I know there's been a few threads on hair coloring, but I don't know if I'm picking out the right steps. I obviously want to minimize the chances of screwing it up.

I really want to attempt this in the not too far future. Here's the scenario:

1. Let's say I have dark auburn hair and I want to go to a medium brown. I eventually want to go a Jennifer Aniston dark blonde, but that's another step. I don't want to shock the heck out of myself!

2. I'm assuming I need to strip out this color first? It seems like no matter what color I put over it, it stays dark. Right now I'm using a dark beige blonde and it looks like a very dark brown. So I need to strip out the current color to get back to my own, correct?

3. What products do I then buy? I THINK it's a color and then a developer creme. Is that correct?

4. If I strip then color, how long do I wait between those 2 processes?

5. I'm looking to STAY AWAY from any type of reddish tones/highlights. Is there a certain adjective I should look for in the color name?


Also, all of the above questions, but using box color instead.

Is there someone that could walk me through it, step by step for both products from a beauty supply and for pre-mixed box color?

Thank you in advance.

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Do you have color on your hair right now? As for the reddish tones, don't get a color that had a gold or red base....maybe try one that has a neutral base. You will have to use bleach or kalidecolors(sp) to lift your dark, but this must be done very carefully. You could really mess up your hair if you don't know what you are doing. I use kalidecolors and lift for only about 3 minutes before I apply color.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

Yes, I have color. Right now I'm using L'Oreal dark beige blonde. I STARTED with dark auburn and graduated a few colors back lighter. It looks exactly as dark, but more brownish tones instead of red. You'd never in a million years know by looking at me, I'm using dark beige blonde. That's why I'm thinking I need to strip the color out and start from scratch to see how my natural color turns out.

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Duh, you did say that already....sorry. Yep, color will not lift color so you have to get it off to go lighter. I just pull some through a cap and lighten/color those strands because it always comes out too dark and I do not want to lighten the whole head.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

That's a neat idea! But I do want to do the whole head thing.

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I know. It was just something to think about. You could do it so heavy that it would look like you had done all the hair. If you do the entire head, be very careful. Bleaching and stripping can leave you with a mess of fried hair and many tears.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon