy tones?

Just to compare, this is my red hair:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=44&pictureid=87191

[Lianna]

Ilovelonghair, I liked both colors on you! :)

Hmm, since we are adding pics, I tried to take some pics of the color, but no matter what I do, it always looks a bit light brown in photos (or people call it light brown). Hair is flipped, I'm only shoulder length, I was having some fun with it, LOL.

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/5861/3flip.jpg

[McFearless]

Would you guys say its less damaging to grow out to desired length and then dye all in one go, or grow long while the hair is already dyed?

[Lianna]

Would you guys say its less damaging to grow out to desired length and then dye all in one go, or grow long while the hair is already dyed?


I think dying after it's grown is less damaging, because the more fragile dyed hair would be less time exposed to the damaging elements. I want this color now so that's not an option for me. :D

You guys think I'm "caramel blonde"?

[ilovelonghair]

Yes I think that looks caramel to me, very beautiful!

[Bianca]

I go for calling it Tawny or Mink, much more appealing! I think it's a very interesting colour, and lesser spotted too as so frequently it is dyed over. Maybe we will be like the red-heads and have a fashionable resurgence in a few years!

-a little off topic- But yes, I think so :p Because you are right, most dye over this color. Now that my hair is all virgin, I dont get why, cause no other color have so much variation and changes so much in different lights. Bleach blonde, in my opinion, is pretty blah compared too dark blonde. No offence :rolleyes:

[shellblue1]

1) What is your starting color? Dark Ash Blonde - about a Level 7 or 6

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? It is almost platinum now - I bleach with either Paul Mitchell Lightener (got this when I used to work for a beauty distributor), Wella Wellite Oil/Cream Lightener, or Wella Wellite Powder Bleach. I typically use 20 volume developer. Last time I bleached I used camellia oil (maybe coconut oil too) right before bleaching and then added camellia oil to the bleach mixture.
For toning, I used Wella Frosty Ash with 20 volume developer and when it was still somewhat yellow at the roots I used Wella Frosty Ash with 10 volume developer.

3) How do you care for your hair? Wash and condition almost every day, sometimes condition only if I washed the day before and didn't use a lot of products, use coconut or camellia oil, use acid rinses

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? Toners and sometimes use a purple shampoo

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? My hair is about 2-3 inches below shoulder - about an inch away from armpit.

[Lianna]

Yes I think that looks caramel to me, very beautiful!

Thank you! :flower: Looks quite orangey (bright honey) on the first pic, but it's mostly the lighting. I'm gonna lighten it a bit with honey now, and buy a blue shampoo. :)

[allmixedup88]

1) dark brown
2) bleach twice with 30 dev
3) protein,cowash, peppermint rinse, NO HEAT! except on bangs
4) double bleach = no brass
5) collar bone I use to have a pixie :-)

[Lianna]

I'm using a 7.2, which makes less yellow. Also shampoos for grey hair do wonders! I notice a more natural hue just using it once.

[Pear Martini]

Well, I used to have highlights and used the purple shampoo. I now have all virgin hair, which does nothing for my appearance, so I'm getting highlights as soon as I am able! After all the time I spent growing out the color- oh well, I guess that's what experimentation is all about! :p

Ooooh, yes purple shampoo is mandatory. It makes such a diffrence.

[Lianna]

My hair is much lighter and looks more natural somehow, less yellow tones since I'm using 7.2. :cheese:

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6108/liannacolor.jpg

[SeaPhoenix]

Bit late to the thread - not sure if anyone's still lurking on this one:

1) What is your starting color? Medium brown - gold undertones. About a level 6 I guess? Maybe 5. Somewhere between that possibly lol. I used to be naturally blonde till about 14 - then it started getting darker...

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? After about 1-2 years of bleaching (about 8 times in a little over a year) to get rid of henna, I started tweaking the bleached tone. Then decided I wanted a length change and chopped most of it off last month. All the bleached henna is gone now - and the color I have is courtesy of Wella Color Charm in 8N (medium natural blonde) mixed with 20 volume developer. I leave it on for about 15 minutes - which is plenty of time to blonde up my roots (probably closer to a 6 than a 5 on natural color level lol).

3) How do you care for your hair? Wash and condition daily using John Frieda's Full Repair - and when I set it in curlers overnight (foam curlers meant to be slept in), I add a dash of Aveda curl style prep before rolling my hair.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? I stay away from the golden and red shades.. even the warm shades in general. There's too much warmth in my natural color already. 8N brings it to a nice natural looking golden blonde.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? As seen in my avatar and profile picture. I cut it a month ago in layers, with the longest layer just brushing my shoulders (curling shrinks it a bit lol). I'm really loving the shorter style though. Think it works better with my face - and my hair isn't so flat/limp/straggly as it is when it's long. (at this length, I love that I can actually curl my hair and have the curls last all day long, without even using gel, mousse, or hair spray!).

It's been a long hair color journey for me, but I'm finally back to my very favorite color: blonde. I was naturally blonde as a kid - it shifted as a teen (so I started dying to keep it blonde), but as an adult I shifted over to reds, and then henna back in 2004, once I started getting sensitive to chemicals (the sensitivity seems to have gone away about 2 years ago - which is when I started working with chemical warfare to get rid of the henna lol).

[annamoonfairy]

I am naturally blonde but wanted my hair to have more pop to it so about eight years ago I bleached it platinum blonde. It is now at lower hip level and very healthy. I maintain by only bleaching the root and only washing twice a week. I think good nutrition plays a large factor on hair and skin health.

[battles]

Posting this for my friend. She doesn't have an account. :p


1) medium brown, with a bit of a red base.

2) i use different things. sometimes i use hair lifting packets with 30 or 40 volume developer, but lately i've been using john frieda's foaming color. i also always do a deep conditioner treatment after i color, and also once a week in between colorings.

3) i guess that i kind of answered it in number two. apart from a deep conditioner once a week, i dont really do anything else special. i dont use a lot of heat (i flat-iron maybe once a month, if that) at all, so that helps a bit. i was pretty lucky in the hair department so i dont need to wash it every day and it doesnt get greasy, which helps too since too much shampooing can stress your hair out, from what ive heard.

4) my hair doesn't get brassy per se, but i do need to color it more often than other girls who have less red in their hair to start with. those blue shampoo things dont really help me much, but i always make sure to stick with an ashy color as opposed to a honey color when i use lifting kits that also add color. i also avoid that reddish tint by using bleaching packets when im feeling extra red!

5) i have no idea how long it really is since it's in waves/loose curls a lot of the time; but when it's curled (see pic) the front later reaches to just below my breasts, and the back reaches about at the small of my back.



Here's the picture.

http://i44.tinypic.com/veyakg.jpg

[misspurdy06]

1) What is your starting color?

(1a) Light brown/Dark Blonde

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

(2a) Sun-in and chamomile tea.

3) How do you care for your hair?

(3a) Water Only, sometimes conditioner (this winter has been drying).

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

(4a) If my hair gets brassy I get a toner or I lighten it till it goes away.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

(5a) Tailbone.


http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x223/misspurd06/croppedlongshot.jpg

[Lipbalmbabe]

1.mousey brown
2.perfect 10 color 9a
3.oil,oil,and more oil
4.brassiness is solved with purple shampoo and a packet of Malibu
5.almost bsl

[Apriori]

I guess I don't really belong in this thread because I'm actually trying to grow out my natural hair color but I used to have almost waist lenght bleached blonde hair, and it was in a pretty good condition.
I bleached it myself but I used a very mild bleach so it took me a few times (I bleached once a month), to really get it blonde and I used an ash blonde to color to prevent it from getting too yellow-ish. I never used heat on my hair but I didn't use conditioner or did any deep treatments either. My natural color is dark blonde/light brown.

Picture is 3 years old:
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5168/dsc00417uz.jpg

[unknown]

I am naturally blonde but wanted my hair to have more pop to it so about eight years ago I bleached it platinum blonde. It is now at lower hip level and very healthy. I maintain by only bleaching the root and only washing twice a week. I think good nutrition plays a large factor on hair and skin health.

Your hair is exactly the color I wish I could have. :blossom: Too bad my hair is almost black...

[Shermie Girl]

Yeah, baby! I can finally participate in this thread, at long, long, long last! :cheese:

1) What is your starting color?

I am dead bang between a level 5 (light brown) and 6 (dark blonde) with about... 35% or so grey/silver.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

I use 40 volume creme developer and a high lift tint in ultra light ash blonde then tone, again with about a level 8 ash to cool my hair's natural tendency to pull too brassy and a bit red. I am a golden blonde, in spite of the ash tint and toner. It's just how my hair rolls. :eyebrows:

3) How do you care for your hair?

Shampoo, conditioner, plenty of coney leave ins. Purple shampoo for helping to discourage brass. Oil... The usual. :D

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

Ash toner and purple shampoo. My new blonde is still a work in progress.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

"Can I call this waist?" length.

I am so happy to finally be blonde, again. It's been a long time coming and I have been over a lot of bumps in the road on the way here. My colour isn't my "perfect dream blonde" just yet. I am tweaking it but I am pleased with how it looks so far and every time I look in my mirror, I sigh with happiness and feel as if my hair has finally come home. :hollie:

[whitedove]

I have a few questions about purple shampoo and this seems a logical place to ask.

How often do you use it?
How long do you leave it on? Recommended time or longer?
Do you use the purple condish too?
After how many washes before you noticed it had taken effect?

Would love some advice, thanks in advance for any tips :)

[UpNorth]

1) What is your starting color? light brown

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? highlights at a salon every third month, just the roots though! The highlights blends pretty well into my natural shade so I have no problems waiting.

3) How do you care for your hair? I just wash it 1-2 times a week, comb it with a wide-tooth comb, I sometimes use coconut oil. From now on i will wear it up more and try to use only 100% natural ingredients though, just 'cause I don´t want chemicals near my body. I also trim it every sixth months or so, but my hairdresser is great!

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? If it gets too brassy I use a toner, but that´s happened just a few times since I started 4 years ago. Its a little goldish in sunlight though, but I can live with that!

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? about 27 inches I think!

http://i42.tinypic.com/2csfnsm.jpg

[ibleedlipstick]

http://i42.tinypic.com/2csfnsm.jpg


Your hair is absolutely gorgeous! I am so envious of your awesome blondness!

[leslissocool]

You do not need to have virgin hair to feel secure in yourself and "fully embrace who you are". It's possible to want to play around with hair colour AND have great self esteem.
This thread is about celebrating bottle blondes, not implying that they do not accept or love themselves.

YEP! I had green hair (like, fishtank green!) and I didn't do it because of any kind of self steem. I wanted to dye my hair blue, picked up the wrong color, and instead of crying about it I rocked the green on the bottom of my hair :cheese: Every time I think about it, I laugh. I think I had such confidence AND self esteem to actually just go with it, weather natural or not. Hair color to me is not such a big deal, and bottle blond can look really gorgeous!


Exactly, and you know what they say? If you want to do something, talk to the people who are successful at it, not the ones who have failed.

YEP! Don't ask me about bottle blond, mine look AWFUL!!! It was multi tone, it broke off and people STILL think it was extensions on the pictures, and when I cut it off they thought it was a wig!!!

[kidari]

I had a darker strawberry blonde effect for many years with great success. My starting color is dark brown so hopefully this could help some people. I went to a great colorist. She did my entire head in foils for highlights that she would later tone for the brassiness. All of the hair that was not in foils she would dye it a light auburn color so that my "base" color would blend with the lighter highlights since it would look like a disaster with my real hair color as a base. This cost almost a car payment though. In order to save me money and save my hair she would touch up the roots (every 3-4 weeks because it looked really bad and obvious) with just the auburn color. Every other time she would weave in the foil highlights and touch up the roots with the auburn. She would do roots only but maybe once every six months or so she would weave the highlights in all the way down because the effect would have faded by then. I would also come in for deep conditioning treatments and I listened to her advice on care and products.

I just shampoo roots only and condition length and always did a deep treatment once a week. She told me to avoid oils because they pull color out of the hair. I stretched washes to every other day and used dry shampoo in between (my hair is very oily). I always used a leave in conditioning treatment on the ends and a coney serum as well. I never brushed back then, I only used a wide toothed comb after washing. I even heat styled pretty often and was able to grow to MBL and maintain there.

At the end of the day it just got to be too much for me to keep up. It was really fun but right now I enjoy making my natural color more dramatic by dying it jet black instead of wearing my natural dark brown.

[Sisgoldenhair65]

Ohhhh, me!! I love being a blonde. I like to think my hair suits me because I have blue eyes and light skin and eyebrows. Most people think I am a natural blonde (that's if I'm not lazy letting my roots go).
My starting color is light brown/dark blonde.
I get my golden color at the salon with root touch-ups every 4-6 weeks and foils once a year.
I CO my hair about 2x per week.
I haven't encountered any problems with my color and my hair is currently almost waist length.
I get loads if compliments on my color and really I don't see a lot of people my age with golden blonde hair so it makes me feel unique!!

[EtherealDoll]

My hair is dark blonde right now, but I'm trying to lighten it one or two shades.

1) What is your starting color?
I decided to go blonde after I dyed my hair a too dark brown colour - it was level 2, I think.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
Dye my hair with level 9 ashy colour and volume 30 developer.

