Hair color advice, please

cantdrive55 · ‎03-09-2010

Hi,

I have been using a professional ammonia free Schwarzkopf Essensity permanent color at home for several years.i started going lighter from a 7-0 to a 8-0, but now I feel it's too light.

Of course, Schwarzkopf doesn't return calls or emails, so I would appreciate your advice. It's a great product, with beautiful coverage and dimensional color.

I'm thinking to be cautious to start and mix 1/2 of 7-0 & 8-0 go a little darker/less yellow.
Thoughts?

Also, I've read to do the roots for 25 minutes and then pull the color through for 15 minutes. True? I've never had to do that as the color stays beautifully
How much color& developer (in grams) will I need to mix up to cover all my shoulder length hair?

Thank you for helping me!

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

@cantdrive55 I do NOT use an ammonia-free formula, so I can only answer regarding my use of Professional Goldwell color that I use.

I mix lots of colors together to get the shade I want. For my roots, half of it has to be a Neutral which is what is needed to cover the grays, but that may be TMI.

I first do the roots and then mix up a 2nd batch withouth the Neutral since I'm not covering gray on my length. I color red which fades, so putting color on my lengths is a must. I ony use 10 Vol peroxide on the length whereas I use 20 Vol on the roots. I could also use a demi-permanent color if I wanted per Goldwell, but that would require me to have 2 full sets of color since you can't use Permanent color with the Demi-Permanent solution.

For the length I mix up a batch of 6 Teaspoons of color, which equates to 1 oz. and 1 oz of the peroxide. My hair is barely shoulder length right now, but I have a short neck. There's always some left over though.

Hope this helps.

Shelbelle · ‎03-09-2010

I use Revlon Colorsilk exclusively for the last 27 years, permanent and ammonia free and very inexpensive.

foxywoods · ‎05-28-2010

too yellow means you are using a Warm or Gold shade. You could use a Neutral or "N".

TBH a 1/2 step level either way makes little difference

Effie54 · ‎09-08-2010

Hi. Yes, you can definitely mix 50% of each color to achieve the look you're going for. As a rule, stylists leave the root color on for 20-25 minutes (depending on hair porosity) and the rest for about 10-15 minutes. If you never needed to, then go with what you're used to (what works for you). I wouldn't know the exact gram weight to use. What I do when I use a tube color, is a 1;1 ration. Meaning the ounces of hair color is the same amount for developer.

ID2 · ‎06-25-2012

Make an appt with an professional to get it done right. I used to highlight my own hair years ago before I had gray. I now get my hair colored and highlighted professionally and couldn't be happier! And my hair looks soooo much better!

"Pure Michigan"

PrettyGerl · ‎04-14-2015

@ID2 wrote:
Make an appt with an professional to get it done right. I used to highlight my own hair years ago before I had gray. I now get my hair colored and highlighted professionally and couldn't be happier! And my hair looks soooo much better!

Agree. Professional colour, highlights I don't skimp on. The quality, the experience is invaluable. A non negotiable for me. I can change colour, change anything on a whim without worry. And if I don't like, change to something else.

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

@PrettyGerl wrote:
@ID2 wrote:
Make an appt with an professional to get it done right. I used to highlight my own hair years ago before I had gray. I now get my hair colored and highlighted professionally and couldn't be happier! And my hair looks soooo much better!
Agree. Professional colour, highlights I don't skimp on. The quality, the experience is invaluable. A non negotiable for me. I can change colour, change anything on a whim without worry. And if I don't like, change to something else.

And I disagree. I would never do highligts on myself, but I have been coloring my own hair for years. I use pro color. I get compliments on it all the time, even from stylists in the shop that I go to to get my cuts.

Not everybody can afford a professional color. I have to color every 5 weeks and my hairdresser said she can't even go that long. If a wet hair cut (no drying/styling) costs $65, imagine what a color would cost. Plus, I only get a cut every 6 weeks, but color every 5 weeks. That can add up to a lot of money.

I did get professional color a couple of times. The first time I got color and highlights which were very nice. But, that was too difficult to maintain. The other time they got it too dark, almost goth. All you can do at that point is either wait for it to fade or use a color remover and be ready to color immediately after that because the resulting color will more than likely be in the orange family. It's that orange phase that people who try to go from dark to blonde often have difficulty getting past.

I was just in getting a perm and my hairdresser told me I could color on Thursday, although I plan to do it next Thursday. Another time we discussed the process and what products I used besides the color itself and she jokingly said "Do you want a job?" I've been going to her for years and won't give her up because she gives great perms. She's not the one who colored my hair too dark.