I want to add color and highlights to my hair with causing as little damage as possible. How should I do this?

Question

So, I wanted to go to a salon to this but they wanted to charge me $150 - which I can not afford right now. I've colored my hair many times before, but belive it or not it's in really good shape. It is black now. I want to dye it a medium brown color with lighter brown hightlights. Unfortuantely, walmart does not have a two step kit for this color.

I've thought about using two different hair colors. The darker as a base and by using a highlighting cap add the lighter color after I've rinsed the other. I don't know if this will work, and I'm affraid it may damage my hair serverly.

Also, I don't know if I should use a color remover before I recolor or not. I have use one once before when I tried to go from brown to blonde, but it left my hair very dry after coloring. Because I am trying to remove black, it seems to me it may be less damaging to just dye over it. I plan to use a pre-coloring creme and a post-coloring conditioner I found at a beauty salon. Any suggestions will help

Answer 1

My advice is to call around to get different prices before you try anything yourself. You might even try a local "beauty school." The do-it-yourself highlight kits are much harder than they look and your hair can come out awful looking and damaged. Then, you'll end up paying more $$ in the long run to get it fixed. Trust me, I know this from experience :)

Answer 2

Girl, I have totally just gone through this! I dyed my hair pretty often, got an insanely expensive color & highlight job that I just couldn't upkeep and didn't work after labor day, so I went back to my natural color: jet black. I tried to dye my hair at least twice more to get a warmer color, but the black just absorbed it. So you definitely need a color remover - I went to a salon and they did it for me b/c I couldn't find a decent one (i.e. not going plat. blonde) at drugstores. It lifted out several layers of color and didn't destroy my hair. I'm not sure what they used but it took time and some strand checks. Then my stylist recommended a one color process and told me to wait at least 6m for highlights. Since my hair is now weaker, I will need to use a deep conditioner every time I wash. But I don't mind, since my hair is now a gorgeous multi-dimensional chocolate. I'll probably add highlights in summertime. My advice is to save your money until you can get it done right at an salon. Use the time to do your homework and find an inexpensive salon. If they tell you that you can remove color, add a base and highlights on the same day, then they're being dishonest. Good luck!!!

Answer 3

I do not believe coloring your hair will give you gray hair earlier, that is not true. But you can get something like a henna treatment or some sun in and put on your hair when you are in the sun and it it will give you some highlights. But if you go to the right beautician, she can foil in very natural looking highlights that blend in with the natural color of your hair. That would be the best route to take. Just make sure you go to a salon with a good reputation and let them know you want subtle natural looking highlights.

Answer 4

No matter what you do your hair is going to take a beating, I suggest waiting till you got the money cause the last time I tried to use over the counter highlights they didnt work like I wanted it to. And keep in mind I have been dying my hair and others for a long time, The best thing you could do is go to the salon, I had to have burgandy removed and they put on light brown with blonde highlights, it was the best work I have ever seen, although not good for my checkbook, after all the chemicals I walked out of there with silky smooth hair. And it was not just a product they used a week later my hair felt the same way, so like I said you might want to just wait and go to the pros on this one cause if you mess it up, you are going to have to walk around like that for 6 weeks, the shortest time you can wait to dye your hair again

Answer 5

You should try your local listings for the old fashioned out of the house type of beauty shops. They will save you money. Those famous name salons and mall shops are rip offs. I found a great in home shop not far from my house, when I go I feel like I am at a spa, my hair is highlighted washed (Shampoo & Conditioning Treatment), also get hand treatment with a hand scrub and hand cream, they feel so soft when I leave there, she uses an AVON product for that, and then I get it cut anyway I choose all for like $40.00, although she will not cut my hair unless she thinks that it will look great on me (saves me from making mistakes, the girls in those famous places usually won't tell you that, they just cut away or suggest one of the most expensive styles). She always serves coffee and goodies while your hair is processing and always remembers your name and asks about you and your family, kids, etc.

Answer 6

color removers are going to kill your hair don't use it unless you really need too...To pre-lighten your hair you need to go to a beauty supply store and purchase this get a product call 7in 1 by miss Clairol you need to buy a 2 oz bottle with 2 activator package this will prelighten hair to a level 10 but if your hair is black it will take a couple times to lighten it to a lighter color...just for the recorded color wont lift color you will need bleach after you do this put a deep condition cream on head for 15 mins with a towel on you head to hold in the heat

Answer 7

If you don't want to spend a lot of money, go to a hairdresser who works privately .ie. outside of a salon because they tend to be cheaper.
If you don't know who to ask, try a friend who's had highlights recently. (Don't do it yourself)
Also when you find a hairdresser who you like, they should give you the 2 options of a cap or a foil method.
Don't use the cap especially if you have curly hair as this will definately hurt (I know, I've had it) and damage your hair.

Answer 8

My beautician told me that coloring your hair is just not healthy. She recommends a rinse. She said it doesn't damage the hair and gives it a natural shine.

Answer 9

Use a natural product, such as henna. Chemical products will damage your hair regardless of their quality.

Answer 10

there is this woman in my home town named Liz She does my moms hair all the time highlights haircuts dying she can do anything and it doesn't even take a hair off your head