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Thread: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

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    Featured Member Glamgirl's Avatar
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    Default Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    I have been having my naturally very dark blonde hair highlighted golden and pale blonde for over a year now and i love the colour. But unfortunately i cant afford to keep going to the salon. It seems wrong to be spending £100 getting my hair cut and coloured when i can use the cash to pay off bills.
    Soooo is there anyway i can stay blonde by colouring at home? I'm not too fussed about keeping the highlights, i just want to stay blonde.

    When i was a brunette i used to colour my hair at home all the time wih no problems so i am pretty confident in at home dyes. I just dont want to mess up my blonde.

    Help appreciated

    ETA: Just added a pic, my hair is slightly blonder than that now and i have a couple of inches of regrowth. (Not the best quality pic, the colourings are off)
    A Good Girl With Bad Intentions

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    Featured Member saphire123456's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    i have recently run into the same dilemma, as i was trying to maintain my bleached blond to the tune of $75 every 5 weeks. my solution was training my boyfriend and my brother to color my roots. (when one is not available the other does it) i've been doing it for around 7 months now (5 touchups total) and i am very happy with the results and saving tons of money. the only downside is that i don't trust them to do highlights so my hair is all one color. to get the right stuff just go to a beauty supply store and ask them which stuff would be best. i go from very dark brown to very light blond so i buy the 40 volume cream and the bleach powder and keep it on for 20 minutes. The other option is to find a beauty school nearby that will do it at a discount (i get my facials that way)
    These days I like to count my money. I like to wash it delicately and iron it. Sometimes I dry it with some bounty to make it all nice and cuddly. I love my money... did I say that out loud?

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    Featured Member Glamgirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    Thats a good idea, i will pop into Sallys at the weekend.
    So am i mixing up the colour i want or will it be bleaching and then adding the colour? Or do i pick the colour and add the bleach to that? I want to keep it nice and golden and am worried abut going too light. How about toners, do you use them? Sorry to sound stupid, i just dont want to mess up.
    A Good Girl With Bad Intentions

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    Featured Member saphire123456's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    Quote Originally Posted by Glamgirl View Post
    Thats a good idea, i will pop into Sallys at the weekend.
    So am i mixing up the colour i want or will it be bleaching and then adding the colour? Or do i pick the colour and add the bleach to that? I want to keep it nice and golden and am worried abut going too light. How about toners, do you use them? Sorry to sound stupid, i just dont want to mess up.
    yeah i got my stuff from sallys too they generally know what they're talking about there. you mix a lightnening powder with the cream developer (i just looked at my boxes) the powder is standard i think but htere are different levels of the developer depending on the level of bleach you want to acheive - i think mine's the highest cause i'm doing a really drastic change. i don't use toners but i use a purple shampoo to keep it from going brassy. they'll prolly be able to help you more at sallys
    These days I like to count my money. I like to wash it delicately and iron it. Sometimes I dry it with some bounty to make it all nice and cuddly. I love my money... did I say that out loud?

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    Featured Member Glamgirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    Yea it is the developer volumes im unsure about, they confuse me lol
    Thanx again
    A Good Girl With Bad Intentions

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    Veteran Member Ruby Ruckus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    developer volumes are based on how easy your hair is to lighten. 5 is the weakest, 40 is as strong as you'd want to go. choose your developer based on what color your hair is naturally, what condition it's in, and how easily it takes color. any time i've ever had highlights, i've had to use 40 volume. my hair is pretty light, but it's red, and it is persistent in its color.

    based on your picture, if i were you, i'd try a 12A or a 12N with 30 vol peroxide at the lightest. if you're a little darker than i think you are, a level 11 with 30 vol. if your hair takes color easily and lightens quickly, jump down to 20 vol and you'll probably be good.
    "If she wants to dance and drink all night, well there's no one that can stop her. She's going til the house lights come up or her stomach spills onto the floor. This night is gonna end when we're damn well ready for it to be over, worked all week long, and now the music is playing on our time. Yeah we do what we do to get by, and then we need a release!" - Against Me!, "Thrash Unreal"

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    Featured Member saphire123456's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    aww good someone who knows hair chemicals, what is this 12 a, 11 you speak of?
    These days I like to count my money. I like to wash it delicately and iron it. Sometimes I dry it with some bounty to make it all nice and cuddly. I love my money... did I say that out loud?

