Help darkening bleached hair (specifically locs)?

Question

I had someone bleach the tips of my locs (a.k.a dreadlocks) over a year ago. I get a lot of compliments on it but I HATE it. I have tried several times to darken it but the color either doesn't take, or barely gets in there. The only thing that worked was a red rinse but of course that was only a temporary fix. Can anyone recommend anything permanent I can do to get my hair back to dark brown or maybe even a reddish brown? Can I do it myself or do I need a pro?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Go to the pros. Go to the pros. Go to the pros.
That said, if you can't go to the pros everytime you decide you want to liven your locs, try a permanent color yourself. I've done it a few times. Here's what I found out the hard way:

If you are at all lightening your hair, DO NOT PUT THE COLOR ON THE ROOTS FIRST. That new hair will take the color way faster than the rest of your locs and you will end up with brown locs coming out of a FLAMING RED AFRO. This is a bad thing.

Avoid this by using rubber bands to make small ponytails all over your head. I usually have eight. Then get one of those conditioning caps and poke holes just big enough for the ponytails to stand up out of them. To be sure, do another bag on top of the first. We're trying to keep your new growth well covered, while exposing the locs.

I've had good results with Feria.

But let me say that I leave that stuff on my hair WAY longer than they say to. I'm talking an hour longer or more. It takes a while for the color to take, because of the structure of locs.

Now, if your locs fall off, don't get mad at me. This is just how I do it. If this is at all scary to you, then see the first three sentences. :) When I'm almost done, if I really wanted matching roots, I'd take the bags and the bands off and start in the front with the color. And I'd stand in front of the mirror, wiping the roots and checking the color constantly. Before it gets to the color I want, I'd start rinsing. But honestly, I never bother. I like dark roots.

So I go right for the rinse. I RINSE RINSE RINSE RINSE RINSE, SQUEEEEEEEEZE RINSE RINSE RINSE. Leftover color will eat at your hair. SQUEEEEEEEEZE some more and RINSE.

After, I skip the conditioner in the box. They don't know nothing about conditioning locs. :) I use conditioners and shampoos recommended by the pros. Dr. Bonner's Tea Tree Castille Soap (heavily diluted) for the occasional clarifying shampoo. I order goodies from Khamit Kinks and Naani.com.

Naani is another great resource for advice and products. But be forewarned, they are SLOOOOOOW getting the product out. But I think she's just a college student doing her little side thing, so I try not to get too mad. :)

Also, there's a book by a wonderful woman who has written several books about natural hair called Nice Dreads. I think her name is Lonnice Bonner Britteneum. A very informative guidebook.

Good luck. And remember to RIIIIINSE.

Answer 2

Scary!! I'm assuming you are using box dyes. Those are big no-no after bleaching. They're not PERMANENT. Like what you would use in a salon, permanent. Go to your local Sally's. Purchase a color remover. NOT bleach or a color stripper. They're all very different. Confusing, but different lol. DEEEEEEEP condition your hair! Use any conditioner you want, lather your water hair in it, put a plastic bag around your head for an hour or two. ( the bag holds the heat from your body in. It opens the cuticles in the hair to allow the moisture to penetrate the hair shaft best! ) rinse with COLD water ( cold water then seals the cuticle. ) Then apply a permanent dye from Sally's. I'd get a dye a shade or two darker than what you're actually going for. You're hair has been through some trauma & will let go of some of the pigment.

Answer 3

I am a hair dresser and what you are trying to do takes time and patience. First get a GOOD protein treatment and build up the inside of your hair. It gives the hair color something to grab onto. Then use a strawberry color permanent hair color (if your hair is white add a first step with a gold hair color) third step use your brown hair color. Make sure that you dry your hair between each application.

Answer 4

well the problem is when you bleach hair it strips the color right out of the shaft of the hair. dye can sometimes give you a little of time and i mean a little. the only think you can do is wait and cut it little by little.

Answer 5

Go to a pro - it is almost impossible to dye bleached hair dark - they will have to go over and over it again. You'll find it will keep going orange - not a good look ...