BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Hair Black to blonde?!

Hello there!

I'm new to the forums and have a hair color question to ask. So, first, the background! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I've got black hair, pretty much as black as it can go, with natural brown highlights. The thing is, I'm currently tossing around the idea of coloring it to blonde, but I have no idea exactly what that may look like. Also, I've been throwing around the idea of getting blonde highlights or something. Like skunk stripes! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

So, is there anyone out there who've done the same thing and would like to tell me their experience on either of these two ideas? I'd love any input I can get my hands on!

Thanks!

Impatiens

Read a bit on the forum about the drastic change you want to do. I'm affraid it's a very damaging process in which lots of things can go wrong. I can remember that almost all black color hair has red pigment in them. Going blond by bleaching the hair will turn your hair in a nice shade of red.
So you will have to use it for a long time and with strong products. It will damage your hair A LOT!

I would seriously consider NOT doing this.
Did you try some software or discussed this with a hairdresser? Most people who go from black to blond drastically like you want to do are those who don't look good in blond. I would ask first and look for software so that you can see how you would look with blond hair.

Isa has a very good idea in trying one of the systems that let you see yourself as a blonde. Especially if you are considering all over blonde. It still will not tell you exactly what you will really look like but will give you an idea.

Also, if you go all blonde, you will have newgrowth in about 3 weeks. Since you have black hair, it will be VERY noticable so that means retouches every 3 weeks.

The blonde streaks are easier to do and to maintain if you like a really dramatic look.

Still, with either, there is the question of how long it will take to lighten your black hair to blonde. There is no way to tell without doing it. - You can do a strand test. Apply the product to one strand and see how it does.

Please please please consult a professional!

I've had many different hair colors, and a few big mistakes! I had to completely strip the color from my hair and put new color in. Left my hair very damaged!

The hair-color makers usually have 1-800 numbers you can also call for advise.

I have done this and I have to warn you it looked AWFUL! It did not look natural at all. I cannot express to you how bad it looked. I am Serbian so my coloring is naturally dark, hair and eyebrows. Blonde just will not look natural on me ever-I have finally accepted that I am just not meant to be a blonde (oh well). My hair turned almost white and I had BLACK roots on almost white hair every 2 weeks. Hideous! I look at pictures and think "What the heck was I thinking?"

If you really want a lighter coloring in your hair, I would suggest some honey colored highlights. My hairdresser does this to her own very dark hair and it looks beautiful.