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    Featured Member Glamgirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    Thanx for the advice girls. I have just changed salon and this one charges £56 inc cut and blowdry and unlimited colours so that is much more affordable.
    I was a little scared to do it at home
    A Good Girl With Bad Intentions

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    Veteran Member Ruby Ruckus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    Quote Originally Posted by saphire123456 View Post
    aww good someone who knows hair chemicals, what is this 12 a, 11 you speak of?
    the number is the level of the color. the higher the number, the lighter the color is. the letter refers to the tone of the color. a means ash, n means natural (i think, it's been a few years) which just refers to a brownish tint, r red, o orange, etc.

    so my natural hair color is an 8 r/o, because it's pretty light, and it has red and orange tones in it.

    black hair is 1n, dark brown is 2n, etc.
    "If she wants to dance and drink all night, well there's no one that can stop her. She's going til the house lights come up or her stomach spills onto the floor. This night is gonna end when we're damn well ready for it to be over, worked all week long, and now the music is playing on our time. Yeah we do what we do to get by, and then we need a release!" - Against Me!, "Thrash Unreal"

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    Veteran Member Rockell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    I use a boxed bleaching kit from Sally's it's called SuperBlue from Loreal. Just mix it with the developing cream, and you'll get pretty good results, it's not too brassy at all. I do like a more natural, ashy color myself, so after I bleach my roots, I apply a boxed haircolor to my entire head. The whole process costs about $12, and I always get compliments on the color.

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    Featured Member pixierocksonthepole's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    Note that having brunette hair (this goes for everyone) means that it takes the longest to bring to blonde. Blue, Red, and Yellow are the primary colors in our hair. Blue - Brunette :actually comes out easily. Red- red hair takes the absolute longest to lighten. Yellow - blonde use low volume developers.

    High volume developers on anyone could burn you and if you are doing it at home then you should just try a lower volume.

    And the purple shampoo is great stuff!! Kinda stains your hands if you aren't careful though lol.





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    Featured Member cottoncandy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    I did the bleach powder with a high developer (don't remember the number) from Sallys a few years ago for one year. It gave me platinum blonde hair but after that year my hair was very damaged and was breaking off. If you're going to go very light blonde I'd recommend leaving it to the professionals as it can be very damaging. Some of those bleach powders and kits they sell at Sallys are much stronger than what they sell at the drugstore so they are more damaing. I'm not telling you not to color your own hair, just be careful with it maybe use a lower developer and watch to see if it looks damaged.

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    God/dess Mare's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    This is exactly why I'm thinking of going and getting my hair back to my own color- which is mostly grown out by now.
    I like the blonde, but very high maintenance and I HATE doing my own. Did it for years w/ colorsilk ultra light natural blonde. Works great- no amonia smell. And I went from a reddish brown to very light blonde.( tanning at the time lightened it even more.

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    Veteran Member Ruby Ruckus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    of note: tanning can often times turn hair a brassy color. sunlight exposure lightens hair sometimes, and darkens it others. it all depends on your hair chemistry (including the chemistry of your color)
    "If she wants to dance and drink all night, well there's no one that can stop her. She's going til the house lights come up or her stomach spills onto the floor. This night is gonna end when we're damn well ready for it to be over, worked all week long, and now the music is playing on our time. Yeah we do what we do to get by, and then we need a release!" - Against Me!, "Thrash Unreal"

