by Erika Belding

Created on: June 23, 2008

So, you decided to dye your hair blonde for the coming summer months, or maybe you had previously dyed your hair darker, and just wish to return to that lovely lighter shade you had before. With all of the different brands and shades available, it can be quite a decision to pick that color you want to achieve. Depending on what your current hair color is, you can get a number of different outcomes if you are not aware of the correct protocols for such a procedure.

If you have a darker hair color; you may have purchased a bleaching kit. This in itself can either work very well, or turn into a horrible mess! Let's say that you have applied the bleach, and after waiting patiently to see your new blonde shade-you are shocked to find that your hair is a frighteningly bright shade of orange! This is often caused by not leaving the dye in long enough, or perhaps your hair was damaged before you applied the color. Either way, you have an awful looking shade! Definitely not the subtle blonde shade you had hoped for!

If this is you, there are a few things you can do to repair this problem. You can go to a salon and have a professional repair the damage, and recolor your hair to a more "normal" shade; or you can try to repair it yourself! If you choose the latter, then there are a few routes you can take.

Each time you bleach your hair, it damages the hair more and more, which will eventually lead to breakage or a "chemical haircut". Not something you would enjoy! So, with another bleaching session out of the question, what can you do? If you are truly adamant on achieving that blonde hair, you will have to invest in some hair care products which will help repair the damage from the bleach! You can find these at most Drug Stores and Pharmacies, and they should contain vitamins to help restore the hair follicle. (Most will specify that they are indeed for repairing damaged hair) After a few treatments, if you notice a change for the better in the condition of your hair, you may decide to apply a blonde shade of dye. (No bleach this time!) Refrain from using shades which include the word "ash" in the name, as they often turn hair to a shade of green! Apply as you would normal hair color, and watch as it works on your hair, so as to not go too light, and do not leave dye in more than 90 minutes!

If you choose to darken your hair after the "orange" predicament, you will need to have red pigment put back in your hair, as if you do not, darker colors will immediately begin to fade out. There are a few ways you can accomplish this! You can pay a visit to a salon and have a professional re-pigment your hair, and apply the darker shade for you, or once again, you can give it a home treatment! If you choose to do this at home, you will need a kit of red hair dye, and then the darker shade you prefer. Now, you will first be applying red to your hair-but not in the regular way! You will not be mixing the color with the developer (the white mixture in the bottle), but instead you will be directly applying the color to your hair. Do not leave this in your hair more than 10 minutes!

After you have rinsed the red color out, dry your hair, and you can apply the darker shade now, or wait until the next day-it is up to you! But always remember, if you are unsure of your abilities doing these things yourself, a professional is always there for you to consult and get these services from, as everyone's hair is different; different results can therefore happen!

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