3) How do you care for your hair?
I wash it once or twice a week, use a shampoo for blonde hair(Garnier) and a conditioner for dry hair(from Oriflame), do chamomile tea rinses once in a fortnight, use shea butter or jojoba oil on the length and ends, and burdock or almond oil on the scalp. I brush it with a BBB when it's dry and comb it with a wide-toothed comb when it's wet. And I let it air dry.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
Chamomile tea rinses give my hair a nice tone.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
The longest layer is 30" and the shortest are the face framing layers and bangs but I'm not sure if I'm going to grow those out.

[afu]

I don't know how i didn't find this sooner!

1) What is your starting color?

dark, ashy blonde (it was very light as a child)

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

I have bleach highlights done at the salon every 8-10weeks, i normally have half a head of foils with a full head about once or twice a year. I wish i could just do it myself with one treatment all over but i'm too scared it would look too un-natural and blocky on me

3) How do you care for your hair?

CO washing technique (single stage), normal conditioner applied to lengths as a leave in and coconut oil when damp. Tangle teezer when damp, finger comb when dry.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

I used to use revlon color creme in platinum every few weeks to keep away the brassiness. I stopped using it while i got my hair used to my new LHC regime but my hair has now gone quite golden which doesn't go well at all with my cool complexion. I've ordered some La riche Directions blonde toner to try and fix it. I shall update :)

I straightened my hair for about 3 years and stopped at christmas 2011, no heat since (except occasionally on my fringe if it misbehaves). Embracing my natural curl is definitly helping my hair condition

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

somewhere between bsl and waist when damp, when the curls dry they tend to hover around bsl but sometimes spring right back to apl!

I hate how dull my natural colour is, i think the lighter blonde suits me much more. I have pale skin and blue eyes and a general cool complexion.

After what others have said about how most europeans can get away with blonde, thats one thing i don't agree with however! I'm english and the majority of people i know are english or european - most of them wouldn't suit blonde at all, even warmer shades. I don't think it's as simple as matching a decent to a colour, but i do agree that everyone should be free to experiment with hair colour without being judged for it. and just because your colour isn't totally natural doesn't mean it can't suit you

[UpNorth]

I don't know how i didn't find this sooner!

After what others have said about how most europeans can get away with blonde, thats one thing i don't agree with however! I'm english and the majority of people i know are english or european - most of them wouldn't suit blonde at all, even warmer shades. I don't think it's as simple as matching a decent to a colour, but i do agree that everyone should be free to experiment with hair colour without being judged for it. and just because your colour isn't totally natural doesn't mean it can't suit you

I agree! I don´t know why it is more acceptable to henna your hair bright red here than do highlights a shade lighter or two . Sure, its more damaging to bleach hair but I for example never bleach hair that has been bleached before and my hair is healthy except from damaged caused by a stupid hairdresser who dyed my hair dark brown when I wanted it one shade darker than medium blonde.

A change is a change, whats the difference between wanting blonder hair and wanting darker /redder? You do it cause you think it looks better on you/in general

[afu]

I agree! I don´t know why it is more acceptable to henna your hair bright red here than do highlights a shade lighter or two . Sure, its more damaging to bleach hair but I for example never bleach hair that has been bleached before and my hair is healthy except from damaged caused by a stupid hairdresser who dyed my hair dark brown when I wanted it one shade darker than medium blonde.

A change is a change, whats the difference between wanting blonder hair and wanting darker /redder? You do it cause you think it looks better on you/in general

Totally agree, thats one thing i dislike about the forum - how the trend seems to be towards henna and anything bleach related is totally horrific and shocking!

I apply coconut oil to my hair before i get my highlights topped up (same as you, i don't bleach over bleach, just the roots) and the coconut oil chelates the free radicals produced by bleach and therefore minimising damage (thanks to ktani for that one). Since i started doing that ive not seen any damage to the newly bleached area.

[Shermie Girl]

I have a few questions about purple shampoo and this seems a logical place to ask.

How often do you use it?
How long do you leave it on? Recommended time or longer?
Do you use the purple condish too?
After how many washes before you noticed it had taken effect?

Would love some advice, thanks in advance for any tips :)

I use two different brands of purple shampoo. I use John Freida Sheer Blonde Color Correcting shampoo (in the purple tube) for regular washing. This shampoo is a medium purple, not as pigmented as something like Shimmer Lights. I do two shampooings and don't usually leave it in. I condition with a mix of the matching conditioner, which has very little of the purple pigment and is lavender in tone, and whatever other coney stuff I am using at the time.

Every ten days to two weeks or so, I wash with the Sally's generic version of Clairol Shimmer Lights. This stuff is an intense deep purple. I apply, suds up and clip my hair up and leave it in at least three minutes. Rinse then condition.

Purple shampoos aren't terribly conditioning, in fact they are a tad drying so lots of conditioning is necessary. I started seeing results after a few weeks of consistent use and I like my hair more and more, the longer I use them. IMO, purple shampoos are the stuff and I can't live without them. :D

[afu]

.
IMO, purple shampoos are the stuff and I can't live without them. :D

In the past I too had this opinion, but since my hair got so much better from a CO regime im reluctant to go back to shampoo and the purple conditioners hardly seem to have any colour at all compared to shampoo which is a huge pity :(

Has anyone used Directions white toner?

ETA: shermiegirl your hair colour in your sig is beautiful :) makes me want to try a full colour

[spidermom]

I think that bleach is a horror for many people, especially those with fine hair.
My hair won't tolerate it, so I had to wait for age to bring me silver, which I like very-very much.

[afu]

I think that bleach is a horror for many people, especially those with fine hair.
My hair won't tolerate it, so I had to wait for age to bring me silver, which I like very-very much.

I love silver, literally can't wait for my hair to age!!

[Fantak]

1) What is your starting color?
Very dark brown

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
A very good colourist!I get it professionally done because it's such a big change

3) How do you care for your hair?
I CWC (non SLS shampoo) and oil it as soon as it's dry. I don't heat style at all ever. I'm very very very gentle when combing and detangling. I've just started braiding it and putting it in updos again, that was what really helped when I was growing my hair before dying it.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
My main problems have been dryness and an awful two tone in my hair from where I dyed it dark brown and then dyed it back to blond (it seems only I can see it though). The dryness actually got 20 times worse after that, but is getting better with all the care I'm currently putting into it. I haven't found a permanent solution to either I'm afraid. Any suggestions are welcome.


5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
Tailbone but very thin see through ends from the waist down (was this way even before I dyed it, not sure if it's gotten worse or not).

[lilbeef]

I think that bleach is a horror for many people, especially those with fine hair.
My hair won't tolerate it, so I had to wait for age to bring me silver, which I like very-very much.

Just have to tell u I think I admire your hair the most on here! It's what I'm going for! And the silver is stunning :) wow

[spookyghost]

Yeah, baby! I can finally participate in this thread, at long, long, long last! :cheese:

1) What is your starting color?

I am dead bang between a level 5 (light brown) and 6 (dark blonde) with about... 35% or so grey/silver.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

I use 40 volume creme developer and a high lift tint in ultra light ash blonde then tone, again with about a level 8 ash to cool my hair's natural tendency to pull too brassy and a bit red. I am a golden blonde, in spite of the ash tint and toner. It's just how my hair rolls. :eyebrows:

3) How do you care for your hair?

Shampoo, conditioner, plenty of coney leave ins. Purple shampoo for helping to discourage brass. Oil... The usual. :D

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

Ash toner and purple shampoo. My new blonde is still a work in progress.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

"Can I call this waist?" length.

I am so happy to finally be blonde, again. It's been a long time coming and I have been over a lot of bumps in the road on the way here. My colour isn't my "perfect dream blonde" just yet. I am tweaking it but I am pleased with how it looks so far and every time I look in my mirror, I sigh with happiness and feel as if my hair has finally come home. :hollie:

Oh my gosh your color is perfect to me:D Im trying to get my natural ash blonde color back but if I wasnt doing that your color is the color I would want!

[Shermie Girl]

In the past I too had this opinion, but since my hair got so much better from a CO regime im reluctant to go back to shampoo and the purple conditioners hardly seem to have any colour at all compared to shampoo which is a huge pity :(

Has anyone used Directions white toner?

ETA: shermiegirl your hair colour in your sig is beautiful :) makes me want to try a full colour

I wish that they made conditioner that had more purple pigment in it, too. I am going to try making my own with toner and conditioner and see how it works. :D

Purple shampoo isn't moisturizing at all. :lol: But I really like how it works for my hair so I use it and condition and oil the stuffing out of it. :D

Thank you for your kind words about my hair. :flowers:


Oh my gosh your color is perfect to me:D Im trying to get my natural ash blonde color back but if I wasnt doing that your color is the color I would want!

Thank you so much. :D I am currently working on cooling my overall tone down a bit. I am going for something that is more neutral, leaning ashy to better blend in my silvers. :D

[justgreen]

If you don't want to buy the purple/blue shampoos and /or the Sun-IN all the time, a good thing to use is the HALO rinse.

HALO Rinse Leave In:

1 Tbsp Honey
1 Tbsp Aloe vera gel
1 Tbsp Lemon juice
1/2 Tsp Oil
1 Tsp vinegar
8 cups distilled water (about 2 liters)

I use a gallon container that can be shaken. Mix all ingredients. I keep the container in the fridge and right before washing my hair/taking a shower, I shake the container well and pour out around 8 ounces in a plastic cup (shower safe). After washing and conditioning well, I pour the HALO on my hair and work it through, then towel using a microfiber towel. I don't rinse this out. The distilled water helps remove any minerals if you have hard water. The lemon juice helps 'brighten' your blonde and the honey and aloe (you can omit the aloe) help give excellent moisture, while the white vinegar helps the ph of your scalp.

[ArienEllariel]

bumpity bumpity.


I want to do this myself. Just have to decide if a boxed bleach/dye thing is a good idea and which one is decent.

[dainaleeo2]

If you don't want to buy the purple/blue shampoos and /or the Sun-IN all the time, a good thing to use is the HALO rinse.

HALO Rinse Leave In:

1 Tbsp Honey
1 Tbsp Aloe vera gel
1 Tbsp Lemon juice
1/2 Tsp Oil
1 Tsp vinegar
8 cups distilled water (about 2 liters)

I use a gallon container that can be shaken. Mix all ingredients. I keep the container in the fridge and right before washing my hair/taking a shower, I shake the container well and pour out around 8 ounces in a plastic cup (shower safe). After washing and conditioning well, I pour the HALO on my hair and work it through, then towel using a microfiber towel. I don't rinse this out. The distilled water helps remove any minerals if you have hard water. The lemon juice helps 'brighten' your blonde and the honey and aloe (you can omit the aloe) help give excellent moisture, while the white vinegar helps the ph of your scalp.

Ah this sounds excellent!
Does it help remove gold tones or brassiness? I am currently dealing with that issue & purple shampoos were just not working for me. They never have, really. My hair is a dirty, darker blonde bordering on light brown, but I cannot get rid of the warm tone in my hair. Until I can grow it out/re-dye it, I needed something to get rid of the darn gold, so this sounds great :)

I have slightly longer than pixie length hair, though, so I'll have to make a smaller batch haha.

[afu]

ArienEllariel personally i always get mine done at the salon as i have fine hair which im too scared of damaging by doing it myself. I've heard that the best way to do it yourself is to but the bleach powder and developer sepereratly and mix yourself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A2rFOFdy7A&feature=BFa&list=WL1E6B349468F0CC0E

[Sisgoldenhair65]

Am I the only person who likes gold tones in my hair?? *sigh*

[cheetahfast]

Am I the only person who likes gold tones in my hair?? *sigh*

I like the golden tones too!! I had a golden blonde color for the longest time.


I'll be going blonde in about a week and a half...I can't wait to join this thread!

[Sisgoldenhair65]

Yay, Cheetah!! I just feel like anything flat or ashy toned would age me. I'm sure it's just a mindset but I'm afraid to go ash. Can't wait to see your new color!!! :)

[palaeoqueen]

I no longer bleach my hair but I've really enjoyed reading this thread - yay for beautiful healthy bottle blonde hair :D

I'm a natural dark ash blonde and bleached my hair from aged 13 (I was a natural platinum blonde as a child too) until last summer. I have a very pale cool yellow skin tone and I look terrible with any warmth in my hair. In 18 years of bleaching I only ever had one stylist who gave me the lovely silvery blonde I wanted, I was so sad to move away from him. Anyway, this was one of the reasons I finally decided to go back to my natural colour, I was spending a fortune and battling damage and didn't even like the result! My hair was in pretty good condition, as far as I remember, when it was silvery though, I'll try to find a picture if anyone's interested in seeing it.

