How to Get Your Natural Hair Color Back to Brown After Permanent Copper Hair Dye (No Bleaching)
Giving your hair a tint-back after dyeing it with copper requires careful consideration and a strategic approach. If you want to transition your hair from a vibrant copper shade to a natural brown, you might need to start with a semi-permanent tint. This method allows you to gently ease back into a brown tonality without risking excessive hair damage.
Why Use a Semi-Permanent Tint?
Using a semi-permanent tint is the recommended approach for several reasons. First, it allows you to gradually and safely reintroduce brown pigments to your hair without putting too much strain on your hair's health. If you were to use a full-permanent dye every time, your hair might suffer from overprocessing and damage.
If you were a professional client, a different method might be employed, but as an individual, it's best to ease into the process. This gradual approach gives you flexibility in future adjustments without risking further damage with a 20 volume developer, which is typically used for permanent hair dyes.
Strand Test for Precise Results
Before you dive into the tint-back process, it's crucial to perform a strand test. Take a small section of hair, about the size of a pencil's diameter, and apply the dye from root to tip following the processing time instructions. This test will help you anticipate the outcome and make any necessary adjustments.
Observe how the hair at the ends compares to the shaft. If the ends are more porous and absorb more ash pigment, focus on applying the dye only to the shaft for the last 10 minutes of processing. In some cases, you might find that the natural brown is sufficient for the ends, with no need to add any ash at all. The goal is to avoid creating an uneven look with darker ends and lighter shafts.
Choosing the Right Color Combination
For your natural brown to look natural, start with an equal mix of natural brown and a cool ash brown. Your choice of shade should reflect your original natural level of brown, typically one shade level lighter than your natural color. This combination ensures that you are reintroducing the right amount of brown pigments without overcorrecting or undercorrecting.
If you still see a lot of red in your hair, you can increase the ratio of ash brown to natural brown. This adjustment can be safely made in a week without causing additional damage. However, it's important to closely monitor your hair's condition and make any necessary adjustments to avoid overprocessing.
Maintenance and Care
No matter the strength of the developer used, tint-back procedures require maintenance color correction until your original hair color fully grows back. The exact degree of maintenance will depend on the warmth you feel is appropriate for your hair color.
Additionally, it's important to note that semi-permanent shades can build over time, potentially holding as much like a permanent color. Therefore, regular color maintenance is crucial to maintain the desired shade. Using high-quality professional shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for colored hair is also essential to preserve the health and appearance of your hair.
With a careful process and proper care, you can successfully transition your hair back to its natural brown tone after copper dyeing.
Hope this helps and good luck!