Q: About 2 months ago, I attempted to bleach my hair myself, but ran out and had to get another package- a different brand and a
40 volume instead of the original 30. I reapplied it and the end result was a very light blonde in the back and a darker, orangey color
in the front and bangs. That didn't really bother me as I was experimenting with bright pink and red colors and even when it faded and
the back was always a bit white, it didn't look all that bad. However, I decided to dye it to a more natural, light reddish-brown (my
hair was still slightly reddish at the time). The problem is, the back is still extremely light and mousey brown, and the front
retains its red color, making for an unpleasant contrast. My mother said that we would just dye it to a very dark brown, close to my
original hair color, but I am still unsure. My question is, will the back continue to be lighter even with such a dark brown color, or
will it absorb evenly (as opposed to the reddish brown color), as my mother hopes? Or will I have to resort to black (or bleach, which I
am very skittish about due to the amount of the damage) to get an even color? Thank you in advance.
A: The answer to your questions depends on how porous the hair on the back of your head is compared to that at the front of the head. If
the hair that was lightened most remains porous/damaged, then the color you apply may very likely fade more quickly in that area.
It sounds to me as though you want to know how to balance out the preponderance of red in your hair.
This can be accomplished by using a hair color formula with a base color of green (this is also called ‘drab’ by some makers). In order
to adjust the redness, select a haircolor that is lighter than the color you currently have by at least 2-3 levels, and uses the
green/drab base color. Mix the hair color using a 10-volume peroxide developer, and apply it to the hair on the reddish portions
first, and then apply it to the back of the head. The result should be a brown shade that is more evenly toned without such strong
dichotomy of reddish and more neutral shading.
Your concern over doing more damage to the hair is a good attitude to have. The use of 10-volume
peroxide developer will make the hair color less harsh, and therefore less likely to cause damage. However, if you want to further
protect the hair and help ensure even coverage, try giving yourself a deep conditioning treatment with a protein-rich conditioning
crème prior to performing the application of the color (it can be done immediately before, but you want to always apply color to dry hair).