[ApatheticFairy]

1) What is your starting color?
I was bright strawberry blonde as a baby, turned honey-blonde, and then a weird Red-brown-grey. x.x It was one of those medium not-dark, not-light colors that nobody can identify.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
Various box dyes, done in stages from dyed red, back to a semblance of my natural color and then lightened back to blonde. I tried bleaching myself and then had to cut it all off. The box dye isn't as harsh on my hair if I spread it out to every 3-4 months. It always turns gold-blonde on me no matter how ashy I dye it.... I want to lighten it to an ash-silver blonde but fear it'd look bad. I consider myself cool-toned because I'm extremely pink, but my eyes are warm-toned and tend more towards green than in this picture. Any ideas on whether the ashy color would look better? I'm rosacea-prone and am a little scared.

http://i45.tinypic.com/ml047b.jpg

3) How do you care for your hair?
I switch my routine a lot. I love the Suave Professionals line and use the rosemary mint shampoo with the almond-shea butter conditioner. I'm still experimenting with olive oil on the ends, but my hair loves cones.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
I get crunchy, dry ends sometimes and leave in conditioner overnight. But I'm considering trying purple/ash rinses from Sally's after reading this thread... how does one use rinses, anyhow? My hair gets less wavy when I dye it, and I'm trying to fix that, too... I like the waves. >.<

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
about two inches past collarbone length. I had to trim about 6 inches off from the picture.

[afu]

Welcome apatheticfairy :) your hair cololour looks lovely, but i think you could easily get away with going ashy too. I am pale with pinky tones and i just have to go ash/silver - my face looks bright red and washed out (not sure how thats possible at the same time!) if i go for golden shades

[RapunzelKat]

Am I the only person who likes gold tones in my hair?? *sigh*

Ooh, me!! :D With the exception of my roots, which are overdue for their Sun-In treatment, my hair is all gold :eyebrows: There's a couple length pics in my album that show my color well, as well as my avatar pic. You can see it a little in the sock bun in my sig pic, but that photo came out a bit darker than my hair is IRL.

***officially joins. When I'm on the computer and not posting from my phone, I'll come back and post my routine ;)

[Wild Strawberry]

After thinking about doing it for a year or so, I ligtened my hair from dark brown to light blonde, some time ago. I did a lot of research before that, but I still don't know for sure what's the least damaging way. I know about coconut oiling, but I'm not sure about dye/bleach, since there are so many different opinions on that.

My hair is a1, fine, medium ponytail thickness, and a bit more than BSL
8% (I think it's 25 vol.) peroxide+bleach got my hair to a light yellow streaks
for regrowth I used box dye platinum with 6% (it's 20 vol.) it lightened to a more orange shade, but the platinum toned it down a bit - first I used in on the whole hair, next time I just used it just on the roots
I tried using wash out toners, but they wash out pretty fast. And purple shampoo.
There is a lot of yellow in my lightest hair (ends), so I don't know if I could make it to platinum, it gets kind of greyish after too much toner.

I want to know what is the least damaging way of lightening hair?
Is it best to use bleach with low volume just once and then just touch up the roots, or is it better to use just dye with low vol. peroxide more times, to get it light enough. Some expert told me, that it's better to use high vol. once, than low many times (even if month apart), because opening the cuticle only one time with higher vol. is less damaging, than many times with low vol. But this goes against my sense, I feel you fry the hair more with fast hair lifting in one session. I'm really confused. I don't mind having a bit of ombre effect on the roots, just want to know what is the least damaging way?

I also have to say that it's all true about the skin tone - it doesn't fit anymore, I look a bit ruddy in the face now :) I'm a paler winter type, I think. Maybe I'll get some tan in the summer and it will look better. And now I look better with different coloured clothes. But I just had to do it, and will do it for some more time, just to get it out of my sistem. I needed a change so much.

[jacqueline101]

I used to dye my hair with Clairol Balsm hair dye I don't think you can get it anymore. Mine grew healthy it was nape of neck starting point one year it was bsl shampoo and conditioner used was the old Clairol rainforest essence. I never did much to it until it grew out. It was straight and healthy. I shampoo and condition daily.

[Wild Strawberry]

What I really want to know is what causes less damage;
bleach vs. dye
high vol. peroxide used once vs. low vol. used many times, to get it light enough?

[afu]

I'd say it would be less damaging to bleach oncwe with high vol using coconut to protect. Since using coconut oil to coat my hair 1hr before bleaching i have no new visible damage :) I have my roots bleached (highlights) every 8 weeks using this coconut oil method (as researched by LHC's Ktani)

[Seeshami]

Original hair color:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/BrokenCagedBird/62044_1188888618923_3845499_n_zps8889cf86.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BrokenCagedBird/media/62044_1188888618923_3845499_n_zps8889cf86.jpg.html )

Dye:
Good true to color picture of my blonde.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/BrokenCagedBird/97a56382-77e1-4208-9201-be04796eaabb_zpsbe426a0a.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BrokenCagedBird/media/97a56382-77e1-4208-9201-be04796eaabb_zpsbe426a0a.jpg.html)

3-4 Inches of roots. Majority length is one of the Dream blonde- ash blonde dye kits with Ardel no red in it. and of course burgundy ends. (which are not henna anymore because it won't freakin stick)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/BrokenCagedBird/316146_10151608007532118_217971054_n_zps20d7a66d.j pg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BrokenCagedBird/media/316146_10151608007532118_217971054_n_zps20d7a66d.j pg.html)

care- I switch between a protein conditioner and a moisture conditioner depending on how my hair feels and I always try to leave it in for a few minutes. Constant s&d, weekly warm oils and generally every other day washes. Maybe every two months ACV rinse.

[Golden_Valkyrie]

1) What is your starting color?

The darkest blonde imaginable I should think. That is, certainly, not to say brown. The darkest blonde and the lightest brown, though similar in dark/lightness ARE different. I am that ashy, dirty, silvery, pewter, greeny, grey dark blonde!


2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

Schwartzkopf Igora 12.1 high lift- this was applied all over once (6 years ago) onto virgin hair peppered with bleach (white) highlights. After this I have only ever had my root area done.

3) How do you care for your hair?

No heat of any kind save for when I have to have my, necessarily, dried at the salon, but even then it is a 'finger only' dry when it is wet and on no account is my stylish allowed to straighten it.

Given the length, it is prone to tangling even when let down for merely minutes. Because of this, i keep my hair in a bun. Spin Pins by Goody are invaluable for this purpose given that they are seamless and only two or three are needed to hold the hair in place.

I am pro-cones. Thus pantene is the only conditioner I will use to keep my hair detangled and give it plenty of slip. To this end, I only really detangle in the shower when conditioner is on and even then it is only with fingers. Once out of the shower I run some olive oil through the ends to seal them and pop it up in a bun to dry without it tangling. Sadly, this leaves me a something of a victim to hygral fatigue (over-moisturising causing limp, gummy or mushy hair.) I try to add a bit of protein conditioner to my usual. My choice is Gliss Repair + Volume for fine hair. This has no extra silicone (scary!) and thus I would not use it alone, but I figure that there's no need adding extra to my already 'coney' Pantene. In the UK i can get this from Bodycare for 99p. This is excellent as it lists hydrolyzed collagen as its 3rd ingredient and hydrolyzed keratin as its 4th. It must, therefore, be rather potent, and super cheap!

As aforementioned, I used olive oil to gloss and seal and such. All tools must be seamless- I use a Kent paddle brush and occasionally one of their BBBs.

I always have scissors (decent sharp ones) to hand when brushing. Though I don't get split ends, after knots I might get those right angled ends that may become split ends. I trim these.

My toning shampoo of choice is Touch of Silver-- again it is cheap (£2.50) in the UK.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

Sadly, my colour is not taking so well any more. It is not terrible. I assume it is because the front third of my hair is perceptibly darker than the back. This has only been the case in the past two years.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
36 in

[UP Lisa]

Actually, most natural Redheads have Cool coloring.



Cool-toned skin usually looks better with ash-blond hair (no reds or golds). Any tone that hints at red can look wrong. My once-blond brother bleached his hair once as an adult, and it was a terrible mistake.

For me, I started out with medium reddish-brown hair, and I need the red tones or my skin looks gray, like a corpse! I tried an ash-blond color once, and it was ghastly. I thought I did something wrong, so I tried on an ash-blond wig, and it was still ghastly. Therefore, when I bleach my hair and the golden-red tones appear, it is a big improvement over my current natural color, which went dull with age to a truly mousy brown (same gray skin problem). I tried growing out a couple of inches 2 years ago and went right back to the bleach, with great delight!:D

[rose313]

1) What is your starting color? Light/medium ashy brown.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? I do it myself using Ion High Lift dye from Sally's and 20 developer. I only lighten my roots, if i want to do anything with the length it's semis or tone only. No bleach.

3) How do you care for your hair? Right now, I'm loving Joico moisture recovery shampoo and conditions, Joico K-pak, and Aphogee keratin reconstructor. I never blow dry and only straighten about once a month or less.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? It took forever for me to learn how to tone because no products were working for me. Purple shampoo doesn't work, Wella toner turns my hair gray, Manic Panic Virgin Snow didn't work, so I've resorted to using a neutral blonde semi to reduce brassiness. I used to use Clairol Natural Instincts which was lovely, but they recently started adding peroxide. So I'm going to now be making my own toner from a tiny bit of Manic Panic Ultraviolet and conditioner.
5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? 29 inches. I went blonde in 2008 and have been growing it since 2009, when I started at 17 inches.

[MsBubbles]

1) So I'm going to now be making my own toner from a tiny bit of Manic Panic Ultraviolet and conditioner.[/B]

That's cool. I'd be interested to see how that works out. Did you ever try those little bottles of blue/violet drops from the Beauty Supply stores? I wonder if the manic panic will be less drying than the other blue/violet products?

[BlondeWavyGal]

I would reccommend an ash or honey blonde. But, if your gonna go blonde you really need to commit. Its difficult getting the red colors out, usually takes alot of sliver toner/ more bleaching. You will have to color your roots every few months and your hair wont be as strong as it could be in future.

[spidermom]

Here it is!

[Jennielee88]

Thank you!
Love this thread, I've painstakingly read through every post :)
I'm one of them dreaded bottle light blondes with darker eyebrows and brown eyes ;) I don't care it looks good on me and everybody says it suits me :) I've got pale skin so I keep my blonde ashy.

1) What is your starting color? Level 4 brunette with red tones

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? Igora royal special blonde with 40vol developer and matrix SPV toner over the top. Until recently I was using bleach with 30vol, but I found this too damaging.

3) How do you care for your hair? With Lee Stafford hair growth deep conditioner, and redken extreme anti- snap leave in treatment. I use keratin protein oil once my hairs dried to make it super shiny and soft. Occasionally coconut oil :) I rarely aye heat anymore but when I have to I use a heat protection spray. I never brush, only comb with a wide tooth comb and never when it's wet! I use a mild shampoo such as Johnson's baby shampoo 0:-)

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? Matrix SPV toner is great. I use touch of silver twice weekly shampoo but only once a week.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? Lower back

[PinkyCat]

I can play now!

1) What is your starting color? Level 3 black/brown. Yeah boy.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? I do it myself - so far. I've bleached and toned the whole length 6 times in the last month to remove black dye. Yes that sounds horrifically scary - but my hair was in *perfect* condition to begin with. So it really isn't too horribly mangled now. It's a buttery cool blonde. I used LOreal Quick Blue with 30 vol & Wella Color Charm toner in T-18 with 10 vol.

3) How do you care for your hair? So far it seems my hair loves to be slathered in olive oil before any other leave ins. I'm experimenting yet with conditioners - think my hair is still easily overconditioned so I do WO when I don't feel too particularly gnarly. I love Shiny Silver condish from Sally.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? Nope. I've solved nothing. I'm just happy I've gotten to the even level of lift I'm currently at. Now to maintain.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair? 40 inches to start - trimmed about 3 inches, so about 37" right now.

I'm itching to run out and buy some Redken Blonde Glam or Joico but I seriously don't want to over condition or protein. I'm a newb with this so any help is muchly welcomed. :)

[HazelnutCurls]

Beautiful blonde hair everyone!

[PorcelainHorror]

1) What is your starting color?
Level 8 with neutral tones

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
I use Matrix hair color. 1 ounch 10A and 1 10N with 20 vol. left on for 45 minutes

3) How do you care for your hair?
No heat styling, coconut oil, and sulfate free shampoo and conditioner. I wash every other day.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
Doing monthly clarifying treatments (my favorite is the Malibu treatment) keeps the brassiness from mineral deposits under control. Also using a purple toned conditioner every so often helps tone down any brass that might find it's way through.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
Refer to signature picture :]

[Babyfine]

*sigh* I LOVED having highlights, (had them done at the salon) but I could never grow my hair long and keep it healthy, no matter what I did(no heat,treat like fine lace,ect) My fine fragile hair suffered more breakage than it does now and I had issues with fly-aways in the winter which I don't have now. However this was prior to 2006 when I didn't know all the things I've learned now since being on the boards. Plus it got expensive since I was always having to touch up my medium brown roots. However ,I've been thinking about highlights again(2 week rule, 2 week rule) since I have a lot more grey now, and less brown. (thus root grow out would be less obvious).
Natural shade-level 3- babyfine, fraqile and quite wavy so keeping healthy for me would be a challenge.

[goldenlady]

Love this thread! So much negativity around bottle blondes.. Yet many people believe I'm naturally this blonde (evil laugh)

[B]1) What is your starting color?

A very light red.. Nearly blonde.. it's debateable!

