Calling all REDs. (Help a girl out)

My Problem:
My RED hair dye fades out almost immediately after my first wash. HELP!

The Background:
So I cut all my hair off in hopes of having verging hair again, so I could dye it a perfect vibrant 6RR ish red. The begining of this year it was long enough that I finally decided to dye it that color, got it professionally done, waited a few days without washing, no product. Then after the professional dyed it, it was perfect !!! Then I waited 2 days to wash and IT WASHED OUT! Every bit. I was back to a lighter auburn per usual, because that's my natural hair color. Sort of a light reddish brown.

So I wait a few months to repair and replenish the hair, using some protein products and do it all again this time attempting to do it myself with permanent red, and it happens again, washes out durring my first rinse after two or three days of waiting.

So I recover my hair as usual, making sure not to kill it by dying it over and over. and now that I felt my time was ready I made sure to wait for my oils to build up as they say for you to do. Then no product. Then dyed my hair. It was great! Then I decided to buy some color poo like the John Frieda reds and gloss for reds and did all that and finished off with a mask. This time the red is still a little bit there but now it just sort of looks like a light orange brown.

The Question:
Can someone please help me. I am looking for tips on what red dyes work best for vibrant colors whether it be from box or not. What products can I use to keep it? And am I don't something wrong to have it wash out so quickly every time. I know hair fades but not right after I'd think. Thanks.

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Does your colour fade with other hues? Could be the dye, could be your hair. Before the late 90s, I don't think I could have dyed my hair without serious damage first, but new formulations came along. I went to a master stylist also to get this done (and you don't get them everywhere) and dropped serious money every month...

Anonymous

I once heard that red is the most challenging color with which to work. I personally love it and think it is worth the effort ... especially if your red hair becomes your personal signature. If this is going to be the case, you might want to consider Rachylou's suggestion. Good luck.

Carla

Red is the most fugitive colour, and the dying process left my fading natural red a blonde within 3 weeks of getting it dyed the copper penny red I wanted. I have gone back to my natural/virgin hair, but use a shampoo for reds (Aveda) that does brighten the red without making the whites look orange!

I have read that some women add a little colour to their cream rinse to boost or refresh their colour. Never tried it myself, though.

Tina

Active Member

Red is hard. It took me more than a year to get the red to hold when I first changed from blond. Anything that had natural or colored highlights would let it go first and then the rest faded quickly.

Now it stays longer, but, especially in summer, any time spent outside lightens it up fast. Mine is professionally done about every 8 weeks. Usually, it's more than just a root touch up because of the fading.

Less washing is helps. I only use shampoo about once per week. It's also the water itself that picks up the pigment and takes it away so I only get it wet when I can't get it under control any other way. It's shorter now than in my picture, so it's usually sticking out all over by the time I get up in the morning!

Many people have recommended dry shampoo and even less washing.

Good luck. I thought about going back to blond but my natural color has gotten so much darker that I'd be having to do root touch even more often.

Isabel

Are you rinsing with cold water after dyein g ? I have read that vinegar is a good way to lock in hair color...but you should research this first for red hair I use it for my black hair.

amiable

I dye my hair red with henna rather than with chemical dyes - it washes out very slowly (it's permanent on my hair, but washes out slowly for some people). However, it doesn't play well with chemical dye, and after using henna to dye your hair, you cannot use chemical dye without risking burning the hair completely off.

Gigi

I don't have any experience with getting my hair dyed, but I think you are supposed to use a clarifying product before dying, to make sure that there isn't anything on the hair that would prevent the color from adhering. I think Sally's makes one--Ion Clarifying Treatment, I think. Did you use one of these? I would think you would have to go to a professional to find out what the problem is.

Category