Dishwater blonde now- ideas

[Anonymous]

After light highlighting for years, very li ght, I grew all my hair out last year. I am a dark very warm blonde with a just a vague layer of a little bit of whte that has come in largely on top, hardly any underneath. In my age group, women are largely all gray. Some still dye, most do not. For whatever reason, i have hardly any gray, but what little I do have, is right on top.
I miss my warm blonde unfettered by the white. All the white has done, even the small amount of it,
is dull the warmness and it doesn't flatter my skin, which is very pale. But,- I HATE dying my hair and feel free of that job.

Should I continue to highlight, or maybe use a gloss? Or leave it alone and learn to like it?

[Anonymous]

How old are you?

I’m 54 and everyone one still covers grays that I know. Even my 80-year old mother colors her hair.

[Anonymous]

Try an at home toner first. It’s the least costly ($ and time). If you don’t like it then go get HL again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try an at home toner first. It’s the least costly ($ and time). If you don’t like it then go get HL again

How does a toner work? How is it different than a dye?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are you?

I’m 54 and everyone one still covers grays that I know. Even my 80-year old mother colors her hair.

63

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try an at home toner first. It’s the least costly ($ and time). If you don’t like it then go get HL again

How does a toner work? How is it different than a dye?

NP. I wouldn't use a toner. Toner is basically purple color used to tone down warm tones. When hair is bleached (including highlights, balyage, whatever) it can have brassy tones, and the purple toner counteracts the brassiness. I like my hair very cool and ashy and I don't want my hair to be warm at all when it is highlighted -- so I make sure they use a toner.

A toner isn't going to help you with the white hairs on top at all. And it might cool down the warm tones in your hair, which you like.

[Anonymous]

Are you retired yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you retired yet?

No, part time professor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try an at home toner first. It’s the least costly ($ and time). If you don’t like it then go get HL again

How does a toner work? How is it different than a dye?

NP. I wouldn't use a toner. Toner is basically purple color used to tone down warm tones. When hair is bleached (including highlights, balyage, whatever) it can have brassy tones, and the purple toner counteracts the brassiness. I like my hair very cool and ashy and I don't want my hair to be warm at all when it is highlighted -- so I make sure they use a toner.

A toner isn't going to help you with the white hairs on top at all. And it might cool down the warm tones in your hair, which you like.

Not all toners are cool with purple tones. You can get neutral and warm toners -- while colorists will use purple toners on bleached hair to combat brassiness and yellowing, they will also use a more neutral blue toner on brunettes to address orange tones and add richness to the brown color, or copper toners to reds/auburns to add dimension and warmth and avoid that kind of flat, dull cast that dyed hair sometimes gets. You can also tone undyed hair. Bleached hair accepts toner most effectively, but pretty much any hair color or condition can benefit from a toner. A lot of at-home toners are combined with conditioning oils and other moisturizers to improve the overall appearance of the hair. Toners don't last very long (a couple weeks) but are also easy to reapply and not as hard on your hair as bleach or permanent dyes, so there's no reason not to continue using them.

OP, if you want to try this at home, look at the overTone line -- they have several warmer tones and it's very easy to use at home. It's subtle though -- don't expect a dramatic shift. Kristin Ess also makes a similar line... I can't remember if they call them glosses or glazes? But I'd check that one out as well -- as I recall it also really boosted shine, which can help with making hair that is graying look fresher and healthier, since graying hair tends to lose moisture and shine.

If the at home versions don't give you the results you want, though, I'd see a colorist and explain your issue. They WILL want to put highlights back in, because toning bleached hair will get more dramatic results and also will make it easier to blend in the white/gay hairs. But it just depends on how dramatically you want to change the color. I totally get wanting to be done with dye, but if you don't like your natural color, your options are somewhat limited. You'll need to weight your maintenance preference against the degree to which you can embrace your current color.

But start with overTone or the Kristin Ess product first. You might find it's just enough for you to feel good about what you have going on right now, and you don't have to go in for a professional treatment. You sound pretty low maintenance, so this might be the perfect option for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try an at home toner first. It’s the least costly ($ and time). If you don’t like it then go get HL again

How does a toner work? How is it different than a dye?

NP. I wouldn't use a toner. Toner is basically purple color used to tone down warm tones. When hair is bleached (including highlights, balyage, whatever) it can have brassy tones, and the purple toner counteracts the brassiness. I like my hair very cool and ashy and I don't want my hair to be warm at all when it is highlighted -- so I make sure they use a toner.

A toner isn't going to help you with the white hairs on top at all. And it might cool down the warm tones in your hair, which you like.

Not all toners are cool with purple tones. You can get neutral and warm toners -- while colorists will use purple toners on bleached hair to combat brassiness and yellowing, they will also use a more neutral blue toner on brunettes to address orange tones and add richness to the brown color, or copper toners to reds/auburns to add dimension and warmth and avoid that kind of flat, dull cast that dyed hair sometimes gets. You can also tone undyed hair. Bleached hair accepts toner most effectively, but pretty much any hair color or condition can benefit from a toner. A lot of at-home toners are combined with conditioning oils and other moisturizers to improve the overall appearance of the hair. Toners don't last very long (a couple weeks) but are also easy to reapply and not as hard on your hair as bleach or permanent dyes, so there's no reason not to continue using them.

OP, if you want to try this at home, look at the overTone line -- they have several warmer tones and it's very easy to use at home. It's subtle though -- don't expect a dramatic shift. Kristin Ess also makes a similar line... I can't remember if they call them glosses or glazes? But I'd check that one out as well -- as I recall it also really boosted shine, which can help with making hair that is graying look fresher and healthier, since graying hair tends to lose moisture and shine.

If the at home versions don't give you the results you want, though, I'd see a colorist and explain your issue. They WILL want to put highlights back in, because toning bleached hair will get more dramatic results and also will make it easier to blend in the white/gay hairs. But it just depends on how dramatically you want to change the color. I totally get wanting to be done with dye, but if you don't like your natural color, your options are somewhat limited. You'll need to weight your maintenance preference against the degree to which you can embrace your current color.

But start with overTone or the Kristin Ess product first. You might find it's just enough for you to feel good about what you have going on right now, and you don't have to go in for a professional treatment. You sound pretty low maintenance, so this might be the perfect option for you.

Wow, thanks! I will check this out because if it lasts just a couple of weeks, it can't hurt, right?

I appreciate it!