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
Bleach my roots a few shades using a oil-based bleaching colourant.

3) How do you care for your hair?
Using a BBB brush.. Deep conditioning... Never brushing when wet... Cold setting on dryer.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
The brassiness kind of suits my skin-tone :) But I've found that using a spray of peppermint tea can counter really brassy tones.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
Waist length - but growing... :D

[Sofialu]

I'm no longer bottle blonde as of this year I've dyed mine a light brown/dark blonde with the intent of going back to my natural shade of dull ash blonde. But I had been dying my hair blonde without using Pre lightener or special blue/purple shampoos for the last 16 years and I never looked a fake blonde unless I put on colours described as "natural" blonde. I had most success with beige blonde in all honesty, I'd use a colour described as light "ash" blonde if I ever felt I needed to take away any brassiness but at first his made any of my non brassy bits of hair look very grey so I had to be careful to only apply it to any brassy bits. In all my years I have only ever used head and shoulders shampoo/alternating with Pantene/L'Oreal etc occasionally and the conditioner that comes with the hair dye has always been fab for completely de tangling and leaving my hair silky and shiny. I might be fortunate that way. Also I found if my hair got greasy and it was near the time it was due another colour treatment I would keep it as clean as possible as the grease exacerbated any brassy tones.

[SkyChild]

Hmm interesting. I'm hoping to go blonde and then ginger from dark brown so we'll see how it goes. Should I dye it as I'm growing or wait until it's really long and then dye it?

[Sofialu]

Skychild if you dont mind waiting then I would personally grow your hair to the length you want it to be and then dye it all in one go as you will then be able to keep trimming off your old dry ends. I found with mine that because I was trying to grow it I wasn't getting the drier ends cut/trimmed off so they would absorb the dye noticeably more than my roots and often I'd have a different tone on my newly dyed root area than my ends.

[MadeiraD]

I'm here for my hubby so I'll answer the questions for him (he's been trying to grow his APL length hair out to MBL or waist, but likes a very light platinum blonde... so it's hard)

1) What is your starting color?
Medium brown

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
Double process bleach, then use manic panic virgin white toner, and a purple shampoo, go over with fanciful purple rinse in ultra white mink.

3) How do you care for your hair?
Wash very rarely (mostly with root touch ups) groom with a BBB, use a tangle teezer for tangles, use scrunchies for ponytails and keep it in a pony at night and in the shower, sleep on satin pillow cases. Coconut oil treatments pre bleaching and most nights, and chi silk infusion serum to minimize frizz

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
We're working on solving brassiness and breakage (he wants his hair basically white/silver, it's hard to achieve, and honestly I think a warmer blonde works better on his complexion but he won't listen to me)

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
a bit past APL

[Larki]

Am I the only person who likes gold tones in my hair?? *sigh*
Hehe I do! Not a bottle blonde though. Mine is all gold, but I have recently noticed that parts of my hair are starting to get an orange tinge - I'm blaming the hard water in the dorms. I think I'll try using a toning shampoo once a week this summer, to kill the orange.

I actually remember being little and reading fairy tales, and all the blonde characters were described as having golden hair, so that's always what's I've associated blonde with; blonde = gold. I had platinum blonde hair at the time, and I remember wishing my hair was gold, not white. ;) I guess I got my wish?

[kidari]

I've been blonde before, but that was a long time before I discovered LHC. I went to a professional colorist to achieve my blonde back then but I was also super mainstream with my hair care and styling routine back then. I've been dying my med-dark brown hair black for years and went blonde by myself at home. It took more than 6 months to achieve my color I have currently. I've learned a lot along the way and thought I would contribute since reading through these threads have helped me loads.

1) What is your starting color?
My natural is around a level 5. I dyed it to a level 1, currently I am around a level 7-8.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
I did several rounds of bleach baths. I have done a lot of color correcting by using strategically placed lightener/bleach as well as dyes and toners. After trimming off the ends for months and waiting for my hair to recuperate, I did intense balayage on the stubborn ends two months ago. My virgin hair lightens easily: I only touch up the roots with an ash or violet level 8 dye with a 30 volume developer. Since I have been completely happy with my color, the roots-only touch up is the only thing I have been doing, I fear my ends cannot take another round of coloring, let alone any more bleach. I like to mix colors and try out new blends, so far I like mixing 8violet with 8neutral and adding a bit of avocado and coconut oil to my mix.

3) How do you care for your hair?
I wash about every other day, sometimes every day, alternating a CO wash with a diluted shampoo mixed 50/50 with a moisturizing SLS-free one with a purple toning one. This keeps my hair bright, light, and brass free without the drying effect from the shampoo. After each wash, I alternate the conditioner I use. Since going blonde, I am back to microtrimming religiously every single month. Chelating shampoo wreaks havoc on my hair now so I use vinegar rinses instead about 2-3 times a month. SMTs used to be part of my routine but now I feel like my hair gets over-moisturized easily and it likes protein more than it used to. I am careful to find a balance between protein and moisture. I still adore coney leave-ins but I find that when my hair feels especially dry, straight oils soaked in overnight really remedy the situation in a way coney products cannot. My hair used to love plain oil and didn't like shea butter but now it loves shea butter. So instead of doing a coconut oil soak, I do a soak with shea butter mixed with coconut oil. I believe that years of avoiding heat styling has helped me to keep my hair past BSL even with all the bleaching and dying in the past 9 or so months. I am still heat-free.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
In the beginning I didn't think I wanted to go blonde so I used a "lightest ash brown" demi to sort of stain my lightened hair. As it faded it completely got rid of my brass for good, without me having to always fight it. However, since going lighter I have found that traditional toners are too damaging in the long run and don't work as well as I wish since my hair doesn't seem to be light enough for them to really work effectively. Plus, it occurred to me that with long hair, it isn't the best idea to even run a demi through your length on a regular basis. I have tried semis but find them too expensive to keep up. (I tried doing things like Roux color refresh masks followed by a vinegar rinse to really seal in the color). Ultimately, my holy grail product for fighting brass is Clairol Shimmer Lights shampoo- so many people have said this works better than any toner and I have to agree with them. Instead of lathering up twice, leaving it on for a few minutes, and only using it a couple times a week, I use it every time I shampoo but diluted with distilled water and mixed with a moisturizing shampoo that has a rich lather. The shampoo is so drying on my hair and I dislike the strong smell, so this fixes both of the problems I have with it. I haven't tried using an ash color additive to my dye yet but I am thinking of trying that next.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
I have been trimming and keeping it between BSL-MBL, only because of personal preference. I like a shorter length with lots of layers. However, I am tempted to try to grow it to waist again but with my lighter color.

[Firefox7275]

I might have completed this before but things will have changed so ....

1) What is your starting color?

Dark mouse. Not ash blonde or blonette, a real grey tone.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

I am semi permanent pink, but a brassy blonde shade underneath. I use a Garnier Nutrisse peroxide only blonde box dye (sulphate, silicone and ammonia free).

3) How do you care for your hair?

Curly Girl method. Conditioner only washing, wash out conditioners used as leave in, plenty of hydrolysed protein and penetrating oils (sweet almond for neatening buns, coconut for overnight treatments). Very wide tooth combs or fingers only, almost no brushing, flour sack or microfibre towels. Protect lengths from UV light by bunning, stretch washes to three days with dry shampoo.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

Reduced damage and porosity by adding coconut oil to the dye bottle, using hydrolysed protein before and after dying, only ever touch roots only.

Use a shower cap when processing: ammonia-free is sensitive to temperature variations from scalp to an inch away. Previously the lift was uneven.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

An inch past bra strap length stretched, no splits nor velcro ends, some mechanical breakage tho. :o

[TaterTot]

I have wanted to go white platinum for a while now, I think I'm finally brave enough to start since I have short virgin hair.
I got a wig to see what it would look like at my dream length... It made me love it more!

http://i.imgur.com/SzC5Pdc.jpg

:magic: wizard chic!

[leilani]

Looks great! But, there's a reason why even rich celebrities who can afford anything can't manage to grow that level of processing past their shoulders or so without terrible thinning/tapering. (it's extensions if you see someone with very long hair that is platinum white --or a wig like that!). It's just too much on the hair shaft to then ask it to live a long life.

That said, short platinum hair is stunning! I think of Linda Evangelista. Or maybe a shoulder length Gwen Stefani look could be for you, if you're careful about overlap while you bleach the growth and grow out. I'm just saying I'm a fan of the look and if that's what you want, go for it! Just wanted you to be realistic about growing very long while bleaching to that extent. Oh, the third option would be to grow out long and baby your virgin hair and then bleach it all at once in one go and then baby the heck out of it and find someone who can bleach your roots every 3-4 weeks who is excellent about avoiding overlap. That could work but requires years of waiting for that color you're longing for.

Hey, best of luck!

[TwilightShadow]

I've been an off and on bottle blonde for the last 10 years.

1) Well, last time I saw it, it was a dark ashy blonde, but it did get more golden highlights in summer especially.

2) I used Revlon Colorsilk 99% of the time when I dyed it blonde, which is ammonia-free and less damaging. I say this because I've used permanent dyes with ammonia a few times (they were red dyes, not blonde) and I noticed a difference; my hair was definitely more affected with the ammonia dyes.

3) I wash once every 5-7 days; shampoo on my scalp only and conditioner on my length twice. Sometimes I use coconut oil. I let my hair air dry.

4) Well, I've tried many different shades and I can't say I mind the golden or reddish tones, because I actually like strawberry blonde hair and had my hair dyed in this shade a few times.

5) My hair is hip length. It's not blonde now, because I dyed it with a mix of Manic Panic Wildfire and Vampire Red over the champagne blonde I had 2 weeks ago.

[TaterTot]

Looks great! But, there's a reason why even rich celebrities who can afford anything can't manage to grow that level of processing past their shoulders or so without terrible thinning/tapering. (it's extensions if you see someone with very long hair that is platinum white --or a wig like that!). It's just too much on the hair shaft to then ask it to live a long life.

That said, short platinum hair is stunning! I think of Linda Evangelista. Or maybe a shoulder length Gwen Stefani look could be for you, if you're careful about overlap while you bleach the growth and grow out. I'm just saying I'm a fan of the look and if that's what you want, go for it! Just wanted you to be realistic about growing very long while bleaching to that extent. Oh, the third option would be to grow out long and baby your virgin hair and then bleach it all at once in one go and then baby the heck out of it and find someone who can bleach your roots every 3-4 weeks who is excellent about avoiding overlap. That could work but requires years of waiting for that color you're longing for.

Hey, best of luck!

Thanks for the warnings and encouragement! I've had mid back length green hair before, I maintained it for about a year before I didn't want to deal with the roots anymore. For that I didn't tone it, I just dyed directly with vegetable dye - it seems like that is the only difference between the upkeep. I don't use heat, I keep it in a hat most of the time, I think with coconut oil and steady slow work I can keep it okay n_n I don't really desire anything longer than BSL anyway.

[leilani]

Well it sounds like you know what you're doing. Plus it depends on your starting level,and starting condition, of which I have no clue. So good luck and I hope you get exactly what makes you happy!!!

[M-L-E]

1) What is your starting color?
Blonette/dark blondish

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
Highlights done to look natural, although I have not had them done since last year. If people ask, I am going for the "ombre" look... Until my hair is longer and healthier anyway:)

3) How do you care for your hair?
Wash once or twice a week with non-sulfate shampoo and coney conditioner, as well as a DT once a week. Oil everyday, sometimes with natural olive oil sometimes with a coney oil serum which works great to protect my fine hair. Too much protein=bad!

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
Breakage and lack of volume are my two arch-nemeses. Not washing as often and using dry shampoo is great for volume, whilst the oils/oil serums are great for preventing breakage. Finally figured out that overdoing the protein with coconut oil was not helping my ends.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
Just touching BSL

[EmmaDStrange]

You've probably all seen this pic already since I have been proudly posting it everywhere, I LOVE it, finally. http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/Emmy-Lou-94/11004818_10205146483395436_1647675150_n_zpsvyjyn92 t.jpg

1) What is your starting color?

I think, last time I saw it, it was a medium ash brown colour. I had white blonde hair as a child and it slowly darken from about 11 and was brown by 16 I think. I started dying it every colour under the sun at about 14. I started my current journey to blonde from BLACK. :bigeyes:

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

I use a cheapo brand bleach powder and 20 vol developer, usually with a little conditioner in too. I have covered my hair with this concoction I'd say about 4 times in the last year, spread out with months in between to let it rest. I now just bleach the roots when needed.

3) How do you care for your hair?

The usual way really, I don't do much that's special. I wash and condition every other day as I have super fine hair that looks greasy in an instant. Oil the ends with evoo whilst still wet. I wear it down all day, in an english braid at night.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

I have started using sulphate free shampoo and cone free conditioner, this helps the dryness to some extent. I do have some split ends now, but haven't had in a long time, I'll be having a tiny trim very shortly as it's been over a year since my last.

