How to Lift Dark Brown Hair Color and Add Highlights

by Jane
(Thailand, BKK)

I have my naturally black hair and want to dye it brown and add blonde highlights. I've never dyed my hair before and don't know anything about it. I want to do both processes on the same day. Can I?

This picture is the color I want to get eventually.

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Before you act on this, you should really learn more about coloring your hair before you attempt coloring it. Right now, you don't understand the laws of color and how base colors can affect the shades of colors you get when you apply different colors to your hair. You are almost begging for hair color trouble if you don't learn some basic facts first.

Since you don't know anything about the coloring process, you will need to learn a few basic things before you can safely start. You can't just throw on hair color and expect to get good results! There are a lot of things that can go wrong when you try to color your hair at home and/or color your hair for the first time.

The safest way (without damaging your hair) to go from dark brown to a lighter brown hair, is to simply color it in stages. If one level hair color doesn't do the trick, then try the next level up next time.

The hair color in the picture is about a medium brown color. (level 4) You might try using a light brown hair color (level 5) with a 20 volume peroxide.

One specific problem with lifting dark hair colors, is that many times it lifts to a red color. If you have natural red highlights in your hair (can see red in your hair when you go out into the sun), use an ash color to counteract the red shades. (If you don't want red colors in your hair.)

Highlighting your hair with bleach is the easiest way to add highlights but the process can be very tricky! Bleach is the only way to lift dark colors to blonde but bleach is an extremely strong chemical! If left on the hair too long, it can disintegrate it.

Since you've never done either process before, you should consider getting your base color right first, then add your highlights later.

Another alternative is to just add highlights. You can add as many as you like and not have to change your hair color. If you change hair colors, you will have to maintain your roots monthly as they grow in.