Hey my clever people,
I've got a dilemma and I'd love some advice.
Naturally I have dark golden blonde hair and have been highlighting it for a couple of years. About two years ago I dyed it red with Schwarzkopf and after about six weeks I went over with Schwarzkopf Iced Blonde. So that lightened my hair - bleaching it I guess - it was a yellowish colour, but my hairdresser dyed it back my natural colour.
Anyway, in January a different hairdresser egged me into getting bright red hair when I'd only come in for more highlights. So I've been topping it up with L’Oreal Feria Mango Intense and about three weeks ago I put Paprika Power on it (only for half the time because I was afraid it would go too orange).
What I'd like is to get my hair back to its natural colour, it's above my shoulders and I treat it regularly with masks. I think it's in good condition, but I'm not a hair specialist. What do I do to get it back to blonde? If I buy a toner/colour with greenish tinges onto my hair, what colour would it turn out??
Thanks my bunnies!
Junie, Winchester
Hi Junie,
Wow you have gone for a lot of changes this year! Colour changes are a complicated business and should always be done by a professional, especially as you already have lots going on. But let’s see if we can help you!
Can I go from dyed red hair to blonde?
To take any colour that is darker than blonde to blonde, you would need to have the starting colour lifted. So, in your case going from dyed red hair to blonde, a colourist would first need to lift out the red pigment, usually using bleach, and then placing your desired blonde on top. Toners and highlights may also be required. So your question of “can you go from red to blonde” is simple enough, but there will be a fair amount of work carried out by a professional in order to get you there.
The best thing for you to do now, and the healthiest way, would be to give it time and allow the colour to fade naturally for a little while. You said you have highlights underneath and red loves to fade, so using a deep cleansing shampoo is a great way to gently remove colour. It’s great that you regularly use treatments and that will help with the long-term condition.
How to go from dyed red hair to blonde
To go from dyed red hair to blonde you first need to know the shade of blonde you are wanting to achieve. There are countless blonde shades to choose from, so be specific. You may decide to lighten your red hair to a strawberry blonde. Once you have selected your blonde, it’s time to prepare for a big colour change, like going from dyed red hair to blonde – a big change! Colour changes like these sometimes need multiple applications, so don’t expect to step away after your first application with the perfect blonde. Taking dyed red hair to blonde will require bleach, especially if you are wanting to go a light blonde shade. Do not attempt to bleach your hair at home, this must always be carried out by a professional! Get bleach wrong, and you can wreck your hair to an unsalvageable degree!! Once the hair has been lightened and the red stripped from the hair, your desired blonde can then be applied. Your colourist may also decide to apply highlights if the blonde needs a little extra. Highlights are great at tying the colour together. You can add babylights throughout your hair for a youthful, sun-kissed style. If you really want to have some fun and play with both your red and your blonde hues, you can try some looks that combine the colours. Try red hair with blonde balayage, a simpler red hair with blonde highlights, or a red to blonde ombré.
Does red hair fade back to blonde naturally?
If the red is dark, then there is a chance that it will fade to a darkish brown, due to the colour staining the cuticle. With dyed red hair on blonde, it will possibly fade to an orange tone, and it will take a while to fade. So red hair doesn’t fade back to blonde. If you’re hoping for it to fade naturally, then I doubt this will work. You’d be best to let it grow out, if that’s the route you want to go down.
The best advice I could give you would be to have an in-depth consultation with your colourist, they would be able to assess your hair and recommend the right direction for you.