Dyeing Hair from Black to Dark Ash-Brown: A Comprehensive Guide

Transforming your hair from black to a rich, dark ash-brown can be a challenging but rewarding endeavor. While using bleach can achieve dramatic results, it's important to weigh the risks against the benefits.

Consider Professional Help

No matter how tempted you are to go it alone, consulting with a professional hair stylist is highly recommended. They can offer personalized advice and suggestions based on your hair type and individual needs. This consultation can also provide insights into the specific products and techniques that will work best for your hair.

Selecting the Right Tone for Ash Brown Hair

When attempting to achieve a dark ash-brown shade, it's crucial to start with the right color undertone. If you want a gentle shift in tone without significantly lifting the hair color, a high-lasting color tube is ideal. This will ensure the color remains subtle and natural, especially when seen under bright sunlight.

Conversely, if you desire a more dramatic color change and lifted ash-brown tone, bleaching your hair first is necessary. However, this process should be done with utmost care to avoid damage to your hair.

Understanding the Bleaching Process

Bleaching your hair to achieve a dark ash-brown can be compared to a “dump on top of it” process. The terminology used to describe ash brown color levels such as #039;lv.4, lv.3,#039; and #039;lv.2#039; refers to the darkness of the color. This level also depends on the coarseness and natural darkness of your hair. A stronger developer is needed for coarser, darker hair to achieve the desired lift.

Factors to Consider Before Dyeing

Before embarking on this dyeing journey, several factors must be taken into account:

Sources of black hair: Is it natural or colored? If colored, uniformity: Is the color consistent from root to end or is there regrowth in a different shade? Frequency of color application: How many times has the hair been colored, and was the application consistent? Current hair condition: Has the hair been relaxed, permed, or damaged by chlorinated water or similar treatments?

Artificial black hair color may require a bleaching process to remove it before applying the desired brown color. This can be complex and risky without the guidance of a professional. Bleaching and depositing the color can be particularly damaging to already compromised hair, making professional assistance essential.

Direct Application vs Professional Advice

If your hair condition allows, you might consider using a 40 volume peroxide developer to achieve up to a 4-level lift. However, to ensure a natural and balanced result, a toner is almost always necessary. Even so, going from black to a lighter color is inherently tricky, involving various possible complications such as ‘hot roots’, blue/green-gray undertones, and even hair loss.

Given the complexity and potential risks involved, it is strongly recommended that you seek professional help. A skilled stylist can provide the necessary expertise and guidance, ensuring a successful and safe coloring process.