I solved the brassiness (of which there was plenty since I started at black) by bleaching over bleach until it was a pale orange/yellow and I finally just last week used the Wella color harm T18 white lady toner, which I cannot enthuse about enough! Seriously, all you blondies out there wanting to be a cool brass-free platinum blonde, this is the ONLY toner that works that I have found. At first my hair was almost silver/grey but after a couple washes it is perfect platinum on top (where I have bleached my natural colour, not the black) and the ends of my hair where once there was black is now a pale ash blonde. :D

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

Get this, it's platinum blonde and significantly past hip length now, powering towards tailbone length, and I still have nice thick blunt hemline. I thank the Gods that be for good genetics I think.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/Emmy-Lou-94/11020382_10205146485235482_1185490614_n_zpsomfap5h e.jpg

[TaterTot]

Emma OMG -salivates-
So glad you posted it here because I've missed it - no way I would forget that mane.
When you bleach your roots, how long do you let it sit? Only one round to get the roots done? Do you know what the ratio of developer to bleach is?

I am not expecting to get as white as my wig, I kind of love the ashy grey blonde look. Totally will be getting White Lady toner though! On Amazon right now there is someone selling a 6 pack for 20 which is a great deal :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006X2IMGS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1E4WFOP6VAHR8

[EmmaDStrange]

TaterTot I use a roughly 1:2 ratio of bleach powder:20 vol developer on my roots and let it sit no more than 30 minutes, but sometimes as little as 15 as I think it processes faster when the room is warm. I just wipe a bit off and have a check every few minutes. I bleach my roots in this one process from medium brown to white blonde. :)

[TaterTot]

TaterTot I use a roughly 1:2 ratio of bleach powder:20 vol developer on my roots and let it sit no more than 30 minutes, but sometimes as little as 15 as I think it processes faster when the room is warm. I just wipe a bit off and have a check every few minutes. I bleach my roots in this one process from medium brown to white blonde. :)

Awesome! Ordering my supplies right now. I love that you aren't afraid to DIY bleach, even the roots. Learning new skills is so fun!

[MsVenus]

I found it odd that there needed to be warning to not bash blondes in this thread but then I saw this video and thought about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVUsRwSNP70
I found her video funny and wanted to share it .;) I guess blondes (bottle and otherwise) are often the target of attack even on hair forums .;)

[EmmaDStrange]

I think my favourite thing about trying to be bleach/platinum blonde and still have healthy long hair Tatertot is that it's a challenge, and once accomplished it's definitely something to be proud of. I don't see many people with pale blonde hair past shoulder length, it's nice to be different. :P

MsVenus it is indeed an odd notion that bottle blondes may be subject to attack, I myself have been blonde for perhaps 80% of my life, and spent the last 8 years being mostly bottle blonde and have never been subject to any 'bashing' really. Except perhaps I have had suggestions that my bottle blonde hair colour makes me 'a certain kind of woman' shall we say, but that's never bothered me. I've never had anyone suggest the colour was 'unnatural' looking, on the contrary I've startled people in my admissions that it isn't natural. XD

[Pinni]

EmmaDStrange, your hair is beautiful!

[M-L-E]

I aspire to one day have such beautiful blonde hair, EmmaDStrange! You should be so so proud:)

[blue_eyes]

Wow EmmaDStrange, your hair is incredible!!

I'm not blonde, yet. I started growing out black dye in August 2013 in order to fulfill my blonde hair dreams. I've tried going to blonde from black several times in the salon and it was horrid and never worked, so I'd dye my hair black again. This time I intend to go blonde with virgin hair. I suppose the healthiest way to get long blonde hair is to let my natural hair grow until I reach my goal length (waist) and then go blonde, but that seems so far away still. It's really tempting to get to APL or BSL and then go blonde, trying to keep it as healthy as possible as I grow to waist. I hope this is realistic. :P

[Aspsusa]

1) What is your starting color?

When I started colouring? Dirt road - dishwasher, with some highlight and sunstreaks. Blond to white as a kid, nice golden blonde as a young teenager.
At around 22-23 I got tired of my adult colour and my far too cautious hairdresser and went and bought some box-colour at random. The first result wasn't that good - very uneven (I'm not very dexterous and my hair was already somewhere between BSL and waist, so should have used two boxes), but already the second one was much better.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

Nowadays I usually use L'Oreal Preference or Excellence. Have used Garnier Nutrisse too in the past. In the beginning (after the first not-so-good try) I used L'Oreal les Blondissimes a few times, but discovered I didn't need that much bleaching and have been varying between 8.x and 10.x shades.

I purposefully always use a different shade for touch-ups, because I want to maintain a more natural looking variety of colour. Sometimes (like right now, grrr) it comes out slightly wrong - more strawberry (?) than golden blonde, and it's nice to know that the next one will be better ;)

I do the roots plus a few strands at first, let it sit for the instructed 30 minutes or whatever the instructions say*, then lather up the colour and whatever is left in the bottle and cover all the hair and massage it for about 3-10 minutes. (Never let the whole head sit with the colour, just lather it around for a few minutes before starting to rinse - the lathering/massaging sort of slowly leads into the rinse.)

3) How do you care for your hair?

I think the word is "benign neglect" :cool:

Washing between twice a week to once a month. I like 'cones, but am thinking of going either WO or NW.
Haven't tried coconut oil yet, but it is on my list to try.

Before thinking of going WO or NW I usually used either the conditioner that comes with the box colours or Aussie 3MM luscious long as a conditioner. Schampoo almost anything, as long as it didn't have 'cones in it (that very conservative hairdresser back in the early 90-ties taught me to never use a 'cone on a 'cone to prevent build-up - rather before his time as this was in 1991-1993!)

Before finding Aussie (present from my sister) I also used to use a wonderful detangling spray for kids that smelled of apple/pear (also a present from sis, I don't like shopping much). Unfortunately they don't make it anymore...

I don't like wearing my hair down, so it is always up. Unfortunately my scalp doesn't really like that, so I am trying to brush, scritch and preen more. My scalp really likes the colouring, without it I get problems with itchy, scaly, horrible flakes. I think it is fungus, but a mixture of species where one in particular doesn't respond to ketoconazol (Nizoral et al), as that always makes it way worse.
Have found that one of the ingredients in box colour kits, Resorcinol, is available as a solution at a pharmacy, and applying that a few times once a week or more often is as effective as colouring.

My scalp is now in better condition than it has been since in 22 years, so scritching and brushing + Resorcinol now and then seems to do the trick. And no washing and no 'cones (sniff). I am still in two minds about using 'cones after the next touch up - I'm hoping not to have to wash for weeks after that, but I don't know how my hair will react to being coated with 'cones for up to a month.

No heat if I can possibly help it. Have knitted myself a lacy "hair stocking" of cotton-wool blend that I wear as the hair is drying (so I don't get it in my face). Try to avoid de-tangling or combing while it is wet. How people can get even a sparse comb through wet hair and conditioner amazes me. My hair is impossible to comb in anyway when it is wet, was even worse when I was a kid and before it was coloured (my mother actually got the advice to only wash it with conditioner when I was 4-5, it was *that* prone to tangling).

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

I like golden, but I don't like pinkish. I've found that when I combine a very light colour (like a 10.x) with my natural colour (which is almost too dark for those shades according to the package) I get a nice golden blonde. Less lightening ashy or beige shades seems to bring out that pinkishness that I don't like, which is weird. I can't remember exactly what I used last time, maybe 9.13?

Varying between 8-9 shades, 10.x shades and every few years a Blondissimes (or similar, have a Schwartzkopf 12.x in the cupboard that I'm thinking of using the next time) seems to work for me. Especially since I learned the trick of not only doing the roots but also a few random strands with the new colour every time.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

To my waist. Has been between BSL and probably almost tailbone since I started colouring.

I'll try to get some (crappy mobile phone) pictures and see if I can post them.


* This is a question I have had for a long time that maybe someone on this thread can shed some light(!) on:

When it says in the instructions to cover the roots and let it sit for however many minutes, from when do you count that time? :confused:

I have loads of hair, and covering all of the roots takes me about 15 minutes, at least ten even if I am really quick.
So if I count from when the first drop of colour hits the hair the total time for the last roots would be only (let's say) 30-15=15 minutes. But if I count from when the last roots are done the time for the first part would be 30+15=45 minutes.

This question has been bugging me for nearly 20 years now. Anyone have an answer?

[TaterTot]

http://i.imgur.com/vahfpvK.jpg

I went half blonde! It is more yellow than I'd like and less ashy, I bleached twice, 60 minutes and then 40 minutes with level 20, and then toned with white lady, but I'm overall pleased. It didn't do as much damage as expected. I used coconut oil slathered on during the bleaching process.

I want blunt bangs with long length so I figure this is a good halfway meeting point.
It will also be easy to do touch ups since I don't need to reach the back.
Here was my inspiration for the reverse Cruella hair- it should be interesting in braids :D

http://i.imgur.com/tENWSim.jpg

[maborosi]

You've probably all seen this pic already since I have been proudly posting it everywhere, I LOVE it, finally. http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/Emmy-Lou-94/11004818_10205146483395436_1647675150_n_zpsvyjyn92 t.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/Emmy-Lou-94/11020382_10205146485235482_1185490614_n_zpsomfap5h e.jpg

Fantastic color! And your hair is in awesome shape- it's obvious you take great care of your hair to keep it looking so beautiful.

I know for a fact that even lightened hair colors can be healthy.

I think a lot of people don't know how to properly care for their hair after lightening, not realizing it's important to pamper and baby it and treat it nicely. I have honestly never seen someone who was a bottle blonde with LHC-long hair that didn't have extensions- maybe my sister when she had past WL hair but she's a natural blonde anyway and just highlighted and lifted a shade, tops, and has C iii hair, so she has that advantage. I've seen a couple of natural blondes with very long hair. Point is, I think people need to realize if they want to lighten their hair dramatically and keep it in good shape, they need to be willing to put in the effort to treat it nicely, especially if they're lifting more than a few shades above their natural color.

[Aspsusa]

Agree on EmmaDStrange's hair, it is fabulous. I love that colour.


I have honestly never seen someone who was a bottle blonde with LHC-long hair that didn't have extensions-

I guess that depends a bit on how you define "bottle blond", how light does it have to be to count?

If you look at my picture (which is badly lit and appears a bit too dark - as soon as I'm able to I'll upload a few more with better lighting) you'd probably not count that as "bottle blond", but think it was natural with maybe a bit of old highlights. But it has been coloured/lightened continuously for almost 20 years now.

So my guess is that you _have_ seen people with waist length or longer hair that are bottle blond, but just haven't noticed it.
The good thing about the kind of very sun-sensitive hair that I (and many others) have is that it is fairly easy to colour it lighter and have it look pretty natural. Unless you do a really in-your-face whitish-yellow shade or a very uniform colour (which I find hard to do anyway) it is hard to tell how much a mane of hair on the "dirt road - golden - sunstreaked" spectrum has actually been lightened.

[butterflybutton]

* This is a question I have had for a long time that maybe someone on this thread can shed some light(!) on:

When it says in the instructions to cover the roots and let it sit for however many minutes, from when do you count that time? :confused:

I have loads of hair, and covering all of the roots takes me about 15 minutes, at least ten even if I am really quick.
So if I count from when the first drop of colour hits the hair the total time for the last roots would be only (let's say) 30-15=15 minutes. But if I count from when the last roots are done the time for the first part would be 30+15=45 minutes.

This question has been bugging me for nearly 20 years now. Anyone have an answer?

Always start timing after the colour is applied. The oxidation of your colour has a time limit, so when you start applying the colour the heat from your head sets the oxidation in process (it will still oxidise once it's mixed up, just much much slower without heat. So don't let it sit in the bowl too long before you start) so the hair where you start will finish processing after 30-45 odd minutes, once it's at it's level that's it, it won't go any lighter. So the hair you applied the colour to last will still need a full 30-45 odd minutes to get to the correct level. If you leave it on longer than the instructions it won't go lighter, but the products will continue damaging the hair.

Hopefully that makes sense :)

[wilderwein]

Even tho, I stopped bleaching my hair to white blonde I'm gonna leave this here for your inspiration ladies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t4O_EKYwBA

[mothcub]

Even tho, I stopped bleaching my hair to white blonde I'm gonna leave this here for your inspiration ladies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t4O_EKYwBA

WOW ALERT! That is some beautiful hair. I've been reading her blog for an hour now, so thanks for this!

[wilderwein]

WOW ALERT! That is some beautiful hair. I've been reading her blog for an hour now, so thanks for this!

Ahahahaha no probleem! When I had whitish hair she was my insparation! ^^ and seeing her hair it's possible to have long bleached hair, it's just takes a little bit more care than normal

[Aspsusa]

Always start timing after the colour is applied. The oxidation of your colour has a time limit, so when you start applying the colour the heat from your head sets the oxidation in process (it will still oxidise once it's mixed up, just much much slower without heat. So don't let it sit in the bowl too long before you start) so the hair where you start will finish processing after 30-45 odd minutes, once it's at it's level that's it, it won't go any lighter. So the hair you applied the colour to last will still need a full 30-45 odd minutes to get to the correct level. If you leave it on longer than the instructions it won't go lighter, but the products will continue damaging the hair.

Hopefully that makes sense :) Thanks, yes that does make sense.

I don't know if the colour change of the mixture is a good guide to how it oxidizes. Probably not, because what's left in the bottle (and accidental spills) seems to change colour at about the same rate as what's on my head.

