Salon too expensive, but boxed color turns hair orange! Help?

Question

My real hair color is dark blonde/light brown. I used to go to the salon to dye my hair because the boxes of light blonde at the store turn my hair orange. I recently lost my job, so I can't afford to go to the salon. Any suggestions on what I can do from home that won't turn my hair orange?

Answer 1

It all comes down to base colors. Bleach without toner will give ya a nice orange. You have to go to a beauty supply store and buy yourself a bottle of developer, the color, and the aplicator. It will cost you about $11. Make sure you pay attention to your base colors. Your base color should match the base color of your hair. For example, blue, red, ash or green, yeloow, orange, and so on. They will have a wheel there to help you out. Blondes tend to be a blue/red, and browns, can be ash, yellow, you get the idea.

Answer 2

Go to a beauty supply store like Sally's. They have all professional products that you can use at home. If you're trying to "dye" your hair a light blonde from a light brown/dark blonde, this means that you have to lift color out of your hair, aka bleach it.

You can go about this a couple of ways. Either purchase the bleach and a 30 volume developer and bleach it all first. Then, purchase a toner and put that on it. Or, you can just buy the hair dye and mix it with a 20 volume developer. Your best bet is to lighten it first though with the bleach. The reason your hair is turning orange from the other stuff is because it's not strong enough for your hair and it's difficult to get past that orange stage with hair color from the store. The stuff at Sally's isn't very expensive either. Maybe 15 dollars altogether with bowls and gloves and everything.

Since I don't have all the products and hair supplies in front of me, I can't tell you exactly what you should get, but the people that work there will help you!

Answer 3

Call all cosmetology schools in your area. They are in need of "models" for their classes often. Tell them you would like to be put on their list...students need to test out when they finish a class on a person instead of the manaquin before performing services on the floor and some bring in friends and such but often times people are afraid to let a student do it so they are always looking. They are supervised by teachers and would be much better than a box from the store!! The cost is usually materials only which will run you under $10.

Answer 4

Lightening hair is one of the hardest things to do for yourself at home. There are some good kits on the market, but they are real expensive and given the time effort and fact that you can go wrong, it really is safer to blow the expense and have it done professionally.
Best not to risk mucking up your hair, by doing it yourself.
Perhaps you could scan the papers for mobile hairdressers who come to your home, these have to be cheaper than salons, but be careful that it is a properly qualified hairdresser.

Good luck finding new employment.

Answer 5

Cosmetology schools would be your best option. Because the instructors (licensed hairdressers) supervise everything that is being done to your hair. I would ask for the student that is getting ready to graduate. Usually it's less then the box of color you get at the store. Takes longer so be prepared to spend some time there. Students are more cautious. :) And they use professional products.

Answer 6

I use box dye about 2 or 3 times in a row (once every 3 or 4 weeks) and then on the 3rd or 4th time i go and get it done at the salon. it won't damage your hair at all, just costa LOAD less. it saves me a lot of time and money and the hassle of making an appoitment! hope this helped. (: xxx

Answer 7

You have some red pigments in your hair, and if you attempt to blonde your hair you'll get a yucky brassy colour, so you need a blonding creme. This is peroxide. After using the blonding creme, then choose the blonde shade you want ie; Ash blonde, Norgwegian blonde, Silver blonde etc. Good Luck.

Answer 8

My guess is that before, you tried to go VERY blonde when you did it yourself. You are trying to go too light, that is why it is not working for you! You can only go about a shade lighter at home with the best results. I know - I've been coloring my hair since I was about 13! (Remember that crap called Sun In? LOL Terrible!)

Here is my advice/tips for you for at home coloring:

1. Every brand has an 800 number you can call for advice before you color, and after (if it comes out wrong) I've never called, but perhaps they can give you some tips that I might not cover here!

2. I personally recommend Preference by L'Oreal as the best home haircolor. You can go to l'orealparis.com and check out the section on haircolor. There is a shade selector and you can try out different color suggestions. They have a ton of shades and as long as you do not try to go too light, it will come out just like it shows on the front of the box. That being said, you also need to keep in mind that there are ASH (cooler), GOLDEN (warmer), and NEUTRAL shades. If you do not want any hint of red/orange-y color, stay away from anything that says GOLDEN in it (i.e., golden blonde). I happen to use golden blonde and I have strawberry/reddish highlights in my hair, but I have those naturally so I stick with them. ASH and NEUTRAL (sometimes also says NATURAL on the box) are the best to go with I would say in your case. Preference goes by a number system...and in your case I would stick around the "8" range. My advice for you would be to look at something like their box that says 8.5A Champagne Blonde. It's probably not as light as you would like to go, but with dark blonde/light brown hair, you do not want to push your luck and turn out with orange hair again!

3. You also do not have to spend major $$$ on "salon" shampoo for colored hair either - but make sure you use one with a UV filter so you color doesn't wash out. WAIT at least 48 hours before you wash your hair so the color "takes" - you will be glad you did it really does make a difference! I alternate between Suave shampoo for color treated hair (their "equivalent" to Biolage, even smells like it) and also L'Oreal's color treated hair shampoo. Get them at Wal-Mart. These two brands were recommended by major hair stylists in an article a few months ago in In Style magazine. I use them religiously and my hair color never fades, always looks great until my next color!

Good luck and please disregard some of the wise crack answers on here. Keep your chin up and good luck getting a new job. I will say prayers for you!

Answer 9

Get a job.

Answer 10

get a job.