How to Darken Highlights
If you had highlights added to your hair at home or in a salon, they might be lighter than expected. Sometimes you leave the salon before you notice the highlights are too light. Other times you might use lightener at home and the color is not what you expected. In addition, if the highlights have been on the hair for some time, they might have faded and you may want to darken them to a more natural shade. Here are the steps. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Rat tail comb Butterfly clips Demi/Semi permanent color or toner Peroxide (for color) Towel Color bottle/ Applicator brush and bowl. Plastic gloves Clock or timer
Instructions
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1
Choose your desired shade by looking at color swatches or picking a color out of a hair styling book, magazine or individual. You will need to have a copy of your color selection to take to the salon, beauty supply or drugstore to make your purchase.
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2
Match your color choice using your selected picture with the choices in the salon, beauty supply or drugstore. Always choose a shade or two lighter than what you think looks right. Color tends to absorb more quickly on hair that is lightened with highlights. Toners can be applied to blond hair to darken slightly. Demi or semi permanent colors are color options to darken highlights by more than a few levels. Permanent color is not necessary for darkening highlights. The peroxide level in permanent color may lighten the rest of the hair if the permanent color you are using to cover the highlights is lighter than the natural hair. For toning or darkening highlights, try to choose a product with a peroxide level below 10 volume to discourage damage to the cuticle and provide optimal coverage.
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3
Apply a neutral, beige or champagne tone for a more natural shade. These have a violet or blue base color and counteract red. For increased gold tones, choose a golden shade. Ash colors should not be added to white blond hair because of their strong blue or green base. If there is a orange or red tone in the hair, a small amount of ash can be added to a neutral color solution to help decrease red tones.
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4
Perform a strand test. Mix up 1/16 ounce of color with 1/16 ounce of developer (or mix an equivalent amount according to package directions), and apply to one underneath strand of highlighted hair. Allow to process for 20 minutes and remove by rubbing with a wet towel and some shampoo. Rub the shampoo out with the other end of the wet towel. Check to see if the result is the desired color before applying to the whole head.
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Mix the color in a bowl using a color brush or in a bottle. If the color is cream based, it is more easily applied when mixed in a bowl. Liquid hair color works more efficiently when applied from a bottle due to the watery consistency. Section the hair into four sections. Part the hair from forehead to nape down the center of the head. This will form two large sections. Separate each of those sections by making a part from the center to over each ear, parallel to the hairline. Clip each section with a butterfly clip.
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Put on plastic gloves and apply the color mixture starting at the nape and taking quarter-inch sections from the larger section using either the brush or bottle applicator. Work the mixture in from roots to ends, making sure to saturate the hair thoroughly. Work side to side through the back sections and then do the front. Leave on the hair for 20 minutes or for the time recommended by the color product.
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Tips & Warnings
Perform a patch test on the inner elbow by applying a dot of color/toner to the skin and leaving on for up to 24 hours. Check for allergic reaction. Use a rat tail comb to loosen the hair off the scalp if any burning occurs during the coloring process. The hair should not be flat down on the scalp during coloring.
