Can I box dye my hair red?

Red hair can range from light to dark, just like brown and blonde hair. If you have black or very dark brown hair, you may have to bleach your hair to some extent to achieve the true red color. If you’re using a boxed dye, the color will process as long as it’s mixed with the developer that is included in the kit.

Is box color really bad for your hair?

According to Brown, professional color and box color don’t mix well, and people who dye their hair at home run the risk of overprocessing it. Although this is an extremely common ingredient in the hair-dye industry, using it is ultimately a tradeoff; the powerful chemical damages your hair in the process.

Do you need to bleach your hair before dying it red?

Dyeing brown hair red If you’re after a shade that’s more than two shades lighter than your existing colour, such as a vibrant copper or warm blonde, you’ll need to bleach your hair before dyeing it red.

What happens if you put red dye on brown hair?

Good news: Jaxcee, the color director at Hair Rules, tells Refinery29 that the transition from brown to red is smooth for the most part, thanks to the red undertones in some dark hair colors. “That red can turn into orange, too, and those are the tones you need to sustain a beautiful, bright, natural-looking red.”

Why you should never use box dye?

I’m sure you probably already figured that box dye isn’t good for your hair, right? They typically contain high amounts of ammonia, PPDs, nitro dyes, metallic salts, and even henna. These are all harsh chemicals that can be extremely damaging to the hair as well as cause reactions to sensitive skin and allergies.

Can you go from brown to red hair without bleach?

That means going red is possible without bleach — but only if your strands are virgin. “You can do a single process using permanent dye on virgin brunette hair and it would pick up the color,” Jaxcee says. On strands that are super dark, she recommends using a 30-volume developer with a customized red color mixture.

What hair color will cover red?

If you want to color your natural or dyed red hair brown, you should always choose a brunette tone which is at least one level darker than your current color. In other words: if you have cherry-red hair, you will not be able to achieve much with a medium-brown color. But go for a dark brown, and you can cover the red.

Can you dye your hair to look like a natural redhead?

No. While vibrant red hair colors are interesting, they don’t look natural, and if you’re trying to look like a natural redhead, they just won’t do. In fact, most natural redheads have hair with copper tones as opposed to red tones. Most naturally red hair looks more like a dark coppery blonde than actual red.

What is the hardest hair color to maintain?

Just as with blonde hair, red hair requires a little extra tender love and care. Hack admits that red hair is his favorite to color, but that she’s noticed many women don’t realize the extent of after-care that’s needed. “Red is the hardest color to keep lustrous and the hardest color to remove,” she adds.

How to not fail with box hair dye?

Break your hair into parts and slowly work the dye in, making sure to work it through to your ends. Keep this process until every bit of your hair is covered in dye. In the end, look for any parts that need more dye and spot treat. Put your hair into a high bun (higher the better to avoid bumping against anything in your house!)

What happens when you take red dye out of your hair?

If you were to neutralize the red tone in your hair to a natural tone, you would actually be left with a blonde color. This is useful to know for two reasons: The process of toning red out of your hair is easiest when your hair is in the brown range of levels.

What kind of hair dye do you use for red hair?

The main product you will need to achieve the red color is a box dye product or red hair dye for dark hair. We recommend the L’Oreal Excellence HiColor for dark hair.

How often should you use box hair dye?

Pay attention to the water coming out of your hair and wait until it turns clear. Use a hefty amount of the #3 bottle on your whole head. This helps to condition and preserve the color. It also makes your hair super soft! Use this #3 one or twice a week to help keep your color lasting longer.