How to... BRIGHT RED HAIR...

So many of us had the dream to have beautiful bright Ariel red hair. But it's so hard to achieve isn't it? You go full with hopes to your hairdresser and you end up with a medium reddish color that ends up fading to a brown :/ I know, I feel your pain, been there. The truth is (and i am gonna get dissed for saying this) but very VERY few salons will achieve a bright hair color for you. Why? Because hair salons work with specific brands that they cooperate with so they don't use products (like the ones mentioned below) that will actually work for you.

Step 1:
If your hair is not dyed at all we have 2 situations. If your hair is from dark blond and darker you will have to lighten your hair. You can use a bleaching product or a blonde dye or you can use a product that lightens AND colors the hair at the same time, products like that you can find in place that sell the brands: Majicontrast, Alfaparf, Affinage or L'Oreal. Here are some photos of the lightening-coloring products I mentioned.

Hi Color from L'oreal 

B-red by Affinage

Majicontrast

     Evolution Of the Color Contrasti - by Arfaparf

Step 2:
If you use a - only lightening - product you have to bring your hair to at least a light ginger base, then you will have to top it with a semi-permanent hair dye - preferably a veggie one such as Special Effects, Directions, Manic Panic etc.
If you use a product that lightens and colors the hair you will only have to top your hair after it starts fading. Remember DO NOT USE a developer higher than 30%

Special Effects Colors

Manic Panic Colors

If you have dyed dark hair you will have to strip your current color and lighten it to a light base and then do the step 2: top your hair with a semi perm, dye.

If your hair is dyed light you will only do step 2 as you will not need to lighten your hair BUT if your hair is bleached it is possible that it will take a few times till your hair actually starts to keep the color.

Step 3:
After you achieve the desired color you have to take care of it, otherwise it will fade much faster and it will be too expensive to maintain it. So! Limit your hair washing to 1-2 times per week. It's not gross and it's not bad for your hair. It is actually better than daily washing because you don't strip your scalp from it's natural oils. Do not wash your hair with hot water, try as cold as you can you don't need to use ice cold water lukewarm is fine. It is recommended to use sulfate-free shampoos. When you wash your hair you can mix some of your semi-permanent dye with the conditioner that will freshen up the color a bit until the next dying session.

General Info:
Do not bleach or use dyes with developer more often that once a month and always do an allergy test.
It is recommended to use coconut oil on your scalp and hair before you will bleach it (but not when you use a veggie dye). That way you protect it and it gets less damage.

Now here are some pictures of my own hair.....

Hope this will be useful :) Take care!