My natural hair color is a dark chocolate brown.

I'd like to change my color to a Pamela Anderson white blonde. I want an easy solution that is a one step color so that I apply it and my hair goes from dark to white blonde. 

My hairstylist (who charges to much for color) told me that I have to do a multi-process color to get the blonde and I am just wondering if she is saying that to charge me more for the process.  I am going to do it at home but have not yet decided on the L'Oreal color to select.  

My hairstylist also told me that I will dry out and damage my hair.  She warned of a strawlike feeling or even brittleness.  I am thinking that if I just slap a lot of conditioner on my hair it will counteract the effect of the color.  Can you recommend a really cheap conditioner I can buy.  I know that you like the Phytotherathrie products but I don't want to pay for anything that costs more than a few dollars because I am just applying it to my hair.

Thanks for any advice you might have.

Julia

Answer

Dear Julia,

Unfortunately I receive hundreds of emails like yours every week, only after they unfortunate hair consumer attempted to go from dark to platinum in one step and wound up with bright orange, bright green or some other combination.  In the majority of cases they attempted the dirty coloring deed themselves at home.  

If you want a platinum blonde look, why not invest in a fabulous wig and enjoy the fun of being a Pamela Anderson blonde without the heartache that you may incur when you try to undertake such a drastic action.

You hairstylist sounds like a wonderful resource who is on the ball.  She is right, you can not go from a dark color to a very light color with first lifting the dark color.  This means that you would need at least a two step process.  It is possible, if your hair is dark enough, that you would need to do a multi-step process to get to the Pamela Anderson blondeness.

While you may save a few dollars by attempting the color at home, anything this drastic is worth the investment of a good colorist or stylist with color expertise.  Why?  If you do it yourself and botch it badly, you will either be required to spend a lot of money getting the color "corrected" or your will be forced to endure a horrible shade until it has grown out.

An even worse scenario is that you fry your hair and it all breaks off at the roots.  Does that happen?  Sometimes it does.  More likely is that you will indeed suffer from straw-like strands that are brittle and stiff.

I hope that you will seriously consider a professional since anytime you life color more than 2-3 levels, there is potential damage to your hair.  Depending on the texture and current condition of your hair (curly versus straight, dry versus normal) you risk some additional damage.

Some consumers will get damage after just one color application due a wide range of factors.

As far as a low cost conditioner, that seems a contradition in terms.  Although I am a big fan of the Phytothetherarie line, it is because of the incredible results that we see and hear about every day at HairBoutique.com.  I have used the line for many years, even before HairBoutique.com came into existence.  Their products are of exceptional quality and wonderful value since a tiny bit goes a long way and it really works.  You might be able to find a super cheap product at the local dollar store but you might have to buy 10x the amount to get the same results from a high quality product, if that even buys you results.

I also am a big fan of the ARTec, Wella, Goldwell, Mine, KuscoMurphy, Matrix and Aveda products and that is why I recommend them, because I know that they work for the majority of people that use them.  Although everyone is different and their hair may not react the same, if someone tries any of those lines they should be able to find quality solutions for their hair challenges.

Since I receive so many emails from people in the middle of a color disaster, I have written a bad color survival guide that can be found on the HairBoutique.com site.  Check it out for some great tips.  Also, check out the many other articles we have on preparing for color and how to do it wisely.

Best wishes,

Karen