How to Get Rid of Blonde Highlights

Getting rid of blonde highlights is not as difficult as you might think.

Those blonde highlights probably seemed like a good idea at the time, but now you want rid of them. You can ask your stylist to cut your hair to remove the remaining highlights, if your hair has grown several inches since it was highlighted. Or you can dye your hair with a home kit if a trip to the stylist is not in your budget, or if you don't want to cut your hair. Getting rid of blonde highlights is not a difficult process; select the right shade of hair dye and follow the instructions.

Things You'll Need

• Hair dye
• Petroleum jelly

Instructions

1. Choose a permanent hair dye from your local department store or hair care salon that matches your natural color. Dress in clothes you don't mind damaging or wear an old bath robe, should dye drip onto your clothing. Prepare the dye according to the instructions on the box.

2. Wrap a towel around your shoulders. Use some petroleum jelly on your ears, behind your ears and along your hairline on your forehead, to prevent the dye from discoloring your skin. Apply the hair dye to the blonde highlights first, then to the rest of your hair.

3. Wait the time indicated by the instructions included with the hair dye kit. Rinse your hair until the water runs clear and all dye is removed from your hair. Apply the conditioner included with the hair dye kit, then rinse your hair again according to the instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• Snip a small section of highlighted hair, then dye the hair according to the instructions on the hair dye kit. The results of your test strand gives you a good indication of how your highlights will absorb the darker hair dye.

• Try a temporary hair dye if you are unsure of the results or are nervous about dying your own hair. Temporary hair dye usually washes out after a few shampoos.

• Wait one month to six weeks after highlights are applied to your hair before you dye it to avoid damaging the hair shaft.

• Always use a gentle shampoo and conditioner designed specifically for dyed hair, to protect your hair from damage and to help the hair shaft retain color.

• Use a leave-in conditioner daily to help prevent damage to the hair shaft or frizzy hair.

• Use a deep conditioning treatment once each week for extra protection.

• Do an allergy test and a test strip of highlighted hair prior to dying your entire head, even if you dyed your hair in the past.

• Avoid using a hot blow dryer, hot rollers or a curling iron because the heat can damage treated hair.

• Do not dye your hair more frequently than recommended by hair dye manufacturers. Frequent dying can cause irreparable damage to the hair shaft and frizz.

References

• Type F: How Do I Remove Blonde Highlights?
• Become Gorgeous: Get Rid of Highlights

Resources

• Hair Color Tips: Color Correction
• Hair Boutique: Most Common Hair Disasters and How to Fix Them