xoxo
So, it's been a while. A long while. I didn't mean to let this little project drop, but in all honesty, other things distracted me from regularly updating this. So...long explanation short - it got put on the back burner and was completely forgotten after a while. However, recently, I re-dyed my hair a gorgeous vibrant red. And with it, I found a couple of tips on how to keep it that vibrant red.
First things first, the type of dye I use for my hair is one that doesn't require me to bleach my hair before preparing it to become red.
What I use is a product called Loreal Techniques Excellence Hi-Color HiLights for DARK HAIR ONLY. I mix two of their most popular colors called: Red and Magenta. Now if you look at the color codes on both the boxes, you'll see that Magenta and Red are the closest to each other. The other red colors that you'll find are more copper based where as these two are the ONLY two that have a pink base. So that basically means, when your hair fades, it wont turn orange but more of a pink tone.
Now these aren't are your drugstore ready made dyes that have the pre-measured developers. For this product, you actually have to measure out needed developer (which you buy separately) and mix together with the product. This product only includes the tubes of color.
So onto the next product that you would have to buy: developer.
Depending on how "light" you want the color, you would choose between Loreal's Oreor Creme developer in the number 30 or higher. The higher the number, the brighter the dye is going to be on your hair. The highest you can use is 40 (which is what I used).
& now onto the next item you'll be needing to mix and apply all these products with: an empty applicator bottle.
So next, at whatever beauty store you purchase your items from you would also buy an empty applicator bottle that can preferably hold liquids of 8 oz. or more. Any less and you wont be able to mix the two dyes WITH the creme developer in the same bottle without it overflowing. This item can usually be purchased for less that $2 at any beauty supply store.
Latex gloves is also another needed item for dying your hair. Because this is a very saturated color, if you get any of it on your nails, fingers, or hands, it will stain your skin. So my suggestion is getting one size bigger than what you would normally wear. This will ensure that you're finger won't rip through the latex glove and cover itself in the dye.
The Process:
Before mixing or applying the color to your hair, measure out a half cup of the extra virgin olive oil and heat it up in a container of any sort for about 15 seconds in the microwave. Then apply it to your hair, especially your ends. Leave it in as you do the rest of the dying process.
For the developer you measure out 5 oz. of the creme developer into the empty applicator and then add in both tubes of the dye. The reason I use both Red and Magenta is to balance out the type of color I get. Because I'd rather get a vibrant red than a red than leans more towards pink, I mix the two dyes. If you'd rather just use ONE dye for your hair, you'd only have to measure out 2.4 oz. of the creme developer into the applicator then add in the tube of dye. For both, you'd measure out 5 oz. and then both tubes of dyes and mix it all together using a gloved hand with one finger over the opening of the nozzle.
After shaking up the contents of the applicator, you apply the dye to your hair ONLY AFTER all of the color is mixed. This means no white of the creme developer should be visible in the bottle. Then with your gloved hands, apply all of the dye to your hair over the olive oil. The oil helps the pigments stick to the hair making the color a lot more vibrant and rich.
After applying, put your hair in the clear shower cap and use the lowest setting on a hair dryer to blow dry your hair with the dye and olive oil on it through the shower cap for about 10 minutes.
The dye should be left in your hair for a total of 45 minutes tops.
When the 45 minutes are up, wash your hair in COLD water. Not freezing cold, but bearable cold. Warm/Hot water and steam wash out a majority of the dye from your hair. So from that point on, after dying your hair, to preserve the color you would use only cold water. Use a shampoo and conditioner that has color protectant in it and wash your hair till you notice very little of the color being washed out into the drain.
Towel dry your hair and apply any kind of moisturizer/frizz ease serum of your choice to your hair and you're done.
FUTURE CARE:
From this point on, the best thing to do for your hair is to give it extra virgin hot oil treatments 2x a week. This means heating up the oil, applying to your hair, putting your hair in a clear shower cap and blow drying it through the shower cap on the lowest setting for 10 mins, then leaving it in your hair until you're ready to shower and wash it out with COLD water. How long you leave the oil in your hair is up to you. My only advice is to make sure you dip the ends of your hair into the oil before applying to the rest because you want your ends to get the most of the treatment since those tend to try out the most and get hit with the most damage.
Use only cold water to wash your hair. Only wash your hair 2-3x a week with shampoo & conditioner.
To keep your hair moisturized on days you're not washing it, Use Got2B's smooth operater: smoothing lustre lotion. This product keeps your hair smelling amazing and also smooth without the greasy feeling or look. Just apply 2 to 3 pumps in your hands, rub together, and apply all over to your hair while focusing on your ends. Comb your hair directly after to spread the product.
If you're a fan of straightening or curling or even blow drying your hair, use Got2b's Guardian Angel which is a heat protectant for your hair. So before doing any heat damage to your hair, spray this all over, comb the product into your hair and then use whatever you normally would that applies heat to your hair with confidence.
Using this method, you can keep the color in your hair for a lot longer than it would normally last. With cold water, your hair dye will only run a little rather than the bucket loads that come out while washing it in hot/warm. And washing it 2-3 times a week will lessen how much dye leaves your hair. For 2-3 of the days that you DO wash your hair, use the hot oil treatment to keep your hair super moisturized.
Doing all of this will ensure that the dye will stay vibrant and only by the 3rd or 4th week will you NEED to reapply the hair dye again.
Good luck lovers! I hope this helps someone out there looking to keep their hair color rich and vibrant and for a lot longer than before.
