I don’t like to faff about with endless hair tools and styling sprays. So, my usual request from the hairdresser is a half head of highlights, a few long layers, and a trim. Over the years, there has been the odd variation of a bob, or more layers added – but, no major changes.
My natural colour is mousy brown with some lighter shades, here and there. The texture of my hair is quite fine – but I take after my mum in that I have a lot of it. Over the years, I’ve made colour, rather than cut, my priority. This is because I have a lot of red in my hair and it can be tricky to colour. I have, on a few occasions, left the hairdressers with a strange hue, which I haven’t noticed until I’ve arrived home. Why is it your hair always looks so different in the hairdresser’s chair?
My current hairdresser is very experienced and makes her job look easy. I know a lot of training and expertise is needed and she demonstrates all of the qualities of a great hairdresser.
Last year, my hairdresser wasn’t available due to maternity leave – so, my hair routine altered slightly. My choices were to either find another hairdresser, or do something myself, in the interim, until she returned to work.
This is the Clairol Root Touch Up I use every 4 to 6 weeks. I use the 6A shade.
So, I decided to do the bare minimum with my hair to see where it would take me. I thought, to get me over the next six months, I would learn how to put several highlights on the top layer of my hair to brighten it up, hence, extending my time to need a hairdresser. I don’t have a lot of grey, so I decided I would see how I got on, with regard to touching up my roots.
These are the Wella Toners I mix to tone the highlights
To begin my research, I watched a lot of “YouTube” tutorials. I also read up on how to apply highlights using bleach and developers, and then how to tone my hair, if the result was too bright. I only wanted three highlights on either side of my parting – which I thought would be enough.
I didn’t touch my hair until November of that year (four months after my last visit)! My hairdresser had given my hair a good trim in late July, so the length was fine. I found a few helpful tutorials. I had also picked up quite a lot, over the years, watching my various hairdressers at work. I can’t say I wasn’t a little bit nervous, from the outset.
I sent away for the solutions needed, then set to work. I tested with only a few strands of hair and it looked fine. So, this spurred me on to do all six highlights.
Preparation was key. So, I separated the few highlights, securing them with small clips. Then, I applied the bleach, covering each one with tin foil. When the highlights had lifted to the honey blonde I was after, I whipped the foil off and washed my hair – not applying conditioner, as per the instructions. Then, I brushed my hair out and applied the toner to my new highlights, which left them a nice wheat shade.
As previously mentioned, I don’t tend to get too many greys. So, in December, I did buy a Clairol root touch up (hair dye) – and, with a small paint brush, I applied it on a few greys around my temples. But, I could have just left them as there weren’t too many and they honestly looked OK.
It did cross my mind to stop fighting the natural ageing process in favour of letting my silver strands shine through. And, seeing as there’s not a lot of grey showing, I may just leave them, in the future. The general reaction to going grey is very positive and natural. I admire women who have decided to let their coloured hair grow out and go “au naturel”. I’ve heard the growing out phase can be a little tricky. But, once the natural highlights of silver are through, as I have seen on some women, it can look so stunning!!
L’Oreal Magic Retouch
Of course, we are almost into March 2019, and I have had my usual half head of highlights done, as well as a much-needed trim.
I still may do my own hair, now and again, as it means I can stall the return to the hairdressing salon by at least four weeks – saving myself a little money. And, it feels quite liberating, too.
I hope you have enjoyed this post. If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I will get back to you as soon as I can. If you would like to check my hair out, you can take a look at some images on my Instagram page. I started Instagram in August 2018 – so you will be able to see some “before and after” images.
This is not a sponsored post – but may Includes some affiliate links
Alison xx
I keep meaning o try the root concealer sprays. I think they are such a great idea. I have coloured my own hair for the past 25 years. I used to be a hairdresser! xx
Author
You must have saved a lot of money over the years doing your own hair. I only go
three to four times a year, plus, the salon I go to isn’t one of these mega expensive
places. My hairdresser did her training in one of those places, then set up on her
own. I was lucky to find her as she’s really good and my hair can be tricky to colour.
Alison
xx
I used to go get my hairdresser quite a bit because of hair color and retouching. But somehow along the way, it started to destroy my hair quite a bit that I stopped and just embraced my own natural hair color. I can’t tell you how much money I saved and how healthy my hair looks. I can’t do my own haircuts so that I still go in for!
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
Author
In the future I will probably go au natural, as I do see the appeal, but not yet as the little grey I have every 4-6 weeks is easily and inexpensively covered. I haven’t been to the hairdresser since October and was going to book in for my highlights and a much needed trim, but then Coronavirus hit our world.
Take care xx
I have tried the root sprays, and didn’t get on very well with them. When I put my glasses on my head and then on my nose the black was left on there and looked awful! Thanks for sharing these products. Jacqui x
Author
Oh no! I tend to use the spray from week three, following my root touch up. I only use a small amount, as it goes a long way – It can be tricky to apply – afterwards I use cleansing lotion on a cotton pad where I’ve been over zealous.
