Go All Gray
Can I use Colorfix to remove the artificial color from my hair so that my natural gray will show through? Will it take me back to my original gray color, or is there another product that works better? What is the best way to transition back to my natural gray hair without causing too much damage?
Here is why: when hair is colored with permanent dye, the process uses a developer (hydrogen peroxide) to open the hair cuticle and deposit artificial shade. Developer permanently lightens the natural melanin (pigment) in your hair before depositing the dye.
While gray hair naturally lacks melanin, any remaining dark strands you had were permanently lightened by developer during past dye treatments, and gray strands themselves can become stained by dye or slightly yellowed by the chemical process. Removing the artificial dye won't restore your original cool silver tone because the underlying hair base has been permanently altered.
Products like Colorfix shrink and wash out artificial color molecules, but what is left underneath is a raw, developer-altered base - which almost always ends up a warm, brassy, orange, or yellowish tone, not silver gray.
However, Colorfix can still be a helpful first step in your transition, provided you keep a few key things in mind:
• Understand Step 3: Step 3 in Colorfix contains a low-volume developer designed to test if dye molecules are fully rinsed out. If any shrunk dye molecules remain in the hair, applying Step 3 will cause them to re-oxidize and instantly darken your hair back to where you started.
Many people skip Step 3 to avoid sudden re-darkening, but be aware: if you skip it without rinsing thoroughly enough, the dye molecules can still re-oxidize over the next few days from ambient oxygen. The real key to success is rinsing and shampooing vigorously for 15–20 minutes to physically flush those molecules out.
• Color removers don't bleach, but they dry out hair: Colorfix doesn't cause severe structural damage like bleach, but the chemical reaction and extensive rinsing process can leave hair very dry. Be sure to follow up with a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask.
The Best Way to Transition
• Remove the excess dye: Use Colorfix (or a similar sulfur-based color remover) to strip away as much dark artificial pigment as possible, giving you a lighter canvas to work with.• Tone to a cool, pale shade: Once the artificial color is lifted, you will likely be left with a warm, brassy base. Applying a cool semi-permanent or demi-permanent toner with violet/blue undertones (such as an ash or silver toner) will neutralize the brassiness. Cool tones blend significantly better with natural silver roots than warm brown or orange tones do.
• Incorporate gray blending techniques: Ask a stylist to add cool-toned highlights and lowlights (silver or ash) to break up the harsh regrowth line, or opt for a stylish short haircut (like a pixie) to crop out the dyed ends faster.
• Maintain with purple/silver shampoos: Using a purple or blue toning shampoo once or twice a week keeps yellow tones at bay and keeps both your natural gray and toned ends looking crisp and bright.
Unfortunately, no magic product exists that can reveal your original silver tone once permanent developer has altered the hair shaft. However, by removing the heavy dye layers and neutralizing the remaining warm tones, you can achieve a soft, seamless blend that makes growing out your gray virtually painless!
©Hairfinder.com
See also:
Going gray
Why and how does hair turn gray?
I want to let my hair go gray. Is there a fast way to get the hair dye out?