Hair Dye

So, I've been thinking about dying my hair. You know that two-tone look where the top half is one color (usually lighter) and the bottom is another. I'd like to do that with blonde on top and red on bottom. I want light blonde, but I'm having trouble finding the red I want. http://www.contentwire.com/img/9Av8DR8mYdNnnN gD.jpg
That's about the color I'm thinking. Any thoughts about that under a light blonde?

Also, any recommendations about at-home coloring? I was thinking of having the blonde done and doing the red myself, but maybe I'll do both myself. or get both done. Obviously I'm having trouble figuring this all out... hehe, imput would be appreciated =)

I don't know... I think it kind of depends on what you're natural hair color is to begin with.  Some colors don't look all that great on 'other' people, in my opinion.

I used to have a chunk of red (like the 'red' in your link) on top of my hair.... my natural color is dark brown, but against the red it looked darker.  I really liked it.  To get that particular color of red.... what I did, is bleached that particular area until it was orangish (not exactly blonde) then used a blood or cherry red coloring on the bleached area.  eventually it starts to fade, so you'll have some upkeep, but it's worth it if you like it  :D   oh oh oh... and the reason 'some' people bleach that chunk of the hair until it's an orangish instead of blonde, is because (supposedly) it helps the red to not fade as quickly.

I couldn't EVER see myself doing the blonde on top though, (unless they were just chunked highlights, which I have had also). I think I'd look pretty nasty when the roots started to grow out.  However... i would TOTALLY do the red thingy.

I'm not saying ALL people would look nasty with dark roots... I'm just saying I think I would.  <<----just had do add that little tidbit for all the 'fakeblondes'blondes with black/dark roots out there so they wont pounce on me.   like i said... not EVERYONE looks nasty with dark roots  :/  

to each her own   ;)

**********edited for clarity

I agree with moodymamma, it depends on what your natural hair color is. If your hair is too dark, you might not get the blonde color you want. The red you're looking at is INCREDIBLE! If your hair is naturally dark, maybe consider going to a caramel brown instead of all the way blonde.

I don't know that I would do the red at home after you've gotten the blonde done professionally, only because I think it might be too easy to end up with some of that blonde dyed red.

Hey thanks for the imput guys. I guess my natural hair color would be helpful. I'm already naturally a medium/darkish blonde. I just want to lighten it a bit- definitely nothing too 'fake' looking hopefully. I'm not too worried about going lighter, as I've done it before and it seemed fine.

Oh, and moodymamma, you said you bleached yours to an orangish color. If I bleach mine it will definitely be more yellow than orange, would you bleach first or just try it over natural hair?

My natural hair color is a medium/darkish ashe blonde. I've had all kinds of hair color except very dark brown/black. My skin tone is pale/pinkish. The darker colors wash my face out too much. I've had very bright reds and looked great and I've been platinum and looked great.

I've not done the blonde/red thing, but I've seen it look good on people. I think you've got a great idea.

I suggest for your first time having someone do it professionally.

Original Post by jessica3215:

Hey thanks for the imput guys. I guess my natural hair color would be helpful. I'm already naturally a medium/darkish blonde. I just want to lighten it a bit- definitely nothing too 'fake' looking hopefully. I'm not too worried about going lighter, as I've done it before and it seemed fine.

Oh, and moodymamma, you said you bleached yours to an orangish color. If I bleach mine it will definitely be more yellow than orange, would you bleach first or just try it over natural hair?

 Honestly, that two tone look is not one found in nature... Nobody is going to believe it's natural, so why worry about it looking "fake"?  If you're gonna do it, go all out :)

I would really suggest you talk to a hair dresser about this stuff, they'll be able to help you go about getting the color you really want rather than you ending up surprised when it looks different than it did on the box... I have a friend who does her own and always looks fab, but she's been doing it for YEARS and really knows what she's doing.  A look like the one you're going for doesn't sound like it'll be easy to do well at home.  Just my opinion of course.

You can only lighten your natural hair color about two tones with color alone, otherwise you are going to need bleach of some sort. Personally, I would never bleach my hair myself, definitely go get it done by a professional. You will be much happier with the results.

I prefer to get my hair done professionally, but I can't afford that lately with rent and bills etc. I bleach my hair as little as possible, but I have bright pink right now so the roots show fairly fast. I have the two tone hair, pink on top and black on the bottom. I love it. My natural colour is dirty blonde and it bored me, so I went all black for a while, but that bored me too.

I did have my hair done professionally when I could afford it. I would recommend it, especially for the first time. Once the colour/bleach is done for you, it would be easier to do it at home if you wanted to save the money. It would depend if you could match the colours with home dye - you can get a lot of colours, though.

I used to color my hair at home but I always had trouble getting it even - esp in the back (unless you have someone who can help you apply it). 

I think a 2 tone thing like that would be next to impossible at home.  I definitely think you should go to a salon - at least for the first time!  There may be some maintenance things you can do at home such as touching up your roots.

I currently am coloring my hair red (from light brown) and I go to a salon every 6-8 weeks, but (my stylist recommended this) I use a semi-permanent color at home in the middle to pump up the color in between professional colorings.  Red fades out in about 3-4 weeks.

Original Post by trikki:

You can only lighten your natural hair color about two tones with color alone, otherwise you are going to need bleach of some sort. Personally, I would never bleach my hair myself, definitely go get it done by a professional. You will be much happier with the results.

Hey Trikki, 

I didn't know that about coloring your hair, but that is what I as planning to do. I don't want to bleach the part that will be left blonde. My hair's already pretty light and I just want a little boost =) 

Original Post by lilsammi23:

Original Post by jessica3215:

Hey thanks for the imput guys. I guess my natural hair color would be helpful. I'm already naturally a medium/darkish blonde. I just want to lighten it a bit- definitely nothing too 'fake' looking hopefully. I'm not too worried about going lighter, as I've done it before and it seemed fine.

Oh, and moodymamma, you said you bleached yours to an orangish color. If I bleach mine it will definitely be more yellow than orange, would you bleach first or just try it over natural hair?

 Honestly, that two tone look is not one found in nature... Nobody is going to believe it's natural, so why worry about it looking "fake"?  If you're gonna do it, go all out :)

I would really suggest you talk to a hair dresser about this stuff, they'll be able to help you go about getting the color you really want rather than you ending up surprised when it looks different than it did on the box... I have a friend who does her own and always looks fab, but she's been doing it for YEARS and really knows what she's doing.  A look like the one you're going for doesn't sound like it'll be easy to do well at home.  Just my opinion of course.

Haha, good point. I guess it won't look natural no matter what =) 

I basically meant I don't want that yellowy bleached look.

The red colour in the image is g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s!

If I am ever to dye my hair,I will have it done THIS red--It is so pretty.

Original Post by jessica3215:

Haha, good point. I guess it won't look natural no matter what =) 

I basically meant I don't want that yellowy bleached look.

 Ha, ok, that I understand then.  I'd still see a stylist if it's your first time doing this.  Depending on where you go, they'll even be able to recommend products you can use to touch up the look yourself between visits to the salon :)

Original Post by adolphs:

 Red fades out in about 3-4 weeks.

I second this.  I am naturally dark blonde and can't keep red in my hair for more than a few days.  I've tried coloring my hair red at a salon twice now and both times it quickly faded to a lighter orangey color.  Some hair just doesn't take color well.  I'd love to go the color you showed in the picture, but my hair just isn't up for it.