[cristinaM]

Almost a year ago I had highlights done to my hair before then and wanted them to get removed in Sept 2006. So I had my hair dyed professional to my natural color which is a dark brown (I have naturally very tan skin) and the color came out perfect!

From then until now, the color has faded and you could see my highlights again. I wanted to dye it again to my natural color but I also wanted to save money so I decided to do it myself with a permanent dye and the color came out black! Big mistake because I looked like I was wearing a cheap wig that I bought from Party City for a witch costume!

So the next day I went to the salon and they did some sort of a strip technique to my hair. They applied some chemical to it and I sat under that heat thing for 30 minutes. It took most of the color out but for some reason my roots were a much lighter brown and my ends still looked very dark. The lady said that we just needed to redye it now. She redyed it and the color is so much better than what I had. It is still black but it is not as harsh and has a little bit of brown tone (in the sunlight though).

However, I am still upset and miss my beautiful chocolate brown hair. I don't know what to do from this point on. I miss my natural hair and I have very long hair and would like to keep it that way, but it would take forever to grow my hair out back to the natural color.

You see I don't think I should do those recommended techniques you guys have said previously for removing color because I might get that tacky light brown color at my roots that the strip did to my hair.

How long would it take for this black color to fade?
Is this black color going to stay put until I grow it out?

When we were done the lady told me that (whether we want it to or not) the color is going fade (about a week). But I am afraid of how this going to turn out.

I also have an appointment with the same lady 2 weeks from now for a trim and she said we would wash my hair with a rich chocolate brown color shampoo and conditioner.

I don't know if this will really do the trick.
Does anyone have any hope for me on how this will turn out?
Or what I could do to help myself out?

I would like to lighten my hair (probably 6 weeks) back to my natural color, but would that work?

You see I am confused with all this dyeing because I've had lots of friends with black hair who have dyed there hair to a brown and the color looks fine!
Like what about Britney Spears and Christina Aguilara. They've had black hair and after a while went back to blonde.

I don't know how it all works but I am willing to spend whatever money at a salon.

[PrettyLady]

If you've use a permanent color on your hair, it will not wash out, however, it will fade over time. Your hair color will eventually grow out. If you want to go more than three shades lighter, you will need to lighten your hair with bleach and then apply the selected color. Anything other than that will result in a red/orange shade. You could ruin your hair if you do it yourself. I suggest that you go to the salon and have them correct the color for you. Good luck.

[Rina _4]

Almost a year ago I had highlights done to my hair before then and wanted them to get removed in Sept 2006. So I had my hair dyed professional to my natural color which is a dark brown (I have naturally very tan skin) and the color came out perfect!

From then til now, the color has faded and you could see my highlights again. I wanted to dye it again to my natural color but I also wanted to save money so I decided to do it myself with a permanent dye and the color came out black! Big mistake because I looked like I was wearing a cheap wig that I bought from Party City for a witch costume!

So the next day I went to the salon and they did some sort of a strip technique to my hair. They applied some chemical to it and I sat under that heat thing for 30 mins. It took most of the color out but for some reason my roots were a much lighter brown and my ends still looked very dark. The lady said that we just needed to redye it now. She redyed it and the color is so much better than what I had. It is still black but it is not as harsh and has a little bit of brown tone (in the sunlight though).

However, I am still upset and miss my beautiful chocolate brown hair. I don't know what to do from this point on. I miss my natural hair and I have very long hair and would like to keep it that way, but it would take forever to grow my hair out back to the natural color.

You see I don't think I should do those recommended techniques you guys have said previously for removing color because I might get that tacky light brown color at my roots that the strip did to my hair.

How long would it take for this black color to fade?
Is this black color going to stay put til I grow it out?

When we were done the lady told me that (whether we want it to or not) the color is going fade (about a week). But I am afraid of how this going to turn out.

I also have an appointment with the same lady 2 weeks from now for a trim and she said we would wash my hair with a rich chocolate brown color shampoo and conditioner.

I don't know if this will really do the trick.
Does anyone have any hope for me on how this will turn out?
Or what I could do to help myself out?

I would like to lighten my hair (probably 6 weeks) back to my natural color, but would that work?

You see I am confused with all this dyeing because I've had lots of friends with black hair who have dyed there hair to a brown and the color looks fine!
Like what about Britney Spears and Christina Aguilara. They've had black hair and after a while went back to blonde.

I don't know how it all works but I am willing to spend whatever money at a salon.

I think you have already put your hair through a lot of chemicals. Stripping and coloring is damaging to the hair. I think you should let it grow out trimming it often and it will be worth the wait for healthy natural color.