Take care xx
Perfect tips for people right now!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Author
Thank you Mireille. I had how handy a year ago. No one could have predicted this situation. Take care xx
Great post, Alison. I love that you wrote it a year ago and it is so totally helpful and relevant right now! I always do my color touch ups myself because I can’t afford to go to my stylist every 8 weeks. In fact, I haven’t seen her since last June. But as my hair is getting longer and longer, it is getting very tedious to do it myself. I am going to have to visit my stylist once this quarantine lifts. I love your hair color, by the way! Thanks for sharing and linking up with me.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Author
It’s only the last few years that greys have been appearing and I didn’t want to be paying
the hairdresser for a root touch up every four to six weeks. It isn’t very complicated and so much more
convenient to do it yourself. It becomes easier once you’ve done It a few times.
Highlights and cutting on the other hand are left to Anna my hairdresser – though I’ve learned how
to do one or two highlights in between hairdresser appointments to brighten my hair up – I only see
Anna twice a year – and in dire need of a trim now.
Take care. Alison xx
Interesting and timely post! Your hair always looks lovely. I have bought the Magic Retouch product but not sure it will work for me. My hair is difficult to colour at home because I first have a tint on the roots and then highlights. I’m thinking that after a few months I will see how much grey I actually have, and I could choose then not to have the tint but just a few highlights, which will conceal the grey to some extent. We shall see!
Author
Sounds like we have the same routine. I do my own root touch up every 4-6 weeks then go to my hairdresser twice a year for a half head of highlights. I really like the Magic Retouch, it’s not for everyone as it can show on your skin. I always tap round my hairline with a cotton pad with a little Micellar water to remove the excess. xx
Very timely post ! I have just been reading and commenting on Gail’s post ……I colour my own hair too ! Well it was out of necessity after moving house and struggling to find a good colourist and as my hair grows at the rate of knots I can’t justify the expense of my roots being done every 3 weeks !!!
I do have mine coloured at the salon a few times a year and a trim every month. I buy professional dye that the salon uses and tend to mix the colours together so it looks more natural. I am interested at having a go to put in highlights myself , I have had these before professionally and it definitely helps blend the grey roots in nicely. Can I ask if the toner you buy is easy to get hold of as I haven’t seen it before when mine were done at the salon.
Thanks for a great post, stay safe x
Author
It was out of necessity that I started to colour my own hair, as Anna my hairdresser
was on maternity leave. Since then my Grey roots have increased, so I do the root touch
up every 4-6 weeks myself, then go to Anna for a cut plus a half head of highlights. I am
no professional, so I add one or two highlights in between appointments. At most, I put three very tiny highlights on each side of my hair. I go to the place where there has been a highlight
beforehand. To practice you could try a few hairs underneath – be careful to do just a few
hairs – as it’s so noticeable. The bleach you use must lift to a sandy blonde, then
I use the wella toners mixed with the low developer (this won’t lift the hair). I use
two Wella toners T18 this takes any brassiness out of the colour and Tll this adds a nice
toned sandy colour. The two you tube videos I found useful are ‘Jenifer Jenkins’ and Angie
from ‘Hot and Flashy’. They explained things in an easy to follow way – you could give
them a go. Let me know how you get on……good luck and take care xx
follow this link for Wella toners:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WELLA-Toner-T18-T14-T10-T11-T15-T27-T28-T35-050-20-VOL-DEVELOPER/283730177263?hash=item420fa2ecef:m:mqL4JFjF2xHKu-IVGAaiZ7g
Thanks so much Alison, I really appreciate this information. I will take a look at the video’s and I am really grateful for the link too.
We live in NE like you and now I live semi rural and although there seems to be plenty hairdressers, I miss mine from where I lived for about 20 years – she was Saks trained and knew every hair on my head ( well so it felt !!!) Its funny as I have fine hair and lots of it like yourself, though mine is just touching my shoulders. I put an all over colour on last week, its a tad darker than the last time I did it – a little too much number 8 !!! I will do a bit research online and may ‘go for it’ next month. The alternative option of getting salon highlights scares me more ……I resembled a zebra crossing the first time it was done up here !!! Take care and thanks again xx
Author
I used to go to Saks all the time when I was younger. My friend Sandra worked
there and we’d have such a laugh – they trained their staff so well. I’m writing
a quick update as some people have never tried to do their own hair. Hopefully it’ll help in the interim.
Take care xx
I’m coloring my own hair for some time now. My roots are evident now, so I need to apply some new color very soon (hopefully this weekend). You did a great job with your hair. Thank you for sharing this post with My Red Carpet.
Anna
http://www.glamadventure.com
Author
I quite like the flexibility that doing my own roots brings. I’ve improved with practice . The highlights on the whole is left to my hairdresser. I can manage a few to brighten my hair up in between. Take care. xx
Your hair is just gorgeous! I am so glad you linked up with the Style Six! I am wondering what I’ll do when my roots grow in – thanks for the help!
xo,
Kellyann
Your hair looks so good but it can be expensive as well. But this will help a lot….Thanks for sharing it.
Author
Hi Jason,
I’ve actually tweaked my routine since then. I found the Clairol root touch up a little too dark and harsh for my hair. Then, during “lockdown” I contacted the Josh wood team, who helped me find the right shade for my re-growth, but I was unable to find my shade with them. So, just a few weeks ago I did some research and bought the shade 7n from a company called Matrix. I mix it with a 10 developer and I love it – just hope they don’t discontinue it. I need to write a follow up to this post – thank you for your comment.