:confused: [F]I've been using Natural Instincts Cinnaberry for a LONG time and have been happy with it. My ends have gotten darker over the years, so right now my roots are lighter than the ends. Natural Instincts has a new color, Malaysian Cherry, which is a little lighter and brighter than the Cinnaberry, but the ends of my hair are too dark for the Cherry color to affect them at all.

To get the ends light enough so the Cherry color would be turn out even, is it better to use a color remover (UnColor) to lift out at least some of the dark color, or would bleaching it be more effective? And how light would the ends have to get before I can use the Cherry color and have it turn out even?

My hair is naturally curly, a little longer than shoulder-length, and in fairly good condition. It's been a long time since I've seen it, but my natural color is/was a light ash brown and now it's about 50% gray. I would prefer not to use bleach if I don't have to, but I really want the Cherry color all over.

Help!?

I'm not sure if Uncolor will get it out or not. ColorFix, Color Oops, Color Zap, or Igora Phantom will.

It is better to use a color remover. Bleaching is not the way to go. Bleaching doesn't work very well in lightening artificial pigment -- the pigment often turns orange.

Thanks for your reply! In your opinion which of these products would be best for my situation? And how light would I have to go so that the Cherry color would be relatively even? (My roots are mostly grey). I used Colorfix several years ago in an attempt to go back to dark ash blonde (my natural color) but it did not take enough of the red out after 2 applications. But since I don't need to go that light in this case, it might be okay. Thanks for your help!

Okay, here's an update. I did a strand test using Color Oops Extra Strength. I followed the directions exactly - mixed 1 capful of each bottle, saturated the strand, left it on for 20 minutes, shampooed twice, then rinsed for at least 15 minutes - and there has been barely any color change at all.

I did read on the Color Oops (Developlus) website that for 'stubborn' color you can use a plastic cap and leave it on for 25 minutes - which I obviously did not do for the strand test. But with the results of the strand test, I thinking that wouldn't make much difference.

On the plus side - at least it didn't turn some freaky weird color! I may just apply it and use the plastic cap, and if it doesn't take much or any color out, I'm really no worse off than I am right now. In that case I'll just touch up the roots, hope it blends, and try to be happy with the darker color *sigh*

Anyone have any other suggestions?