HELP: Going from Black Hair to Brown Hair

selfishways · May 19, 2006, 05:16 AM

Ok, firstly, Id like to apologies as I realise there are many topics on this forum about this, however, they have only confused me more, as some say that it is not possible to do it without bleaching, and some say that there are hair dye removal products that can do it.

I naturally have dark brown hair. I then dyed my hair a tinted red colour which looked pretty cool. I then decided to dye it black (permanent) nearly 2 months ago, which I got bored of quickly (was meant to be a blue black, but the blue quickly went).

I want to dye my hair again back to brown. Is there any way of doing? I really would prefer to do it myself rather than go to a salon.

Any advice given will be greatly appreciated.
x

kaitie-93 · Aug 26, 2008, 10:16 PM

did u just use normal dishsoap?? cuz i just dyed my brown hair black 2 days ago...and i HATE it and i need it out now! i need help.. help me!!!

jenn4094u · Aug 31, 2008, 07:39 AM

use a clarifying shampoo, which removes impurities from the hair. after you mix the shampoo with the baking soda and apply it, you can put on a plastic cap and use the heat of your hair dryer to help. this is not a quick fix, it will only lighten a little at a time but is the best way to remove as much of the color as possible before deciding to strip it, get highlights to lighten it up, or re color...

diamonddubai · Sep 2, 2008, 11:33 AM

hi!

i have the same problem actually...i dyed my hair with normal chemical color in a darkbrown shade - but its more into black. i want to go back to a nice chocolate-/castana brown.

can i use the baking soda/shampoo thing several times a week or will it harm my hair? how about the quantity? can i use more than 1 tablespoon? my hair is very long - up to my hips - so i think 1 tablespoon will be too less...

cheers!
diamonddubai

jenn4094u · Sep 4, 2008, 08:47 PM

diamonddubai ...yes, you can do it several times a week, but it does tend to make your hair feel dry like straw, so invest in a good conditioning treatment to do in between. My favorite is Redken's Extreme reconstructor, or the Joico reconstructing conditioner. and, yea, use alot more shampoo and baking soda because you have alot of hair...good luck!

diamonddubai · Sep 4, 2008, 10:30 PM

thanks jenn for your answer! can't wait to get rid of this hair color. was just wondering if its a must to buy baking soda. i used baking powder (foster clark's) and this has sodium bicarbonate e500. what you think? baking soda would be better? yeah, today i will go for nice conditioner shopping :-)

jenn4094u · Sep 5, 2008, 11:23 AM

yes, baking soda. it's like $.75 a box...

annwong · May 7, 2009, 09:16 PM

ITS POSSIBLE! even at home. i just dyed my hair BLACK as in JET BLACK last week. it was horrible. i looked like a gothic girl. i went to the salon to ask and they said it wouls cost me $100(singapore dollars) to get it back to brown. it was too expensive so i started readin forums and all said i had to go to the salon or i have to bleach it first! i was so disappointed. so one day i went to the drugstore and saw LOREAL FERIS COLOR BOOSTER series. it promise to lighten the darkest hair(although i didn't knmow they meant natural dark or dyed dark). but anw i decided to try my luck. i couldn't wait for at least 2 wks . so i dyed my hair using the P10 cool chestnut brown. and guess what? im brown again! it is v noticable in the sun and a dark brown indoors. however it has this tiny red undertone to it. it doesn't matter. cos i got rid of my black hair!

Mia_x · May 18, 2009, 05:38 PM

I really really need some help as im so confused with all the replys ive been reading on different websites lol!

I have been dying my hair for a couple of years now and im now a dark brown, few months ago i put a reddish brown on my hair and decided to put some blonde chunks through as well. Where i bleached it so much it did eventually start to break off so i dyed my hair dark brown all over again.
Ive now got to the point where i want to gradually get my hair to a dirty ash blonde as i had this colour few years ago and recently saw photos of me when it was this colour and loved it.
How do i go about starting this process? What will mixing peroxide with shampoo do?
I live in the UK and im a student so i dont have enough money to go to a salon

Please help

JESYIE · May 23, 2009, 09:10 AM

Im not answering a question i have a question and i dont know where else to post it. i have black hair that i just dyed about 4-5 days ago. And i want to dye it blonde on top and like a darkish brown on the bottom but i dont know how to fade the color fast enough. So do you have any answers for me?

Perito · May 24, 2009, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JESYIE

I'm not answering a question i have a question and i dont know where else to post it. i have black hair that i just dyed about 4-5 days ago. And i want to dye it blonde on top and like a darkish brown on the bottom but i dont know how to fade the color fast enough. So do you have any answers for me?

When you have a new question, it's best to start a new main thread.

Use a reducing-type color remover (ColorFix, Color Zap, Color Oops, Igora Phantom, Color Charm Color Corrector) to get out the black. You may need (probably will need) more than one application of color remover. After that, you have to decide whether it needs to be bleached to get it as light as you want, or whether you can dye it directly. Hair dyes only lighten 2 or 3 levels (at most). Bleach can lighten 7 levels or more. Black to light blonde is 10 levels.

The above-mentioned color removers are not bleaches. In fact, they're the opposites of bleaches. Bleaches are oxidizing agents. These are reducing agents (aka anti-oxidants). Here is a site with instructions for colorfix.

ColorFix instructions - Robert Craig Salon Products, Ltd.

You can also google "Color Zap Instructions" or "Color Oops Instructions".