[racheylou]

Hi there I'm just wondering if anyone can help me...

Basically I'm asking this question for a friend. She had dark hair and wanted to lighten it but it went orange so in the last 7 days she has put 4 different colours on it she now wants to colour it again to get the rest of the orange tones out (shes getting married Saturday and can't afford the salon). Is this safe to do or will her hair fall out from the amount of colouring or is it just likely to damage her hair?? :confused::confused::confused:

[Perito]

The hair won't fall out -- unless you burn the hair follicles very badly, but I think you'd notice before that happens.

However, the hair can break off. I guess the actual answer to your question is, "until it breaks off", but that won't help you.

Basically, she's done the unforgivable. She's using a single-process haircoloring that's based on hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is limited in its ability to lighten hair and if you try to go too light, it'll end up orange. In addition, she's trying to use "color over color" and that doesn't work very well (the colors add and you can't go lighter than a given color without removing the artificial pigments). What she needs to do is to bleach and tone her hair. Bleach can get her hair past the orange state to pale yellow. She can then use a toner (dye) to darken it to her desired level. Whether her hair will stand up to this is anyone's guess.

By the way, she has already damaged her hair. Damage accumulates. You can try to minimize its effects by using conditioners and so-called reconstructors, but the damage will persist. It's likely she will have, at least, dry hair until it grows out.

If she's getting married Saturday, I think it's time to bite the bullet and go to a salon.