hey all...

so i think i'm going to, for the first time, put something in my hair that isn't shampoo or conditioner. haha

i think i want to dye my hair, only slightly. go a bit auburn.

before i pay the big bucks and do the whole shebang at a salon, i was wondering if i could get some suggestions for impermanent dyes (brands) that you can use and usually wash out in a week or so so that i can see how it might look, and see if i want to go there.

does clairol or herbal essences or anyone make that type of rinse? any other suggestions?

If you just want to see if it looks good, I'd suggest a wig shop. That way you can try different shades and depths of auburn and not have to worry that it won't wash out!

If you're looking for something that will rinse out that quickly, I can't make any great suggestions, except to caution you that most semi-premenant rinses last MUCH longer than you would expect.
The Natural Instincts line is something I have used and believe me, it sticks around.
I might suggest going to some sort of professional beauty supply place and speakign to someone who works there. I don't reccomend Ricky's since altough they have a large selection the staff is frequently not well educated about the products.

One thing I could suggest is the John Freida color enhancing glaze. I use it to boost my already auburn colored (thank you Feria) hair and it does seem to give it a subtle boost of color. But I never really monitor to see how long it lasts.
And if you use it, be prepared for your shower to look like you are re-enacting Psycho.

Being a redhead lady myself (ahem...), you may want to go to a salon, and just have a consultation. Auburn/red hair is very tricky. It has everything to do with your skintone. Are you fair? Do you have darker skin? What is your natural hair color? Do you already have natural red highlights? Or, does your hair naturally have an ashy/blonde of hue? And also, depending on how red/auburn you go, it's the trickiest to maintain. Tends to 'fade' very quickly, or as my colorist says, it 'oxidizes."

I see no harm in going to a trusted salon, asking for a consultation, and asking THEIR opinion about at home semi-permanent dyes. They won't try to scam you, if you are really unsure. Get a recommendation from someone.

And if you need a good place to go to, I go to a place in Forest Hills, Queens. I've been getting my hair colored there for 11 years! Just PM me if you need the referral....

Perhaps you might try just adding red highlights. I'm a natural redhead , and because I grew up in a family of natural redheads it usually just doesn't look right to me on most people.You probably get a nice tan for example , while I just freckle. My skin also has a lot of orange in it, like most redheads.My girlfirend tried to color her hair the same shade of red as mine for years, even dragging me to her hairdresser once. The hair looked okay, but kept oxidixing. When I saw her for the first time in years with her natural brown hair I was struck by how pretty her face looked without the redhair washing her out. She ended up doing highlights.

Hi Jactressk! I usually get my hair color done at the salon, although I stretch it out a little by using Clairol's "Roots Touch-up" (I think it's made by Clairol, if I remember correctly) which is designed to last around 3 weeks. It lasts longer than that though if you don't wash your hair extremely frequently during the week. (My hair is dry so I only wash a couple of times a week)

In the past, I used to use Natural Instincts which is "semi-permanent" color. I do recommend that line -- they make a lot of nice shades, and it's pretty easy to put on for a smooth application.

hope that helps a bit. Auburn hair rules!!!

Hi there,
I have been working in the salon industry for quite some time. You can request to have what is called a toner put in your hair. This will last 4-6 weeks and is not perminant if you do not love it. I don't recommend using store bought color, but check around for salons using hair models where you can pay just 20-30$ or have it completely free of charge. I know many stylists in SOHO very well so let me know if you need a rec.

Hey, did you ever hear of Loreal Color Pulse? They're these mousse-like semi-permanent hair colors, and they're supposed to last for about 2 weeks or some number of shampoos, 8 or 10 or so.
I used the Chilled Plum once, and I loved it. They do have an auburn color too.
They're fun to use, you should check the website. www.lorealparisusa.com