Troubleshooting Bleached Hair with Black Dye: How to Fix the Fading Blues and Greens

Embarking on a journey to change your hair color often involves experimenting and making mistakes, as highlighted in your experience. You attempted to bleach your hair and then applied black dye on top, only to find that the black faded into a vibrant blue and green. Trying to reverse the process by dyeing your hair back to its original brown only made matters worse. If you're facing a similar predicament, there's no need to panic! Here’s how you can address these issues and potentially fix your hair color.

Understanding Hair Color Correction

It’s important to understand the basics of hair color correction to tackle this problem more effectively. When you initially bleached your hair, it stripped away the natural color. Then, applying black dye might have caused a chemical reaction that resulted in a shift in hue, leading to blue and green tones. If your hair naturally has natural tones, it’s likely neutral and contains a balance of warm and cool tones, which could be why the black turned green.

Chemical Dye Removal and Reapplication

If you've tried reversing the color without professional help and ended up with an even worse result, you might need to explore more detailed steps. Firstly, using a dye remover can be a good option. However, keep in mind that after using a bleach, the organic matter in your hair has been stripped away, meaning that a natural color won’t return. The dye remover will simply lighten the hair further, making it possible to recolor it back to a brown shade.

Professional Help vs. DIY Solutions

Given the nature of the issue, it’s highly recommended to seek assistance from a professional color specialist. Late-stage damage can be tricky to repair, and attempting to fix it yourself can lead to more harm than good. If you go to a professional, they will take the necessary steps to completely remove the black dye. This process involves the use of a high-volume bleach (1N dye with a level 10 or less developer) to lift the color. Once the black is completely removed, another color correction process will be required to address the green color.

Using Complimentary Colors for Color Correction

Another approach to tackle the green tint is to use colors that are complimentary on the color wheel. As mentioned, the complimentary color to green is red. Semi-permanent or demi-permanent dye can be used to cover the green tone effectively. For instance, if your hair is greenish, applying a pink hair dye can help neutralize the green by counteracting it with its opposite color on the color wheel.

Step-by-Step DIY Solution

For those who prefer to tackle the issue themselves, here’s a step-by-step DIY guide to help correct the green and blue tones:

Mix up a 20 volume bleach with clarifying shampoo. Apply this mixture to your hair in the same way you would a regular shampoo, but make sure to use a generous amount. Cover your hair with a shower cap and keep an eye on the process. Once the hair has lightened to the desired shade, rinse it out thoroughly without using conditioner. This step will help lift the unwanted color.

Apply a red filler (a semi-permanent or demi-permanent dye) to counteract the green. This should help neutralize the unwanted hues. Leave this on for the recommended time as specified by the product instructions.

Next, apply your desired shade of brown after the red filler has been left on. Rinse out the color thoroughly until the water runs clear. Do not use a conditioner, but instead, apply a deep conditioning treatment. Leave this on for about 15-30 minutes, then rinse.

Air dry or blow dry your hair and wait at least 48 hours before shampooing again to give your hair time to settle and lock in the new color.

The process can be challenging, but with the right steps and careful execution, you can achieve a more ideal color. However, remember that after correcting your hair, it's always best to seek professional advice if you notice any further issues.

Conclusion

Dealing with hair that's taken a color detour can be disheartening. Whether you choose the route of a professional or go for a DIY solution, it’s crucial to take the necessary steps to rectify the situation. By understanding the underlying issues and following the recommended methods, you can work towards achieving a more natural and desirable hair color.

Dedicated to helping you achieve the perfect shade for your hair!