What I find rather magical is that already lightened hair requires so little time to get harmonized with the roots. At first when I used different shades I was worried it would show the differences too starkly, but it doesn't. Especially not since I started doing a few strands nearly whole length directly when I'm finished with the roots.
Still it amazes me that just mussing around all the hair with what's left (+some water) for 10 minutes before I rinse it all off has any effect at all.

[Maverick494]

I hope you blonde experts can help me out a bit.

I was a medium blonde as a kid, then it darkened to a dark ash blonde/light ash brown. I'd been growing out my natural hair color for 3 years and just when I got my hair 100% virgin, white hairs started popping up everywhere. In the beginning I could ignore them, but after a while they started to cluster together to the point where my 10 year old niece asked me about them. So, I figured, well, let's get some blonde highlights. Well, the hairdresser botched it up, making it a dip dye/ombre disaster that didn't look at all natural and clashed with my natural haircolour. Plus she didn't highlight the top at all so the white hairs were still visible. It looked like I'd been growing out blonde dye for 2 years. I dyed it back to light brown and it's a nice, even color, but the roots are coming in and the white sparklies are more visible than ever and at 27 I'm not ready to embrace them as they are. That means I can either keep dyeing my hair close to my natural haircolor or I can do what I've always wanted to do: go back to blonde.

What's your advice? I kinda want my hair to look like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEmiDyfoe98. Basically my natural haircolour is what she has underneath the top layers. Is something like that attainable?

[Sparklylady82]

I hope you blonde experts can help me out a bit.

I was a medium blonde as a kid, then it darkened to a dark ash blonde/light ash brown. I'd been growing out my natural hair color for 3 years and just when I got my hair 100% virgin, white hairs started popping up everywhere. In the beginning I could ignore them, but after a while they started to cluster together to the point where my 10 year old niece asked me about them. So, I figured, well, let's get some blonde highlights. Well, the hairdresser botched it up, making it a dip dye/ombre disaster that didn't look at all natural and clashed with my natural haircolour. Plus she didn't highlight the top at all so the white hairs were still visible. It looked like I'd been growing out blonde dye for 2 years. I dyed it back to light brown and it's a nice, even color, but the roots are coming in and the white sparklies are more visible than ever and at 27 I'm not ready to embrace them as they are. That means I can either keep dyeing my hair close to my natural haircolor or I can do what I've always wanted to do: go back to blonde.

What's your advice? I kinda want my hair to look like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEmiDyfoe98. Basically my natural haircolour is what she has underneath the top layers. Is something like that attainable?

My advice would be to bring a photo of exactly what you want your hair to look like to the hair dresser :-)

[Sparklylady82]

Been itching to go all blonde, one color. I thought if I do it myself it'd be less maintenance as my hair grows even longer. Roots only seems much healthier than running bleach through it every 2 months. I've been told I look better with multidimensional highlights though so I'm scared to take the plunge into having one shade. At this point though my choices are to do nothing and grow out ash dark blonde, great professional highlights at a cost or take a risk doing it myself with a light ash blonde and 40 developer hoping I don't turn out looking like a banana ;-)

Any suggestions?

[hennalonghair]

http://i.imgur.com/vahfpvK.jpg

I went half blonde! It is more yellow than I'd like and less ashy, I bleached twice, 60 minutes and then 40 minutes with level 20, and then toned with white lady, but I'm overall pleased. It didn't do as much damage as expected. I used coconut oil slathered on during the bleaching process.

I want blunt bangs with long length so I figure this is a good halfway meeting point.
It will also be easy to do touch ups since I don't need to reach the back.
Here was my inspiration for the reverse Cruella hair- it should be interesting in braids :D

http://i.imgur.com/tENWSim.jpg

This is super cute!

[Eastbound&Down]

My ends were feeling really dry I assume because I skipped my weekly deep treatment so I separated my hair into two and put two drops of sweet almond oil on each side. My hair is feeling much happier now.

[blue_eyes]

Hey everyone! I'm finally planning to take the blonde plunge at the end of July this year, when my virgin hair is around APL. I'm still going to be trying to grow it out to about WL, so I'm planning to leave about 6 months between root touch ups until I reach my goal (good thing ombre is still popular!). Anyway, does anyone have any tips on going/being blonde? It will be my first time rocking bottle blonde tresses, and I'm not quite sure what I need to know in order to keep it as healthy as possible (good shampoos/conditioner, masks, oils, etc.)

I'll be going to a salon with a picture of what I want, I've done enough DIY stuff in the past to never want to do it again. Thanks in advance for any advice! :) I've been waiting to go blonde for over 10 years and can't wait to finally take the plunge.

[AJNinami]

Hey everyone! I'm finally planning to take the blonde plunge at the end of July this year, when my virgin hair is around APL. I'm still going to be trying to grow it out to about WL, so I'm planning to leave about 6 months between root touch ups until I reach my goal (good thing ombre is still popular!). Anyway, does anyone have any tips on going/being blonde? It will be my first time rocking bottle blonde tresses, and I'm not quite sure what I need to know in order to keep it as healthy as possible (good shampoos/conditioner, masks, oils, etc.)

I'll be going to a salon with a picture of what I want, I've done enough DIY stuff in the past to never want to do it again. Thanks in advance for any advice! :) I've been waiting to go blonde for over 10 years and can't wait to finally take the plunge.

You will want to check out white vinegar rinses, don't use ACV unless you want a warm shade. You might have to completely switch your routine and/or products. Your scalp will probably get oily at a slower rate, but will require more moisture. Do not use sulfates unless you want your blonde to go brassy, same goes for hard water. If you want to tone your hair afterward you will need to touch that up yourself (make sure to use the developer rating that your toner needs! If it wants 15 it is asking for too much, you are basically bleaching your hair again past that point.)

Salons actually don't like it when you go too long between touch ups, since the heat from your scalp affects the way the bleach acts. If you let it grow too long naturally, the hair closest to your scalp will be lighter than the hair farther away. This is banding and it is not fun to deal with (bleach over bleach is the only way to my knowledge). I think two inches grown out is where it gets to be too much.

Make sure to ask your salon if they use Olaplex! Treat your hair with some coconut oil before you go. Not so much that they have to wash it all out though.

When blonde > Never, never use too much oil! It WILL show.

No matter how careful you are you will still probably get some breakage. Your hair will definitely be more fragile so you will have to treat it even more delicately than you already do (especially being an F/i).

Sincerely, a life-long blonde and recent bottle-even-blonder

[butterflybutton]

Hey everyone! I'm finally planning to take the blonde plunge at the end of July this year, when my virgin hair is around APL. I'm still going to be trying to grow it out to about WL, so I'm planning to leave about 6 months between root touch ups until I reach my goal (good thing ombre is still popular!). Anyway, does anyone have any tips on going/being blonde? It will be my first time rocking bottle blonde tresses, and I'm not quite sure what I need to know in order to keep it as healthy as possible (good shampoos/conditioner, masks, oils, etc.)

I'll be going to a salon with a picture of what I want, I've done enough DIY stuff in the past to never want to do it again. Thanks in advance for any advice! :) I've been waiting to go blonde for over 10 years and can't wait to finally take the plunge.

Ooh!!! That's so exciting! You've been waiting a long time for this!!!

AJNinami has give some great advice already, but I'd like to add that it is a slow process to get a nice even all over blonde and it will take several sessions to achieve it, so patience is key! Some nice toner and purple conditioner will help you through the process though. And yes definitely go to a salon with olaplex, it is an amazing product that will really maintain your hair's health as you are lightening. If you don't want to get it lightened regularly, I would highly recommend doing balayage instead of all over blonde.

I've started the process back to blonde myself too! Got my olaplex and had two foil sessions a few months apart and had balayage done to the ends. This week or next I will be doing the whole underneath blonde, and every six weeks I'll be gradually adding more hair to the blonde until I have all but the canopy plaitnum.

[Pat Wright]

Does anyone who has their hair dyed really light blonde find you have to wash more frequently because it seems to darken up? I have to wash every 2 or 3 days to keep it looking nice and light.

[chen bao jun]

Bump.
This thread doesn't apply to me, but it's one of those I think ought to be bumped because its a subject so many newbies ask questions on all the time.
Plus, it does have great hints for processed hair in general. Which some people want to have--I personally love the LHC vibe of 'all natural' and that's what I am, but that's not for everybody and one can still grow long in spite of it!! With more care. (especially if 'long' means waist or tb rather than classic or knee)

[HairFanson]

Here goes..

1) What is your starting color? Dark Brown with red highlight/undertones

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color? I have balyage on the under layers, and highlights, and higher-lights through the top.

3) How do you care for your hair? I co-wash most of the time, and when I do shampoo I use a very, very dark Purple shampoo to combat brassiness. I have a very warm/golden blonde color with slightly reddish and bright blonde highlights that likes to get orange on me if I'm not careful!

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? I swear by my purple shampoo. Not Blue- blue is for ash/silver colors (more like platinum blonde), and the purple is exactly what my shade needs to stay vibrant. To avoid the dryness/breakage that can happen during bleaching, my colorist always uses Olaplex, and I slather on the CO for a full day before bleaching. I leave it on during the bleaching, and she washes it out with my rinse and toner step. Works perfectly to avoid damage!

5) Last but not least -27inches, somewhere between bra and waist.

[alexis917]

After being absent from LHC for a while...I may have gone a little mad.

Natural hair color: essentially black. It's such a dark brown that I guess it's what you could call "soft black"?

Achieving the color: After thoroughly saturating my hair with coconut oil (after returning to cones) I bleached my hair once, with 30 volume on the top and a 20 on my ends. I left it on until it turned yellow, then dried it. My hair lifts fairly easily, although it is dark. The next day I took very thin segments and added L'Oreal's Summer Lights gel to create highlights/dimension. It's still a bit brassy, but it's been nearly a month now, so I have about an inch of roots to handle. I'm thinking of going a level lighter and a touch ashier when I touch it up next week. I was hesitant to use a blonde dye over my hair after all that processing, as they tend to be "higher lift". :p

Care: I invested in the Tangle Teezer, and I love it even more than my old, beloved Wet Brush! I coconut oil my hair up before every shower. I'm cheap and just wash with "normal" (sulfate) shampoo- Suave Sleek, only on the scalp. I use the matching conditioner, and really like it. About once a week, I've been doing a mayo mask. I feel like it really helps. I wrap my hair in an old tshirt when I get out of the shower, after detangling with a little left-in conditioner and Garnier's Straightening Balm (smells so good). I then blow dry my hair on the lowest heat setting to about 70% dry (or just to "damp" instead of "dripping", depending on how much time I have) after every wash. As I dry it, I use the Tangle Teezer so it dries a bit straighter than it naturally would, but with volume, and apply more coconut oil if needed to combat any frizz.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? I was most worried about avoiding damage as I continue to grow my hair out. Brassiness....that's a work in progress, lol

5) Length: I'm cruising along at about an inch past collarbone now. Would love BSL for my birthday (September), but with my luck I'll have a stall or something :rolleyes: I'm shooting for waist again.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

This came up in another thread. Inquiring minds want to know:

1) What is your starting color?

My hair is bottle blonde and my natural colour these days would seem to be various shades of grey :)

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

I use a box dye on roots only, it's L'Oreal Nice 'n Easy Natural Light Ash Blonde. I have always dyed it myself at home. I have recently stopped dying my hair. From now on I am going to celebrate my silvers and allow my hair to be its own colour.

3) How do you care for your hair?

Very gently - diluted shampoo, lots of moisturising, and oils (mineral oil and coconut oil). Clarifying every 6 weeks or so. Washing twice a week.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

No. As for brassiness, I never take any notice to see if it is brassy or not.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

Just coming up to 42".

This is meant to be a positive thread to help those who want to go blonde. Please don't be negative here.

If you don't have one already and you can, please include a picture.

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh582/Sarahlabyrinth/DSCF2541.jpg

[lapushka]

5) Length: I'm cruising along at about an inch past collarbone now. Would love BSL for my birthday (September), but with my luck I'll have a stall or something :rolleyes: I'm shooting for waist again.

I'm going to be softly and most friendly *real* with you. :) From collarbone to BSL is more than 6 inches - most likely. Hair only grows an average of 1/2 inch a month, so... I'm not sure you'll be BSL by September, that's less than 5 months away. The realistic thing to expect is a few inches of growth. And that's a good thing!

[alexis917]

I'm going to be softly and most friendly *real* with you. :) From collarbone to BSL is more than 6 inches - most likely. Hair only grows an average of 1/2 inch a month, so... I'm not sure you'll be BSL by September, that's less than 5 months away. The realistic thing to expect is a few inches of growth. And that's a good thing!

I know, I doubt it will happen, even though I'm short. I just want to bypass this awkward length, I can't do any braids because my hair is too thick for them to look nice (they stick up/out/just look generally "off")! Unless I try Monistat.... which I'm not too keen on.

[lapushka]

I know, I doubt it will happen, even though I'm short. I just want to bypass this awkward length, I can't do any braids because my hair is too thick for them to look nice (they stick up/out/just look generally "off")! Unless I try Monistat.... which I'm not too keen on.

