OT: Highlights?

tarzy

I'd love to get some very subtle highlights, but can't afford to go to the salon right now.

I color my gray (I've done my own color for years) and I'm happy with the results, but from everything I read about highlights, they can be much trickier than overall color.

Has anyone done your own highlights at home? I've currently got level 6 neutral over about 75% gray (which is fairly resistant.) Ideally I'd love to get "caramel" highlights.

Any suggestions? Dire warnings?

14 years ago

General

7 replies

Latest reply was from Vani

(website)

Veteran

I have done my own and I think we have similar hair color. I had best luck with Feria highlights in caramel - I want to say C65 was the code. Application is key, though. Very fine strands instead of chunks work best. I end up using an old toothbrush sometimes instead of the wand or whatever tool comes in teh package.

14 years ago

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Highlights over dark dyed gray hair are very tricky. I've been begging for them for over a year. My hairdresser won't do it for me because she says it's too risky.

How about one of those multi-tone hair coloring kits? Some like Feria will lift color.
They smell really bad though! Be prepared!

14 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I should add that I've had my hair professionally highlighted twice, over the last 10 or 12 years with Goldwell products and I've used home semi permanent, all over, color 2 or 3 times, in addition to the once or twice yearly self highlights. So I do have 'leftover' dyes and such lingering around but not steady, all over, processing for years and years. Don't know if that helps, or matters much. Incidentally, I just stopped putting anything in this year and am pulling the greys as I see them lol.

14 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

Thanks Mo! I've looked at that kit many times! I wonder if I can just use the highlighting portion of the kit, since I've already done my main color. I would definitely do very thin strands.

Modgrl - how frustrating! I know it can be done! I wish it wasn't so expensive, but I realize we're paying for the expertise. I certainly don't want to end up with orange hair, lol.

14 years ago

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Tarzy, It's not even the money, I know it would be expensive. We are probably talking about a $200 dye job that would last less than a month. The reason my hairdresser doesn't want to do it is because the results can be unpredictable. You could come out with burnt orange hair. There's no way to get overdyed hair like mine to take on those dreamy caramel highlights.

14 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

Modgrl - thanks for the reality check. Sigh.

Caramel highlights ... you taunt me in my dreams ...

14 years ago

Vani

Veteran

Tara, I don't have overdyed hair I think but I do get overall black on my increasingly resistant and quite a bit greys with streaks of red on top (semi-permanent color) put in and the color has stayed on quite well (I am on my 13th week since my last color appt.). I do not get any color lifted off my natural hair color. I also don't wash my hair everyday (2-3 times a week at the most). Hope that helps!

14 years ago

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