Do you color your own hair?

[tgoody03]

Hi! I have long hair and get it colored and highlighted about every 2 months. Because my hair is so long and thick, it's at least $150 every time I get it done and that's without a haircut and tip. My hair is brown, and I typically get it colored and overall light brown with lighter brown/darker brown highlights. Sometimes I add lowlights .... right now I have 3 colors in it. It looks more natural this way than with blonde highlights.

So ... I am in saving mode right now and was thinking that maybe I could just color my own hair for a while. I've done over all color before and it always looks good. I typically just use wash out color - like Herbal Essence so if I don't like the color it will wash out and I can go to my stylist for the real thing. I've never tried highlights b/c they are tricky to get right on brown hair.

My question is - do any of you color your own hair with color and/or highlights? If you have brown hair, how do the highlights come out? And, what products do you use? I might just be crazy, and if you want to tell me to stick with my stylist then please do!! I don't want to ruin my hair, because I love it and think it's one of my better features. :rolleyes:

Thanks!! :)

[SingleWhiteFemale]

I've been coloring my hair for a few years now. I have had issues with stylists in the past, and I see that if I color my hair, the only person I can be angry with if it turns out funny is me! So, it is much easier on me.

The new Colour Experte is a great kit. The first time it was a little akward, but after I figured out the highlighting technique I was good to go! Prior to that, I used Feria (and still do when I am looking for a no-fuss situation). I like it for the fact it provides the "prismatic color" without having to do a separate highlighting routine.

[tenofcups]

My hair is about shouler length and I get it highlighted (it's naturally a light brown that turns blondish on its own in the summer). I used to have it dyed all over. I tried doing my own for a few months about 5 or 6 years ago and it looked terrible! I know many people do it on their own and it looks good, but I couldn't quite get it--I would end up with chunks that I completely missed and others that were overprocessed.

Again, I do know many who do it on their own so it *can* be done, but I just wasn't one of the ones who could do it myself!

[greenbunny]

That sounds like a great price. I'm starting to think my salon is really overpriced...my last touch-up came to about $240. I get a single-process base and double-process highlights, and I'm pretty sure she didn't even do the hightlights on this touch-up (though she charged me for them). I don't think I'll be going back there again.

I once tried a Loreal highlighting kit and it was a diaster. It didn't take on the root edge of the hair, only the really old, porous ends. I got a refund coupon and had to dye over it (actually I think there's a thread about it here somewhere). I'd love to try it again but I'm wary now, and I wouldn't use anything by Loreal.