I understand. :) Once you get past shoulder, that'll be easier. Then once you hit APL, it's going to be easier still. You'll be there in no-time... well, you know, it takes a lot of patience, but the time will pass.

You're a iii and that won't make things any easier. I wore peacock twists all the way to waist/hip when it was finally comfortable enough to hold a bun in with this thickness. Trust me, a peacock twist will be your best friend for a long time!

[butterflybutton]

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh582/Sarahlabyrinth/DSCF2541.jpg

:thudpile::thudpile::thudpile: your hair is what dreams are made from :cloud9:

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Thank you, butterflybutton :) :crush:

[butterflybutton]

Well, I did it!!! I'm now a light to pale blonde, going to sleep now in an olaplex treatment then tomorrow I'll tone some more and do a deep condition treatment. So far it feels in ok condition, hopefully there is minimal damage.

[butterflybutton]

So happy with how my hair came out! So worth all the hours getting it there!

1) What is your starting colour?

Between a level six and seven neutral/ash.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde?

Starting in the mid lengths thin sections with foil between, going to ends next then the roots, 9% with bleach powder using the schwarzkopf blondme range, with olaplex, all that took around three hours from the start.

Then touch up in spots that were still golden for 30 mins with the bleach, toned with 9-2 and 2% on the roots, 9.5-19 and 2% on the rest (more olaplex in the toner too).
Olaplex #2 overnight (and between all the steps) then bleach with 2% and olaplex on bottom of the mid lengths for an hour as they were still too golden ( they really should have been done with the mid lengths, sigh)

olaplex #2, toned with 9.5-1 plus 0-1 and 0-2 and 2% and even more olaplex for one hour.

Finished with olaplex #2 for an hour, then a deep condition for 20mins.

Took very nearly 24 hours start to finish! Including my sleeping though haha.

Since the colour is where I want it, I will from now on only need to touch up the roots once a month along with the toner.

3) How do you care for your hair?

Only shampoo once a month doing a wwcc, and adding in a olaplex treatment. I don't use any heat and keep my hair up most of the time, so really the only change is the extra olaplex step.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)? Good toner, and purple conditioner are my friends, and olaplex for the strength, as last time I was plaitnum I had to chop it all off from damage. And remember to not be impatient and rush the root application and overlap heh!

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

It is inbetween bsl and waist.

[DoomKitty]

[QUOTE=spidermom;485197]This came up in another thread. Inquiring minds want to know:

1) What is your starting color?

Mid to dark grown with red undertones and more than a few greys which is why I went blonde ☺

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

Hair dressers every six weeks...ash brown roots blended into the length bleached and coloured every visit and the length toned to ash blonde

3) How do you care for your hair?

WCW, deep condition, purple condtioner to keep brassy at bay (very chlorinated water, my hair goes yellow as soon as it gets wet) with the deep conditioner over the top of the purple for a minute as the purple conditioner is very drying. Followed up with argan oil while damp. I wash twice a week and air dry as often as possible.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

Silver Screen Ice Blonde Conditioner...this stuff is magic

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

Just past shoulder length, aiming for BSL-mid back


My avatar is my pic...my hair is ash blonde but indoor light makes it look yellow 😕

[princesssaffron]

1) What is your starting color?

i would say a medium ash brown, i haven't seen my natural colour since i was 13 (im 19 now) so that's judging by the roots but i think it has definitely darkened a few shades over the years

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

i use at home dyes, my mum does my hair for me and i have used pretty much every light golden blonde shade that exists! for a long time i used a schwarzkopf nordic blonde (i used to use the 4-6 shades lighter but my hairline was too light) but recently i started using nice n easy 104 golden blonde which i used when i first went blonde in an attempt to darken my hair. it was a bit too orange, so the other day i used a platinum blonde shade to bleach the orange out (it worked but i will need to go over some bits next time i dye) so next time i do my regrowth i am going to try the frosted pastel vanilla from the nordic blonde range!

3) How do you care for your hair?

i wash once a day (using Palmolive naturals s+c), oil the ends with argan oil after i wash, and i dont use much heat on my hair. occasionally i will do a deep treatment with coconut oil

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

i prefer my hair more golden than ash, so i never use the toning conditioners if they come with the dyes, my bleached hair usually goes a nice soft golden colour, so i dont feel the need to tone

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

my hair is currently CBL, but i have had waist length bleach blonde hair and it was very healthy! i think my hair is quite resilient and strong, so i don't have much trouble having long hair and being blonde :)

[Kirby-oh]

Meanwhile, my redhead grandmother used to get grief from random people telling her how awful it was that she was bleaching her daughters' hair. Three natural super light blondes...

I am bad at celebrities... Emma Stone's natural color that she went back to.

[Beatrice]

I vanish for a few years to finish law school and get married, and when do I come back? When I decide to do the orneriest thing of all, and go blonde from dark, almost black hair! YOLO!

1) What is your starting color?

Very dark brown, but hardly ever mistaken for black. Level 3 or 3.5 for most color lines.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

Went to the salon and got a balayage ombre about a week ago. I have super dark, black eyes, so I prefer the dark blonde with dark root look. Stylist and I initially discussed lifting to level 8 over two appointments, but my hair lifted almost that bright with just one application! She used Olaplex, so my hair is still super strong and shiny. No breakage or splits at all. A teensy bit dry on the ends maybe (?), though that could be due to the fact that I went from the flat-ironed look I got at the salon to a few days of volumized curls from my hot roller set, set with mousse. Yes, I've enjoyed being a bad girl this week--sorry-not-sorry! Time to slather my hair in coconut oil and wear it up for a day, which always makes things smoother and softer. Moderation in all things is my motto these days. If I'm not having fun with my hair, it's not worth it!

3) How do you care for your hair?

Wash every day (super oily scalp! Don't even talk to me about stretching washes--I can try it for months and still break out!) with Pantene's curl condition shampoo and argan oil conditioner. The conditioner mostly consists of nice, penetrating humectants. Not a 'cone fan these days. When I start toning to more beige, I want to go sulfate free, with maybe weekly SLS clarifying so I don't get buildup. We'll see how it goes.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

Working on it! My hair was quite brassy after the salon. Pretty sure she used a gold-violet toner, when I probably needed a blue-violet. No biggie. I'm rocking the super vibrant, metallic look for another week or two. Don't want to get addicted to too-frequent toning. I still get compliments right and left. Fortunately I have a slightly warm complexion, but I'm looking forward to trying a more beige look with the Wella Color Charm toners. I've heard they can be drying (boo--any substitute recommendations appreciated), so I bought their 20 volume cream developer, which I plan to mix 1:1 with my daily conditioner or maybe a version of Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle, or whatever they're calling it these days. (Last I went to the store, there were ten billion "spinoffs" or "flankers" of 3MM. It's getting to be like perfume--"Delight. Delight Noir. Delight Dessert. Delight Rose Absolute. . . ." Just admit you're making new things and give them their own names!)

Working on making my own toning conditioners and shampoos by mixing copious amounts of Manic Panic Ultraviolet into my bottles. Really want to avoid the drying purple shampoos you can buy at Sally's and the drugstore. My stylist recommended the Schwarzkopf Igora mousse as being a lot more conditioning and gentle. My only concern is that the ninth ingredient is sodium sulfite, which breaks disulfide bonds in hair to improve color uptake--it's like anti-Olaplex! But it's hard to say what effect it would really have and whether it's worse than a lot of purple shampoos that dry out the hair.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

BSL. I used to think I wanted waist, but it just didn't suit my height (short), face (long), or style (very office-professional during the week, and preppy on the weekends--lots of skirts, sundresses, etc. I found I prefer my hair to frame my face instead of flowing down my whole body, or always bound up at my scalp. Just my preference!)

[Acid]

1) What is your starting color?

My natural colour is a mousey dark blonde, i went platinum blonde from a build up of black dyes over red dyes

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

i use schwarzkopf absolute platinum box dyes on the roots to match it to the lengths and then tone it from a yellowy inside of a banana skin colour to an ashy platinum silvery blonde.

when i went platinum from the build up of dyes i used 3 colour b4's in a row and then bleached once a month with 30vol until it was a pale yellow. ive spent the last two years growing that out by only bleaching the roots to minimise the damage in my hair.
3) How do you care for your hair?

i wash it once a week, it sounds gross but ive trained it so that the natural sebum in my hair stretches for a week before it starts to look greasy. i SWEAR by aphogee 2 minute keratin reconstructor which i use immediately after bleaching left on overnight and again every two weeks or so for a few minutes. i usually leave my argan oil conditioner on for half an hour unless im in a rush.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

i dont mind a golden tone sometimes but when i really want it an icy blonde ive found that making my own toner is much cheaper and lasts far longer. i buy directions semi permanent hair dye in violet (they are heavily pigmented conditioners) and i put a small fingertip blob in a bowl and mix with a few large dollops of shampoo or conditioner, leave it on for 15 mins and then rinse as normal.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

The middle tips are reaching mid hip, the rest is just grazing the top of my hips.

[blue_eyes]

Oh, I guess I can finally join this thread! After 3 years of growing out dye, I was finally able to go blonde about a week ago. It isn't perfect yet, still quite yellow, but will hopefully be better after the next appointment.

1) What is your starting color?

My natural color, a light brown with gold and red tones in it.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

i went to a salon. It was heavily highlighted with bleach (vol. 10 and 30). It was toned twice, but it is still at the pale-yellow stage.

3) How do you care for your hair?

I've done a few coconut oil treatments, and only wash my hair when I have to. I've been using purple shampoo to tone down the yellow, however I've also got a shampoo for blonde hair (that isn't purple) that I plan on using once my hair is a better shade of blonde.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

Thus far, the only thing I'm using for brassiness is purple shampoo, and it's working pretty darn well.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

Right now it's between APL and BSL. I should be a solid BSL by Christmas. :)

[HairPlease]

1) What is your starting color?
Gray/dishwater blonde.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
Born Blonde and Super Blonde products, left on for 10-15 minutes.

3) How do you care for your hair?
I use dry oil mist to make it look and feel healthier, and moisturizing/"repair" products, alternating as of now.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
I've never had a brassiness problem, but I've had a grayish green tinge appear once in a while, probably thanks to the water, sadly.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
Mid back, about 4-5" until waist. :cool:

[Arciela]

1) What is your starting color?

Light brown with gold/red and such

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?

Professionally done here in NYC :flower:

3) How do you care for your hair?

I cowash a lot now...its working REALLY well. When my hair needs a little pick me up I will use silver reflex shampoo (its the best in my experience) , dries out the hair but it works for the color for sure.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?

For brassiness I use the silver reflex shampoo.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?

It is BCL basically...and its still growing quite fast and strong :)

[_janne91_]

1) What is you starting colour? When I went proper blonde, it was a mix of my nautral medium ash brown and some brown and red dyes eek
2) How did you get your beautiful blonde colour? Hairdresser 3 trips to bleach and tone it, I now just get the roots done and we use a rose toner. When we first bleached and and used a normal toner it still seemed quite yellow. I wanted to try rose gold and being a real pinky pale english heritage the yellow washed me out and made me look red skinned.... The rose gold toners dont hold in my hair but they did tone it the way it should have toned originally, I might get a bit of a pinky tone to it but generally its a nice soft non yellow blonde and I just upkeep with a purple shampoo and conditioner once a week for 8 weeks til I get my roots done. If I want t go pinkish again Id use a rose gold shampoo.
3) How do you care for you hair? oops as above, wash once a week with purple products. However Ive been horrid to my hair, I only came here yesterday because I want to start loving it and Im acknowledging that maybe I could care for it blonde but I dont think it would be best for it. So december I wont be following up the blonde anymore.
Sorry thats not helpful to anyone wanting to get long and blonde
4) any problems that you solved? Definitely the brassinesess- if a regular toner isnt working trial a different toner. its not a dye so it wont permanently affect your blonde but like mine did it will known out the yellow.
How long is your hair? By LHC standards its short lol longest layers past SL I have experienced noticeable growth this year even with 4 trims and bleaching- but I want to maximise my hair care and growth rate so trims and blonde are going to say good bye by the end of the year. 2016 was blonde 2017 is back to natural!

[kidari]

This came up in another thread. Inquiring minds want to know:

1) What is your starting color?
dark brown (around a level 3-4)

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
I answered this thread before years ago when I was blonde. I was a redhead for 2-3 years and this summer I transitioned back to blonde. I stopped touching up the red all summer and surprisingly swimming in chlorinated pools really helped remove a lot of the red with zero effort. I was of course washing my hair when I took hot showers and using Desert Essence coconut shampoo (this stuff makes color come out better than dandruff shampoo or clarifying shampoo and it leaves your hair soft not dry). How I maintained my red is that I had been a bottle blonde previously, I initially used a demi red shade then I touched up the roots with a red dye with a red intensifier added to it with 30 volume and the rest of my hair I would use semi permanent vegan dyes mixed with conditioner. (This is how I maintained my red for 2-3 years). So, I was able to get 90% of the semi out (it left a stain) and I was left with the top 3-5 inches that had build up of permanent dyes. I started doing bleach baths (2 of them) but then I remembered: Olaplex. I bought a knockoff of it made my Ion from Sally's and went in with bleach with 20 volume. I did two rounds of this using the knock off of Olaplex because it didn't leave me with an even base. Once I was happy, I added that knock off Olaplex stuff into a permanent dye (level 8 ash) and added some ash intensifier to it. I'm very happy with the color. Keep in mind that I was walking around with really uneven color that went from pretty light shades of red to the most hideous brassy blonde for a couple weeks during this process. Last time I went blonde from years of black boxed dye I had an aftermath of damage to deal with. This time I was patient and more careful. Still, I ended up cutting off 2-3 inches. I only needed to cut 1 inch or so but I just cut about 3 because I wanted to ensure I started off with really nice hair. I can say that my blonde looks and feels so much better this time around. The last time I was constantly doing deep treatments and it was a different damaged texture. This time, I can still mostly treat it the same as I have been and it mostly feel and behaves and looks the way it was before I went blonde.

