What to know if you’re going from brunette to blonde

Hair dye: it’s just too tempting for most of us. Even if your natural colour is enviable to many, it’s likely that you’ve probably experimented- or wanted to experiment- with changing your shade at least once or twice. This isn’t usually a big fuss- one trip to the hairdressers’ or even a quick application of a shop-bought dye can give you the immediate results that you were after. But things can get a bit trickier if you’re naturally dark-haired, and the colour you want to go to is blonde.

THE MYTH: You can go from brown to blonde in one sitting.

This is, of course, a complete lie. If you want to naturally and professionally go from brown to blonde, it’s a lengthy, time-consuming process. You need patience if you want to make a good job of it. Hairdressers regularly have to turn away clients who want an “instant fix”, because they don’t believe they will be able to do a good enough job with such time limitations. Instead, your hairdresser will suggest you book in several appointments, depending on how dark you are and how light you wish to go, for a more steady lightening process.

So, what do you need to know? Firstly, if you have virgin (never-before dyed) hair, it will be a lot easier to go from brown to blonde. You’ll need it lifted if it’s been pre-dyed, which is a process in itself. Once you’ve found a salon you can trust, book an initial appointment and make sure you bring a picture in with you. It’s hard for your hairdresser to know exactly what you’re after if you don’t give them any clues. Showing them a picture is the easiest way to communicate how you would like the outcome to look.

If your hair is naturally light brown… your hairdresser will need to lift your colour a level or two, in order for it to be a more receptive base colour for blonde dye. Your hairdresser will then likely add a cooler blonde, before adding a warmer hue if desired. You will need at least two visits to the hairdressers’ to get the desired result.

If your hair is naturally dark brown… the lifting process will be the same as above, except your hair will need to be lifted a whole lot more to become the receptive base colour. It’s important to be aware that you will need to book a handful of appointments at the salon, including giving your hair a rest for at least a week between each one, so this is no quick process. But once your colour is lifted, your hairdresser can complete the job and treat you to whichever colour you have on your mind.

THE VERDICT: You can totally go from brown to blonde if you wish. You could even go from black to blonde, as long as you have the patience of a saint. But you should definitely bear in mind that it’s often a long process to reach the colour you desire.

P.S: Make sure you look after your newly-dyed blonde hair- it would be a shame to lose the colour quickly after so many treatments! There are plenty of shampoos, conditioners and hair masks available to maintain shine and hue. If you’re unsure which works best, your hairdresser will be only too happy to recommend.

Photo credit: Pinterest