Anyone color their own hair with non-drug store brands?
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Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:09 am

My colorist very nicely offered to suggest a color I could use on my roots in between colorings. Then she said she wasn't familiar with drug store brands, but she recommends a semi permanent level 6 or 7 warm. Since the drug store brands don't work that way, I wound up getting Wella Color Charm demi permanent at Ricky's in what I thought was exactly what she said--the "warm" surprised me, since my hair color is a reddish brown. I would have figured it'd be "red." Anyway, my roots came out fine, but more like my root color with grey coverage than a match to the rest of my hair (I really had to do it to cover the greys anyway).

Then I read a thread on this forum talking all about how easy it is to dye your own hair with the Wella products and how great it comes out, and I was inspired. But what I'm wondering is, if my colorist recommended level 6 or 7 in semi permanent, is that what I should be looking for in permanent as well? It seems lighter than my hair color, but I also heard that women should always pick one color lighter since they always think their hair is darker than it is. I just don't want to wind up with too light hair if I use that color level!

free skin care · Sat Oct 08, 2011 12:09 pm

I have pro color shipped in and I mix and apply myself. I mix half 7 neutral (need this for proper and believable grey coverage) and half 7/1 ash to kill the red. I put two blue shots (pure blue pigment) to kill orange pigments. I end up with a shiny level 6 chocolate brown. I do a better job than any colorist I've ever been to. I do not use the stuff from Sally's, the Color Charm looks dull in my opinion. Wella makes other lines that have tons more shine. (Color Touch for example)

Please don't attempt to move to permanent color till you have a clear understanding of the chemicals and the level system, it will turn out very badly. Semi is fine because its only deposit color, but permanent lifts and deposits. You need to take into consideration the stuff that is left on your hair when the darker pigments get lifted off.

http://killerstrands.blogspot.com/

Read everything there is to read here first if you want to start DIY hair color. It was very helpful to me. Then do about a million strand tests. Laughing

free skin care · Sat Oct 08, 2011 4:00 pm

Ava with wings wrote:

I have pro color shipped in and I mix and apply myself. I mix half 7 neutral (need this for proper and believable grey coverage) and half 7/1 ash to kill the red. I put two blue shots (pure blue pigment) to kill orange pigments. I end up with a shiny level 6 chocolate brown. I do a better job than any colorist I've ever been to. I do not use the stuff from Sally's, the Color Charm looks dull in my opinion. Wella makes other lines that have tons more shine. (Color Touch for example)

Please don't attempt to move to permanent color till you have a clear understanding of the chemicals and the level system, it will turn out very badly. Semi is fine because its only deposit color, but permanent lifts and deposits. You need to take into consideration the stuff that is left on your hair when the darker pigments get lifted off.

http://killerstrands.blogspot.com/

Read everything there is to read here first if you want to start DIY hair color. It was very helpful to me. Then do about a million strand tests. Laughing

I DO read the killerstrands blog but I'm curious which brand you use because your colour "recipe" is very intriguing to me -- I'm looking to do a similar colour.

TIA

Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:46 pm

Thanks so much for the advice, Ava with wings! I am worried and hesitant, but would definitely like to try it eventually. My wallet just can't afford to keep having it done professionally. I will definitely read up.

I second the question about which brand you currently use instead! Smile

free skin care · Mon Oct 10, 2011 4:17 am

I am so afraid to colour my own hair. I always got it done professionally because I have seen bad job done on some heads and I don't want that type of embarrassment.

free skin care · Sat Oct 15, 2011 6:40 pm

I use Wella Koleston Perfect for the roots and Wella Color Touch for the lengths. The blue pigment I throw in both is the Paul Mitchel Blue shots. I can't get the grey coverage without using the Koleston Perfect, the others don't cover as well. My hair pulls an absolute ton of orange and red tones, hence the drastic counter-tones.

free skin care · Sat Oct 15, 2011 6:44 pm

I can't handle getting it done professionally anymore, it always looks so terrible when I get it done. If you've had experiences like me, just remember, no matter how it turns out doing it yourself, it can never look as bad as when you shell out $200 and have to walk home wearing a black mass of boiled looking hair. I've never gotten any other results from those so called "professionals".

free skin care · Sun Oct 16, 2011 5:31 am

Ava with wings wrote:

I can't handle getting it done professionally anymore, it always looks so terrible when I get it done. If you've had experiences like me, just remember, no matter how it turns out doing it yourself, it can never look as bad as when you shell out $200 and have to walk home wearing a black mass of boiled looking hair. I've never gotten any other results from those so called "professionals".

I would not tolerate that! I would go back and make them fix it or ask for a refund and go somewhere else and get them to fix it. It is hard to find a good hair colorist.

free skin care · Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:28 pm

I'd never let them touch my hair ever again. "Fixing" over saturated hair color requires stripping the color from my hair, leaving me in way worse shape than they put me in in the first place, no thanks!! Keep in mind I'm in my thirties and have been to dozens and dozens of salons, and the same result has happened.

free skin care · Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:39 pm

Good stylists don't generally hang out in the Midwest I guess. And they certainly don't understand hair with any sort of atypical ethnicity. (I'm not a wispy haired blonde like most girls here)

free skin care · Thu Oct 20, 2011 12:21 am

Ava with wings wrote:

I have pro color shipped in and I mix and apply myself. I mix half 7 neutral (need this for proper and believable grey coverage) and half 7/1 ash to kill the red. I put two blue shots (pure blue pigment) to kill orange pigments. I end up with a shiny level 6 chocolate brown. I do a better job than any colorist I've ever been to. I do not use the stuff from Sally's, the Color Charm looks dull in my opinion. Wella makes other lines that have tons more shine. (Color Touch for example)

Please don't attempt to move to permanent color till you have a clear understanding of the chemicals and the level system, it will turn out very badly. Semi is fine because its only deposit color, but permanent lifts and deposits. You need to take into consideration the stuff that is left on your hair when the darker pigments get lifted off.

http://killerstrands.blogspot.com/

Read everything there is to read here first if you want to start DIY hair color. It was very helpful to me. Then do about a million strand tests. Laughing

I actually liked Wella Colour Charm!
Used to get a golden brown shade and it looks so nice on me Smile

But I kind of got tired of doing that, and w a couple arm injuried in the past year or so have not dyed my own hair.

I also like the Sebastian hair gloss,but haven't bought that in ages.
I don't have any grey hair at all,so these might not be good for grey hair.

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