Things You'll Need:
- Old Clothes
- Pre-lightener
- Hair color
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Step 1
Make sure your hair is in good condition. If your hair has been recently permed or straightened, it's best to wait a few weeks before chemically processing it again. Any sort of coloring process is going to damage your hair to some extent, so it's best to have it in good shape.
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Step 2
Buy a pre-lightener. This is not designed to color your hair, but to strip the color away, leaving you free to use the color of your choice. If you have long hair, it's best to buy two packages.
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Step 3
Buy the shade of ash brown that you wish to use---there are various brands and a range of shades---generally ranging from light ash brown to medium. Again, if you have long hair, it's best to buy to packages to ensure full coverage.
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Step 4
Change into some old clothes before you start to color. Despite your best efforts and the fact that most hair color products are now non-drip, you are going to drip something.
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Step 5
Follow the directions on the box for the pre-lightener and make sure that you cover every strand of hair. Hair that is unevenly covered will result in uneven coloring later on. Leave in as desired---usually anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour before rinsing.
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Step 6
Wait a few hours and then apply the desired hair-color, again following the directions listed on the box. As with the lightener, try to apply evenly. Coloring time can range from 25-45 minutes. Rinse until the water runs clear, and use the conditioner provided.