3) How do you care for your hair?
I alternate a protein conditioner meant for very processed hair with a super coney deep treatment conditioner every time I wash. Once a week or so I will do a coconut oil treatment prior to a wash or a deep conditioning treatment that I leave on for 15 minutes in the steam room or 1 hr as I do chores around the house. I never heat style and I wash every other day. I also use leave-ins and I do a form of damp bunning to keep the ends nice and moisturized on non-wash nights.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
Of course the permanent ash blonde dye has faded and I've since been using semi permanent dyes in a metallic silver and a blue-based purple in loads of conditioner every 2 weeks to keep it nice and ashy. Purple shampoos and conditioners seem to not be strong enough at the moment. Also, in the past frequent use of toners damaged my hair beyond repair so I am avoiding that this time around. So I've been touching up my roots using a high light ash blonde with a 30 volume developer and toning with a mix of silver and purple semi permanent dyes in conditioner (very tiny amounts of the dye in a lot of conditioner).

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
It is currently BSL. I hope to grow it back to waist. Last time I had blonde at around MBL but it wasn't as healthy and strong as I wanted it to be. I hope to learn how to have stronger healthier bottle blonde this time around so I can grow it longer and be able to handle it with ease.

This is meant to be a positive thread to help those who want to go blonde. Please don't be negative here.

If you don't have one already and you can, please include a picture.

I'm having troubles uploading pictures so I don't want to stress myself out trying to do that right now.

[rhaena]

I'm not actually blonde yet (more of a pastel mint colour at the moment) but I wanted to ask for some opinions, since my hair is already so light do you think I could just bleach on my roots as they come in and leave my ends alone so I dont damage them further? Would that even make a difference in the long run? I already dont use heat and my hair is pretty resistant to frying, it took 6 bleaches with 40 vol developer to fry before and even then I saved most of it by using a lot of coconut oil and all natural products.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

I'm not actually blonde yet (more of a pastel mint colour at the moment) but I wanted to ask for some opinions, since my hair is already so light do you think I could just bleach on my roots as they come in and leave my ends alone so I dont damage them further? Would that even make a difference in the long run? I already dont use heat and my hair is pretty resistant to frying, it took 6 bleaches with 40 vol developer to fry before and even then I saved most of it by using a lot of coconut oil and all natural products.

I kept my hair in the best possible condition by using the blonde dye on the roots only every time I did a touch-up. I want to grow my hair pretty long and so was trying to minimise damage to the more fragile lengths. it worked for me.I also used coconut oil for deep treatments to help protect my hair.

[rhaena]

I kept my hair in the best possible condition by using the blonde dye on the roots only every time I did a touch-up. I want to grow my hair pretty long and so was trying to minimise damage to the more fragile lengths. it worked for me.I also used coconut oil for deep treatments to help protect my hair.

Alright thank you !! :3 I'm just trying to make sure I do this in the best way for my hair because i never really cared for it like I should have when bleaching so much before I guess I let my impulses get the better of me but not this time!

[_fred_]

I kept my hair in the best possible condition by using the blonde dye on the roots only every time I did a touch-up. I want to grow my hair pretty long and so was trying to minimise damage to the more fragile lengths. it worked for me.I also used coconut oil for deep treatments to help protect my hair.

This is the reassuring news I was hoping to see! I'm planning on doing similar (only with bleach blonde on top and purple underneath), and getting more and more anxious reading all the threads about damaged hair.

[kallarina]

I realize this thread is quite old, but there is so much info here, and also so many wonderful members who chimed in who may have some insight for me, and I didn't want to start a new thread.

I don't post here very often, as I tend to prefer "lurking" (I really just don't usually have much to say!), but I made a thread a couple months ago (in November, I believe?) about wanting to cut and color my hair, then I went through with it, and posted those updates as well. I went from knee length hair to tailbone length, and got all over highlights.

After doing this, I have NO REGRETS! I have been much happier. However, now I'm contemplating fulfilling my "dream hair"... very light blonde.

My natural color is a light ashy brown. After the cut, my hair was all virgin except for the bottom 3 inches or so. So the highlighting was on virgin hair. My hairstylist was very impressed at how easily my hair lightened and how nice the color was with no toning. I went back a couple weeks ago to get more highlights done and to touch up the roots, and have it toned to a more ashy color to look more natural. She made the comment about how I could have very light blonde hair if I wanted...and I do. But I don't want to totally trash my hair, and not that I don't trust her opinion, I just know that hairstylists tend to have a very different idea of what "healthy" hair looks like. I want to be able to maintain my hair at tailbone/classic. My hair is extremely resilient, I'm thinking this is definitely possible, but just wanted to hear some thoughts? Maybe from those who have been there?

Thanks in advance if you made it through this rambling!

[Kandy]

Hi Kallarina, I know this is really late and I don't think you'll see this, but I wanted to answer your question!

First off, its so lucky that your hair turns blonde so easily and with so little damage! This makes me think that highlights are definitely a maintainable style for you. One thing that makes me second-guess the idea of going totally, 100%, light blonde is how difficult it is to maintain. Highlights require so much less upkeep--I get them redone about twice a year and it never looks absolutely terrible (and I have very dark roots). However, even if the money and time factor of getting your hair done every month or two doesn't deter you, dyeing that often really isn't good for your hair. Even if your stylist is expert and super careful, there will be some mechanical damage and when rinsing out the bleach it does run down the length of your hair. The fewer processes the better, IMO.

I know I sounded negative in that rant, but honestly just do whatever makes you hair-happy :) . A little damage is not the worst thing in the world, especially if you're maintaining length and not growing. And no matter what you choose, do not forget the protein!

[nikki_s]

1) What is your starting color?
Darker brown with reddish undertones.

2) How do you get your beautiful blonde color?
Originally it would simply bleach out to various shades of medium to dark (strawberry) blonde with some platinum highlights when I was in the sun a lot. I would go from waking up with hairspray in My hair to the beach, hop in the ocean or gulf, and then lie in the sun for hours. When I could not, I would try to recreate that look with box dye, moved to (hair) bleach, and would go to a good stylist/colorist when I could find them (I travelled a lot).

Now: After receiving a nasty chemical haircut (that damaged some of My scalp; Nov 5,. 2014), I stayed away from stylists period. Until I could not take it anymore, and went platinum again after a stylist told Me... Promised Me... she could do it safely. After 3 touch ups, I got nervous (rightfully so), and stopped. I took a break for over a year. I do not like My natural color, and do not like darker hair colors on Me. Friends who have experienced both completely agree! The good news is that I do not like platinum on Me as much as I used to. So, now I am only doing highlights. I got My first round 2 weeks ago! Absolutely love it! She used Olaplex, and she took it VERY easy on My hair. Since My natural darker hair was several inches long, with platinum ends still, this has given My hair a more fluid color, and comments typically include "It looks so natural!"

3) How do you care for your hair?
I never used to do anything special. Shampoo every day, and conditioner every day. At some point I began using Aussie 3 Minute Miracle (original one, until they changed it eons ago).
Now: Oil ends at night (usually jojoba + some argan, sometimes some coconut. CO (Suave Essentials Coconut) for two days, then shampoo (Joico) + conditioner (Redken All Soft gold bottle), CO for two days, then shampoo + conditioner for 2 days. No hairspray unless I am styling it (fine hair + wind = grrrrr). No blow drying, no heat tools ever.

4) Any problems that you've solved (such as brassiness)?
I use Joico Color Endure Violet shampoo (sulfate free). They also have a violet conditioner, and there are several others I have had suggested to Me, but what I am using works great for Me! My almost 2 year old platinum ends are STILL doing nicely as a result. Well, until the highlights, since she used a toner that softened the platinum just a little. Since I have neutral undertones, I can go ashy or golden blonde. Orange looks AWFUL on Me. So, even with golden blonde, I need to stay on the purple shampoo train.

5) Last but not least - how long is your hair?
My hair has been beyond Classic as a blonde, but I am coming up on BSL now (growing out from that chemical haircut; measured it at 25" today, BSL @ 26"). As long as I (or anyone else) do not see any bad damage from highlights, I will keep doing that. It is closest to what My hair used to do naturally (well, encouraged by My habits + salt water, hHAhHAa!), albeit not as dynamic. And I simply cannot do darker hair. Blonder goes with My personality A LOT better!


If you don't have one already and you can, please include a picture.
I have a bunch of pics of Me from over the years in one of My albums (a few display My weight gain during the depression years, and then loss over the past few years). I need to add more, but I am really bad at the whole picture thing. I never really took many before digital cameras/phones, and still do not take very many, except for work. I think I might have taken half a dozen personal pics this year. The worst part is, it is beyond difficult to take a pic of Myself from the back due to the paraplegic thing.

[bparnell75]

I was a bottle blonde for 30 + years. I really enjoyed being a blonde. My hair was always healthy, I always did my own color and cuts. I did grow it to below BSL once just before I cut to let natural grow out and it was lovely and healthy. I did it using the cheapest nice and Easy box bleaches. I always only put the product on my roots. Then I put on a cap and let it sit for 30 minutes, enough of the product was absorbed by the length to blend it. I used cheap shampoos and conditioners as I have always thought those products were sufficient. It can be easily done. of course I was an ash brown, and not a black head. Kudos to all who are still enjoying being bottle blondes.

[gustavonut]

I’ve been considering bleaching my hair again but nothing too drastic at the moment. My hair is a level 6 dark blonde and I am wanting to do a light golden blonde level 8-9. I used to be platinum blonde but that was when I was young and went to a very bad stylist. I have thought about doing it myself at home but don’t trust my shaky hands to do it correctly without it being very orangey/yellow and uneven.
Any thoughts ladies?

[diddiedaisy]

I’ve been considering bleaching my hair again but nothing too drastic at the moment. My hair is a level 6 dark blonde and I am wanting to do a light golden blonde level 8-9. I used to be platinum blonde but that was when I was young and went to a very bad stylist. I have thought about doing it myself at home but don’t trust my shaky hands to do it correctly without it being very orangey/yellow and uneven.
Any thoughts ladies?

My natural is level 6 (although on some charts it’s 7), anyhow it’s dark blonde. I box dye it level 8 and have done level 9 in the past. It’s very easy to do it yourself at home, I’ve never had patchy or orangey hair which I put down to already having blonde hair. I think the patchiness comes into play when your starting point is dark, as you need to do it a couple of times to get to a light blonde.

I always soak hair in coconut oil first to help protect it and use olaplex no. 1 in the dye mix. After dying I use a protein mask and follow that with a moisturising mask. My hair is soft and shiny. It’s not particularly strong, but it wasn’t before I started dying it as I have baby fine hair.

I also only do my roots every three months, I did used to do them monthly but I think my scalp was suffering. As long as you take care of your hair you shouldn’t end up with a straw head. Regular protein and moisture masks will help. I’ve been dying it about five or six years now and it’s never gone straw like.

Oh and I try to use ammonia free dyes.

Good luck :)

[gustavonut]

My natural is level 6 (although on some charts it’s 7), anyhow it’s dark blonde. I box dye it level 8 and have done level 9 in the past. It’s very easy to do it yourself at home, I’ve never had patchy or orangey hair which I put down to already having blonde hair. I think the patchiness comes into play when your starting point is dark, as you need to do it a couple of times to get to a light blonde.

I always soak hair in coconut oil first to help protect it and use olaplex no. 1 in the dye mix. After dying I use a protein mask and follow that with a moisturising mask. My hair is soft and shiny. It’s not particularly strong, but it wasn’t before I started dying it as I have baby fine hair.

I also only do my roots every three months, I did used to do them monthly but I think my scalp was suffering. As long as you take care of your hair you shouldn’t end up with a straw head. Regular protein and moisture masks will help. I’ve been dying it about five or six years now and it’s never gone straw like.

Oh and I try to use ammonia free dyes.

Good luck :)

Thanks a lot for the info! Do you use box dye or mix it up yourself? And what brands would you recommend? I have had bad experiences with bleaching in the past but I love how it looks on me so I’ve decided to give in. It was before I knew about LHC so I wasn’t informed enough to keep it nice for long. And now I just need a change after having virgin hair for quite a while :bigtongue: I’ve been watching videos on how to do it and everyone seems to do it differently so I just want to know exactly what to do before I jump in the cold water. Lol. Also, where do you buy Olaplex? I’ve heard they don’t sell on amazon legit but I’m not sure.:shrug: