Bleaching hair long story plus pics
Just a quick back story. Last year like May I colored my naturally brown (used to be blonde when I was a kid it got darker over the years) hair black, I've gone black before and I was pretty happy with it. Since then I let it grow out and the roots were down below my ears and it was looking pretty awful, it blended alright but in the sun you could see the distinct line. I've been wanting to go blonde for months but I was just lazy and never went through with it. I have bleached and dyed my hair blonde quite a few times when I was younger so I knew my hair could handle it. The one time I went to the salon to have this done, ( my Step Dad made me and paid for it) I came home looking like a skunk, and I fixed it myself the next day to the look I had originally wanted before he spent $70 on ugly white straight chunky highlights lol.
So the other day my friend Jen told me about a creme lightener from Sallys that isn't as harsh as regular bleach and it takes up a couple levels up. I went last night and got three bottles and some 30 developer. I did a strand test first and the roots obviously went blonde within twenty minutes, and the old black took about 45 to get close to that. I did my whole head starting from the ears down, left it for 40, and in the last twenty started my roots. Somehow I didn't have enough, I have VERY long hair and it takes two box dyes to cover my head normally, but Sally's only had 3 boxes of the creme lightener and I thought it'd be enough.
I tried to saturate everything the best I could, and then I noticed the top back of my head where the roots were almost white within like ONE MINUTE of it being on there. So the strand test failed me, and I had my roots going way too quick and the old black needed more time but I didn't have a choice. I showered, rinsed, and blow dried it. It lifted a LOT and I am happy with the way it came out so far. There are some darker patches where it wasn't covered enough but it's in the back underside of my head.
So I went and got another thing of bleach just to fix those parts and comb the rest through the bottom to lighten it. Right now it's brassy orange, but I'm not trying to go white blonde. My ideal color is Lady Gaga's new dirty blonde, on the verge of brown.
I read something saying you can just buy blonde hair color like L'Oreal, and mix it with a 30 developer and it will lift color? I am not rushing to use this bleach a second time so soon, even though my hair still feels great (honestly a little better than before, it's very smooth and manageable, not dry and heavy like with the old black dye.)
I know that my orange won't be the perfect base for putting blonde over it and it might have scary results, but I'm wondering will it be good enough to use that blonde box + 30 developer method? Or re-bleach and wait and then do a normal blonde coloring? I remember using blonde box dyes when I was younger and it seemed to get me to the color I wanted but it's been years. I'd like to spend less money, and if the blonde box can get me where I want I'd like to return the bleach.
Before
After
It's a drastic change and I did LOVE the brown but sometimes I felt like it washed my complexion out and I don't like looking pale.
What I would like to get to.
Thanks for any help at all!!