Hair, Hair, So Much Hair.

A lot of you have asked about how I get my blonde hair so light because I naturally have such dark hair so I decide to make a little post about the bleaching and toning process I do about every six or seven weeks to get my hair the way I want it! I will also share with you the products I use to keep my hair healthy!

Now, I am obviously not a trained professional. This is how I do it, but I am not going to recommend you do the same to your hair because it is most likely different than mine! Go to a local beauty supply store (I go to Sally's) or to a professional hair salon for advice!

Before the bleaching. My hair grows pretty fast - I believe the last time I did my roots was mid June for graduation. Cute, right?

Since I have been bleaching my hair, I have only ever used a 20 volume developer which shocked the girl that helps me at Sally's. Apparently my hair is so dark that it should take at least a thirty volume to lift the dark color. Ooppps. So I decided to take her advice and use a 30.......

And on top of my grow out, I have old blue and purple dye that REFUSES to leave my hair. Normally, I ONLY bleach my roots to help keep my hair away for harsh chemicals, but because of the dye that wouldn't come out, I bleached the whole thing.

Bleaching Supplies:

Salon Care Blue Flash Powder Bleach - $4.49 (Sally's Beauty Supply)

Salon Care 30 Volume Developing Creme - $3.69 (Sally's Beauty Supply)

Plastic Gloves

Brush Applicator

Bowl

During the bleaching process. The bleach is a blueish color and I left it in for about 45 minutes. 

Alright, this is after bleaching. My roots turned out pretty orange as usual, but the bleach lifted 99% of the blue and purple dye that was left in my hair. When you bleach dark brown hair to blonde, it will turn out really brassy! But that's where the toner comes in handy.

After waiting two days, I got to the hair toning. I usually wait about five or six days before putting toner in my hair just to give it a break, but I have a show this weekend and wanted my hair to be in tip-top shape.

For the toning process, I normally use Wella T18 in Lightest Ash Blonde, but Sally's didn't have it in stock while I was there so I decided to try the Wella T14 in Pale Ash Blonde. Now, for anyone that is toning their hair at home for the first time - USE WELLA T18. The T14 I used tones very very quickly and is really hard to control on your head. The T18 is nice and subtle and won't leave your hair super silvery (unless you want that).

Toning Supplies:
Salon Care 20 Volume Developing Creme - $3.69 (Sally's Beauty Supply)
Wella Color Charms T14 in Pale Ash Blonde - $5.79 (Sally's Beauty Supply)
Plastic Gloves
Applicator Brush
Bowl

After putting this in my hair, I realized that I was using toner that applied to the hair really fast. Normally, when I am using the Wella T18 toner, I can leave it in my hair for about 45 minutes and not have to worry. With the Wella T14 toner, however, I left it in my hair all together for about 25 minutes before washing it out. As you can see, it left my my hair basically silver (my roots are a pale blonde). I semi wish I had left it in a little longer (I am dying for silver hair), but I chickened out and washed it.

Gimme hair like this pleaseeee ^^^^^^

So after toning and bleaching my hair, it needs a long break. I NEVER put any heat on it (I let it air dye and stay as far away from curlers/flat irons). I know a lot of people that dye their hair a lot of it ends up getting so damaged because they aren't taking care of it. I wash my hair only two or three times a week and use these products to help keep it somewhat healthy and let it build back up again.

Shampooing  - I get asked a lot about what kind of purple shampoo I use for my blonde hair and I have always used Matrix Essentials So Silver Shampoo. I first bought it back in 2010 when I dyed my entire head blonde (see terrible photo below) and it has lasted me for so long! Shimmer Lights is the most common purple shampoo I see people using, but it just wasn't getting the job done for me so I asked a friend who used purple shampoo religiously and she recommended this product. It smells great and really helps keep out brassy tones. (For my brown side, I just use whatever shampoo is in the shower. Ooooppps)

Conditioning - I am forever changing what conditioner I use. I probably use a different one every month, but right now I have been using Suave's Moroccan Infusion Conditioner and it works pretty darn well. I normally leave conditioner in my hair for a good seven or eight minutes before washing it out and it does a great job as smoothing out my hair. However, I am thinking about switching over to Organix's shampoo and conditioning line sometime soon.

Soap Products:

Matrix Essentials So Silver Shampoo - $25 (got mine off EBay)

Suave's Moroccan Infusion Conditioner - $3.50 (Target)

2010 me on the right, HI.

 After Shower Product #1: Every time I wash my hair - I put this in. It helps my hair dry without frizzing out, leaves it smelling extra good and helps to smooth it out. Any type of leave-in conditioner is great for your hair because, obviously, it conditions your hair! I always put this on! 

 After Shower Product #2 & #3: Both of these products are amazing. I recently switched to using the Coconut Milk Serum, but I switch off between the two. Both of these really help to repair my hair when I need it. I mainly focus on my ends and middle of my hair with this stuff because if you apply it to the top of your hair, it causes your scalp to become more oily faster. Both products help to restore my hair and build its strength back up.

 After Shower Product #4: This is a product I use on occasion, but not a whole lot. Its an alternative to the creme leave-in conditioner I use. Sometimes, the creme leaves my hair feeling kind of heavy so when its super hot out or I want my hair to feel a little lighter, I will throw in this foam creme. I don't think it is as effective as the other one, but it still nourishes my hair.

Hair Care Products - 

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioner - $5.99 (Target)

Organix Coconut Milk Serum - $6.99 (Target)

Organix Moroccan Argan Oil -  $6.99 (Target)

Garnier Fructis Moisture Whip Leave-In Conditioner - $6.00 (Target)

Grand total: $72.08 (way cheaper than going to a salon right???)

Stalk me:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Tumblr - Poshmark - Instagram