Hi all;) Question about semi-permanent color..is it damaging?? I know it is to some extent, of course..but, I am wondering..I now have shoulder length hair, chin length in the front..it is very blond, highlights over a base color which is about 2-3 shades lighter than my natural color..Should I do a semi-permanent color which is close to my dark natural color and let it grow out from there?? Also..about blow-drying..is it still ok to fluff with a cool or slightly warm air?? It's the hot air that damages it, right??

Any advice would be much appreciated!!   :)  s

Semi-perm color is less damaging than permanent.  But it can still dry out the hair.  If you try to use it to get your hair back to your natural color, the odds are, it will fade and you will need to do it again.  Although we all hate the idea of doing anything permanent that might damage the hair, you might consider using a permanent color to return your hair to your natural color, then LEAVE IT ALONE!  Don't do any other highlighting or coloring.  It should grow out to be nice, healthy hair.

Heated appliances (hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons, etc.) damage the hair by heating up the moisture in the hair which will then expand and cause the hair to break.  (Think of boiling water - that's what you are doing to the moisture in your hair!).  Using a hair dryer on a cool or no heat setting will not cause the moisture to overheat and explode in your hair.  However, you still need to be very gentle with your hair even when using the dryer on the cool setting.  Avoid tangling the hair.  Less is better.  :)

Hi BB!! Tx for the tips..You are right about needing to keep re-doing the semi. I was kind of hoping for a slightly lighter version of my natural color..one of my friends who is a stylist and owns his own salon said if I wanted to keep it a few shades lighter than my natural hair color, there are ways do to so without being overly damaging..I have to keep investigating this. I am terrified of it being too dark for my coloring..I went and tried on a wig today, which would be my natural color..and it was way too dark for me. I wonder, over the 13 years of all the bleach, color and recent extensions..would it be so bad to ONLY use a base color (maybe a gloss or a semi) to get my roots a few shades lighter without touching anything else?? hmmm.. I mean, that's a heck of a lot less than I have put it through.. What do you suggest for a girl who's just totally set on having her base a couple shades lighter?? (and no henna..I used it once, and never again!!)

**s :)

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What do you suggest for a girl who's just totally set on having her base a couple shades lighter??

I would suggest that she abandon her fascination with unnatural processes ASAP...perhaps through the aid of counseling.

No one really needs to rehash what the Ultimage Guide has already outlined:

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4. Avoid using any heated appliances whenever possible. No blow drying, no curling irons, no hot rollers, and especially no flat irons or crimpers! If you absolutely must blow dry, do so minimally. If you must use hot rollers, use flocked or soft rollers, not spiked plastic rollers. If you insist on using curling irons, flat irons or crimpers on a daily basis, really long healthy hair isn't in your future. 5. Don't use any harsh chemicals on your hair. Definitely no perms and no peroxide! If you must color, use non peroxide color or henna (but not if you have very dry hair... henna tends to be drying but does help to "plump up" fine hair). Hair color with low peroxide is more tolerable, but using these products again and again will eventually affect the health of your hair, it is unavoidable. No perming or straightening ever for any reason. These chemicals actually break down the structure of your hair and rebuild it. Don't do it.

As with many things in life, you can choose to disregard what has already been written out for you as rules or guidelines. But if you neglect them, the consequences are yours alone.

Hi AngelSpun, on the enneagran, I'd say you are absolutely a type 1. They have a need to make sure that they are perfect, perfectly follwing the "rules and regulations" and must make sure that everyone else follows them as well.

On the other hand, the Ultimate Guide is a great tool.

Obviously, if a person was to do the bleaching and crimping and extending they will never get to their goals..but, I have noticed there are some pretty minimally damaging ways to slightly lighten or darken your hair.

In closing, it is pretty challenging for women, since the hair is something that changes your whole look..it is normal to want to explore all the options, at the same time, once you get into an idea or a habit, it is quite challening to change.

I think counseling is an interesting concept or idea, but that is a personal decision that each woman should decide for themselves. It may be your own personal experience or opinion that counseling has helped you with your hair in the past, but that is not for every woman to do so.

Respectfully. ~s

Semi-permanent hair dye colors are best to cover gray hair, add highlights to already colored hair, or get rid hair of unwanted color tones. The application of hair coloring with semi-permanent color tones helps to darken the light natural color of hair. This application of different color tones can be done consecutively for three times without causing any damaging appearance in the hair quality.Individuals with totally gray hair can also use these hair dye colors and get satisfactory results. While applying on gray hair it is suggested to use a slightly lighter color than the natural hair color. The other important benefit of semi-permanent dyes is that they do not require bleaches and are therefore safer to use than permanent hair dyes.