- To cover up blonde highlights with brown you can choose a permanent or semi-permanent hair dye to achieve an even color.
- However, if your hair is dry and damaged, I advise you to cover up the highlights with a semi-permanent brown dye. I’ll tell you about the best colors to choose.
- And, if your hair is healthy, you can cover up your blonde highlights with a brown permanent hair dye. You’ll have plenty of options and I’ll tell you how to properly apply them.
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How to go From Highlights to All-Over Color in 7 Steps
I can imagine the battle raging in your head.
Shall I put it into words?
You’re tired of your blonde highlights and want a low-maintenance even color.
You’re not the only one who feels this way after several months of wearing blonde highlights. Highlights are quite high maintenance, which means going to the salon every three to four weeks, which can be exhausting. Not to mention quite expensive.
So, you thought about covering them up with brown dye. Actually, I think that’s a pretty good idea.
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Brown brightens facial features and requires much less maintenance than highlights.
It’s also cheaper because you’ll save on salon visits. You simply touch up the color every five to six weeks according to your hair growth.
On top of that, you can do it yourself with box dye.
However, you shouldn’t choose just any brown hair dye.
Before you set out to find the perfect brown hair color, you need to consider your hair’s health. That’s what I’ll talk about next.
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What brown hair dye to cover up your blonde highlights according to your hair’s health?
If you’re determined to cover up blonde highlights, you’ll need to make several important decisions:
- What hair dye to choose? It could be permanent or semi-permanent.
- What hair dye color to choose?
The difference between permanent and semi-permanent hair dye is that the former contains ammonia and is applied with a developer.
Therefore, permanent hair dye is more aggressive to the hair than semi-permanent.
In turn, semi-permanent hair dye doesn’t penetrate inside the hair. It’s only deposited on the outermost layer like a color film.
I recommend you take into account your hair’s health when choosing hair dye to cover up your highlights:
- If your hair is damaged, frizzy, dry, or brittle, choose semi-permanent hair dye.
- But, if your hair shows no signs of damage, you can go for permanent hair dye.
Once you’ve chosen the type of hair dye you’ll apply, the most expected moment has arrived: Choosing the brown hair color.
Which brown hair dye to choose to cover up blonde highlights?
My first recommendation as a professional colorist is that you choose the closest brown to your natural color.
This way, you’ll avoid having to touch up the color every time your roots show. Also, you’ll be able to extend the color renewal frequency.
If you chose semi-permanent hair dye, the color range is quite broad:
- CLAIROL NATURAL INSTINCTS: Medium Brown 5 and Dark Warm Brown 4
- ADORE: 46 Spiced Amber, 48 Honey Brown, and 56 Cajun Spiced
- KISS TINTATION: T871 Honey Brown, T880 Dark Warm Brown, and T870 Cinnamon.
If you chose permanent hair dye, you can go for:
- L´OREAL PREFERENCE: Medium Brown 5, Dark Mahogany Brown 4M, Cool Darkest Brown 3C
- GARNIER NUTRISSE: Medium Natural Brown 50, Hot Chocolate 513, Dark Chocolate 40
- REVLON COLORSILK: Deep Rich Brown 27, Medium Ash Brown 40, Light Golden Brown 54
Of course, these are just a few examples. Permanent hair dyes have many brown options to explore.
How to apply hair dye correctly to cover up blonde highlights
Firstly, if you don’t have experience in applying hair color, you should have it done at a salon.
It may seem easy to do, but you must respect the exposure times and completely cover the surface of the hair to make sure you cover up the blonde highlights.
This is the only way to cover up the blonde highlights and achieve an even color.
So, if you don’t have experience coloring, I’d suggest you go to a salon.
This way, you’ll avoid getting uneven streaks of color in your hair.
Applying brown permanent hair dye to blonde highlights
My first tip is to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Each brand has its specifications and you need to respect them.
If you want to have a general idea, here is a step-by-step of what we do in the salon.
- Comb your dry hair and separate it into four sections, holding each section with hair clips.
- Mix the dye with the developer and mix to blend.
- Begin to apply the dye to each section from root to tip covering the entire surface of your hair.
- When you have finished covering all the sections, leave the dye on for 40 to 45 minutes, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.
- After this time, rinse your hair with lukewarm water until it runs clean.
- Apply the post-color treatment included in the hair color kit and leave it on for five minutes.
You should now renew your brown hair color every five to six weeks. You can apply moisturizing masks with keratin up to once a week to hydrate and nourish your hair.
Application of semi-permanent brown hair dye for blonde highlights
To apply the semi-permanent dye, you should do is wash your hair. This type of hair dye adheres to the outer layer of your hair.
Therefore, if your hair has product residue or dirt on it, the dye won’t stick, and your color will fade.
