:'( :'( :'(
Hi again,

Please help.  I think my red is starting to fade (aside from any grey hairs) I'm almost 49 and I guess it is time that it could be fading, but I want it to stop!

I've been thinking about henna, but don't even know where to start to try to kind of match my natural red.

It has taken me years to come to love my haircolor and now I feel like I'm losing it.  All those wasted years that I didn't appreciate it.

I use red wine vinegar in my vinegar rinses; it seems to brighten the red a little.  

I've seen a recipe for a red enhancer with carrot juice and beet juice, but I've been a little scared to do it.

Any encouragement of any kind, any ideas, would be so very much appreciated!!!

TIA,

strawberryfine :o ??? :'(

A lot of women have luck with henna. Back when my hair was darkest-brown-with-too-much-gray I tried henna-ing it, but it was a godawful mess and the color didn't stay on the gray anyway.

You'd have to be willing to accept a drastic color change, which you might get, as there doesn't seem to be that much of a color range or specific results. On the plus side, they say it fades if you wait.

I've had luck with regular permanent hair coloring. If the gray gets really annoying, there's no reason you can't find the color you are looking for. Just remember that you will need to touch up the roots regularly, not just reapply to all the hair.

I am so much happier with my auburn hair color than I was with the darkest-brown-with-gray natural color. Red goes with my coloring, while the brown made me look washed out.

I would try the carrot/beet juice recipe.. it's good for enhancing the red in your hair and I've done it before...

As for the grays.. I can't help you there.  I know gray hairs are harder to color in any way shape or form.  

eKatherine,
I had no idea your color was "enhanced".  It looks so very natural, vibrant and just beautiful!  If you don't mind my asking, what kind of haircolor and shade do you use?  It looks very healthy!

Red, I may try the beet/carrot recipe in the meantime to brighten up what red I have.  

Thanks!

At first I was using Hydrience shimmering scarlet, but after a while I got tired of the unnaturalness of the shade, and of people asking me if it was my natural color (are you colorblind?), so I switched to Nice'n'Easy light auburn. It comes out medium auburn on me, which is more than two shades, so I guess I'm just a good candidate for hair color.

I only ever apply to my roots, never to the rest of my hair (although the directions say to do that for the last 5 minutes), which can cause damage longterm.

I think Nice'n'Easy makes several light strawberry blond colors. You should visit them in the supermarket sometime.

Thanks, eKatherine,

For all the information and the color recommendations.
I will definately check it out!

strawberryfine

Hey there SF!

I'm sorry that you reckon you're red is fading!  :-[

Did you try the carrot/beet juice rinse yet?

I personally would try the rinse first before going for the henna, simply because henna can be quite unpredictable...and the rinse doesn't strike me as being overly as such.

The one time I tried henna, I loved the way my hair felt afterwards, but I didn't like the colour results I got. (I think it's cuz I colour my hair artificially to begin with and the henna just complicated it. It wasn't really red at all!)

The only reason I haven't tried the rinse already is because I hate beets, and never buy them to eat. I'm so lazy...I need to just go out there and get some for my hair.  :P

I hope you find a solution! We're behind you the whole way!

I wonder if that carrot/beet rinse would put some red
in your hair if you don't have it already?  I'm thinking
about trying it! Of course, I know it would be extremley
temporary.

I've also thought about ordering those shampoos that
deposit colour www.shikai.com has some and I think
Jason?  but I promised myself no more s/c until I used
up what I have.

Oohh! That website is interesting! I want to try it all!

But I'm like you, Babyfine...I've got to use up what I have opened already.

(My bathroom looks like a chemists lab. All these opened containers of 3000 different hair products. Such a disgrace!  :P)

Oh, Rua,

You always make me smile!  I hate beets, too; that's why I haven't done it yet either!

Babyfine, I'm thinking of doing a strand test with the beet/carrot mix because of my bleached ends.  But I would think with repeated use you might get a little red tint.  If you've ever touched a beet, they stain your hands red.  I cannot remember how I know that! ???

HTH,

strawberryfine

Sorry to hear you feel your beautiful natural color is diminishing. :(
I offer this information carefully:
The mineral Selenium helps us keep our natural hair color.  It also helps keep the greys at bay.  The caution is that too much can be toxic.
Obviously, to begin taking it-after it has built up enough in the system to make a difference (usually 3-6 months) the roots of your hair would possibly be a bit more colorful.
I might also suggest a shampoo I've been using on my colored red hair.
Avalon Organic Botanicals Therapeutic Lavender for all hair types.
This is very gentle stuff-it does not fade my assisted color.
I hope you find a safe solution, I think your hair is lovely in your Avatar!

If you do decide to go with the beet color, here's something I found from a pasta-making experiment. Beet juice doesn't color all that well. What stains best is beet cooking liquid.

So when I made pasta with beet juice (I have a vegetable juicer) it came out baby pink. When I made it using boiled-down beet cooking liquid, it came out red red.

Don't forget the strand test. I think you'd look odd with beet red hair.

When i was growing up I had strawberry blond hair and it was so beautiful. Now that i have grown up and don't get out in the sun and exercise as much, its brown again. I dyed my hair red many times and i have finnaly just stoped because my hair is fried. The color does fade, and so you end up coloring your roots and the rest again just to ballance it out. I wish I could have my red hair again as well.

Hi Strawberryfine.

I used to hate my hair colour when I was younger but now at 56 I love it and I also feel so lucky that my hair hasn't faded too much. I will try and get a picture of it on my profile but not sure how yet. I have read about the beet and carrot but am not sure if it will stain things. I know that sounds daft but I have never used any dyes on my hair except a wash in and wash out one which unless I left in on my hair for about two hours (recommended time 15-20 mins) it had no effect. I think all you who dye your hair are so brave. My two red headed children dye their hair some lovely colours but they are young enough to get away with it.

So has anyone done the beet juice/carrot juice yet?