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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    I'll tell you my secret... tipping well! I went through 7 stylists in a year before I found one that I liked. I tip her really well, and she rings me up for something cheap. My total after tip comes out to about $80. On the other hand, I'm not a pain in the butt. She knows that if she screws up I won't get mad and won't go to a different stylist. I like her work, but also her personality. Just find someone you like who can cut you a good deal.
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    Veteran Member Ruby Ruckus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    most stylists won't cut you that good of a deal. you got lucky kylea!
    "If she wants to dance and drink all night, well there's no one that can stop her. She's going til the house lights come up or her stomach spills onto the floor. This night is gonna end when we're damn well ready for it to be over, worked all week long, and now the music is playing on our time. Yeah we do what we do to get by, and then we need a release!" - Against Me!, "Thrash Unreal"

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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    I'm so tired of bein blonde. A week ago I got my roots touched up and some low lights, she charged me $175! I think its because she knows I dance and probably thinks I have a lot of money. Its a recession bitch!

    I like the way she did my hair, but I think i might find someone who wont charge so damn much.
    "There's no such thing as free titties!"

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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    I buy the Wal-mart stuff, its Loreal I think....works well for me. Mine is blonde on top, black underneath. Pic from the last home bleaching

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    God/dess Kylea2's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ruby Ruckus View Post
    most stylists won't cut you that good of a deal. you got lucky kylea!
    I've had 3 that gave me great deals. The key is not freaking out on them and being super-super nice. Plus the more you come in, the more of a deal they will give you.
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    Quote Originally Posted by echomadison View Post
    I buy the Wal-mart stuff, its Loreal I think....works well for me. Mine is blonde on top, black underneath. Pic from the last home bleaching
    whats your natural hair color?
    These days I like to count my money. I like to wash it delicately and iron it. Sometimes I dry it with some bounty to make it all nice and cuddly. I love my money... did I say that out loud?

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    Featured Member echomadison's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    Quote Originally Posted by saphire123456 View Post
    whats your natural hair color?
    Mousy brown, check the roots...

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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    I got so sick of going to stylists who RUINED my hair (and by that, I mean it broke off to the point where I had to get a pixie cut 1.5 yrs. ago) that I started doing it at home and here is a pic of the L'Oreal box color I use to get platinum blonde:



    My hair is naturally a medium brown with dirty blonde on top.

    Here is how my hair turns out (although this picture makes it look slightly more yellow than it is in person):

    [IMG][/IMG]

    It's a great kit if you want to do it at home ... I've never had any problems with it! The only thing I would recommend is it may need to stay on a *little* bit longer than the directions state to keep away from the brassy look, but definitely NO longer than an hour or it will fry your hair (I did that on accident to the baby hairs around my face)!
    Originally Posted by MarvelGirl
    I am, however, very concerned about hair syphillis. I can't seem to find any information about this horrible disease caused by high heels. Somebody please, help me out here before I catch it.

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

    What you think about and thank about, you bring about. xox Lexi

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    Featured Member Glamgirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    Your colour looks beautiful
    A Good Girl With Bad Intentions

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    Veteran Member lexi2008's Avatar
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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    Quote Originally Posted by Glamgirl View Post
    Your colour looks beautiful
    Thank you sweetheart So does yours!
    Originally Posted by MarvelGirl
    I am, however, very concerned about hair syphillis. I can't seem to find any information about this horrible disease caused by high heels. Somebody please, help me out here before I catch it.

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

    What you think about and thank about, you bring about. xox Lexi

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    Default Re: Maintaining blondeness on a budget?

    I've turned to bleaching my own hair too and it not only SAVES me money but it comes out better and takes less time!! my trick is to use a violet based toner from sallys. takes the yellow brassiness out and leaves my hair a pale blonde white...people actually think my haircolor is natural LoL buy the big tub of lightener, a 40 volumn creme developer and a little bottle of the toner which u mix with developer usually 20 vol.

    before it'd cost me 120+ to just touch up the stupid roots every 5-6 weeks. Now I do it for under 10 bucks each time at my own convienience!!

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