Dry your hair because semi-permanent hair dye is applied to dry hair.
It’s always a good idea to read the application instructions of the brand you choose. Some semi-permanent hair dyes have a stronger and more intense pigmentation and require less exposure time.
Have you chosen brown hair color?
Let’s take a look at the step-by-step to apply it.
- Comb your dry, clean hair into four sections. Secure them with hair clips.
- Put on gloves and protect your clothes because semi-permanent hair dyes usually stain.
- Start applying the dye from root to tip on each of the sections you separated.
- When you have covered all the sections of your hair, leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes AS INDICATED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
- After this time, rinse your hair with cold water.
- DON’T USE SHAMPOO OR CONDITIONER.
- Let your hair air dry and apply two or three drops of natural oils.
Semi-permanent hair colors are very sensitive to hair products, heat, and weather.
You should start using sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to extend the duration of the brown color.
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As for color renewal, it all depends on the brand you choose. Some semi-permanent dyes last up to twenty washes while others last up to ten washes.
Conclusions
To cover up your blonde highlights with brown dye you can choose permanent or semi-permanent dye. They’ll give an even and uniform color to your hair.
The choice will depend on your hair health. If your hair is seriously damaged, I recommend a semi-permanent brown hair dye.
- CLAIROL NATURAL INSTINCTS: Medium Brown 5 and Dark Warm Brown 4
- ADORE: 46 Spiced Amber, 48 Honey Brown, and 56 Cajun Spiced
- KISS TINTATION: T871 Honey Brown, T880 Dark Warm Brown, and T870 Cinnamon.
- L´OREAL PREFERENCE: Medium Brown 5, Dark Mahogany Brown 4M, Cool Darkest Brown 3C
- GARNIER NUTRISSE: Medium Natural Brown 50, Hot Chocolate 513, Dark Chocolate 40
- REVLON COLORSILK: Deep Rich Brown 27, Medium Ash Brown 40, Light Golden Brown 54
Of course, these are just a few examples. Permanent hair dyes have many brown options to explore.
How to apply hair dye correctly to cover up blonde highlights
Firstly, if you don’t have experience in applying hair color, you should have it done at a salon.
It may seem easy to do, but you must respect the exposure times and completely cover the surface of the hair to make sure you cover up the blonde highlights.
This is the only way to cover up the blonde highlights and achieve an even color.
So, if you don’t have experience coloring, I’d suggest you go to a salon.
This way, you’ll avoid getting uneven streaks of color in your hair.
Applying brown permanent hair dye to blonde highlights
My first tip is to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Each brand has its specifications and you need to respect them.
If you want to have a general idea, here is a step-by-step of what we do in the salon.
- Comb your dry hair and separate it into four sections, holding each section with hair clips.
- Mix the dye with the developer and mix to blend.
- Begin to apply the dye to each section from root to tip covering the entire surface of your hair.
- When you have finished covering all the sections, leave the dye on for 40 to 45 minutes, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.
- After this time, rinse your hair with lukewarm water until it runs clean.
- Apply the post-color treatment included in the hair color kit and leave it on for five minutes.
You should now renew your brown hair color every five to six weeks. You can apply moisturizing masks with keratin up to once a week to hydrate and nourish your hair.
Application of semi-permanent brown hair dye for blonde highlights
To apply the semi-permanent dye, you should do is wash your hair. This type of hair dye adheres to the outer layer of your hair.
Therefore, if your hair has product residue or dirt on it, the dye won’t stick, and your color will fade.
Dry your hair because semi-permanent hair dye is applied to dry hair.
It’s always a good idea to read the application instructions of the brand you choose. Some semi-permanent hair dyes have a stronger and more intense pigmentation and require less exposure time.
Have you chosen brown hair color?
Let’s take a look at the step-by-step to apply it.
- Comb your dry, clean hair into four sections. Secure them with hair clips.
- Put on gloves and protect your clothes because semi-permanent hair dyes usually stain.
- Start applying the dye from root to tip on each of the sections you separated.
- When you have covered all the sections of your hair, leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes AS INDICATED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
- After this time, rinse your hair with cold water.
- DON’T USE SHAMPOO OR CONDITIONER.
- Let your hair air dry and apply two or three drops of natural oils.
Semi-permanent hair colors are very sensitive to hair products, heat, and weather.
You should start using sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to extend the duration of the brown color.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: 7 longest-lasting semi-permanent hair dyes (although the actual duration will depend on you)
As for color renewal, it all depends on the brand you choose. Some semi-permanent dyes last up to twenty washes while others last up to ten washes.
Conclusions
To cover up your blonde highlights with brown dye you can choose permanent or semi-permanent dye. They’ll give an even and uniform color to your hair.
The choice will depend on your hair health. If your hair is seriously damaged, I recommend a semi-permanent brown hair dye.
