A couple of years ago, I decided to have my hair professionally bleached to go blonde. It took two days, with the first giving me a major headache but it was all worth it. As someone who has had dark hair for most of their life, I was thrilled to have flaxen locks.
But after a while, it became tedious to maintain. From having to use special sulfate-free hair products to my roots coming in too fast, I decided to dye my hair back to its original darkness. Although it was fine at first, it did give me problems that made me regret the decision.
Now, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about going back to black. Hopefully, you learn from them and avoid the mistakes I’ve made.
Dying Your Hair Black — DON’T Do It!
My fast-growing roots were the reason I dyed my hair black. Since I didn’t want to bleach them, I went for the quick fix. I opted for a generic drugstore box dye that promised jet black hair. I had that color for about two weeks before it started fading to an odd shade of brown. (That’s another thing they don’t tell you about going blonde; getting darker color to stick to it is nearly impossible.) But this isn’t the reason you shouldn’t dye your hair black.
Most professional hairstylists will refuse clients who want to lighten their hair once they find out that the dark color is artificial. Some will conduct a “strand test” to determine the hair’s health. This is because lightening your hair after dying it black is a long and complicated process that can be damaging to your hair and scalp.
It took me almost a year before I could dye my hair a shade that I liked after dying it black because I had to wait for it to grow out.
If you can no longer stand your colorful locks, here’s what you need to do to get your natural hair back:
Dye Your Hair a Transitioning Shade
Instead of black hair dye, choose a darker shade of brown. Often referred to as a “transitioning shade,” this gives you darker colored hair without the complications. This will also look more natural as black dye can make your hair look dull and lifeless.
If you’re choosing to do this by yourself at home, steer clear of metallic dyes and Henna. These have chemicals that will make it difficult to lighten your hair after dying it, even if it’s not black. Additionally, don’t forget to do a patch test on your skin to determine whether or not you’re allergic to the formula.
Maintain Proper Hair Care
Longer hair means awkward-looking roots that are more evident. By regularly trimming your hair, you improve its growing out phase. This gets rid of the dry and damaged ends while helping it grow better. Professional hairstylists suggest that you trim your hair every two weeks to keep your tresses healthy and attractive.
Dying your hair different colors is fun and something everyone should try, at least once. But it comes with a lot of responsibilities. Practicing proper hair care will protect its health and condition, and maintain your scalp’s well-being.
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