Do you want to know what would happen if you mixed a red dye with a blonde dye? We can almost get to the answer to that question based on common sense, because:
- If you mix red dye with blonde dye, you’ll get a lighter red than most conventional brands offer.
- But to get that unique, light red, you’ll need to mix that with a level 9 or 10 blonde.
- And, instead of using a 20 volume developer like you’d do with most dyes, you’ll need to use a 30 volume developer, since that will lighten your hair.
Red dyes are amazing, and brands are constantly improving their offerings of red dye.
In hair salons, it’s common to mix different shades of dye, because at the end of the day, every client wants their own, unique shade.
But, once again, I should tell you that colorimetry is a science, almost as exact as mathematics.
It won’t work if you just go to the store and pick up the first red dye you see and mix it with just any old blonde.
Because, if you don’t choose the exact right blonde, then all you’ll do is end up wasting money since you’ll have to end up throwing both boxes of dye away.
Do you want to know what my first recommendation in terms of red shades?
First, try to find your ideal red in the color kits that the most well-known brands sell.
Believe it or not, brands don’t just offer red dyes, they also have burgundy, coppers, purples and even colors that stylists call pale red.
If you can’t find “that red,” the unique one that defines your style, then you’ve reached the point where you will need to make your own red dye by mixing red and blonde shades.
But, you need to keep in mind that reds are special shades that are usually outside the color palette, which is why each brand has its special number system for these colors.
Generally, they are numbered between 4.66 and 7.77 and most red shades have attention-grabbing names, like ruby red or red passion.
Although mixing red and blonde dye can be hard, I’m going to try to simplify it as much as I can to help you become a true “woman in red.”
So, stick around, because I’m going to tell you:
- How to correctly mix red and blonde dye
- How to take care of your hair once you’ve dyed it red
Ready to find the red of your dreams?
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How to mix red and blonde dye correctly
Before I told you that colorimetry is an exact science, just like math, and that’s why it’s guided by formulas.
To get a lighter red dye, you need to follow the formula for mixing dyes, which is:
SHADE OF DYE + SHADE OF DYE = RESULT / NUMBER OF DYES
The result of this formula will give you the exact number of the shade you’ll apply to your hair.
Remember that you should always choose a level 9 or 10 blonde if you want to lighten the red dye you buy because if you use it with another shade of blonde, you won’t notice the difference.
Let’s take a look at two concrete examples of this formula:
If you chose a 6.66 shade red and a light blonde 9, the formula will look like this:
6.66 + 9 = 15.66 / 2 = 7.83.
What does that mean? It means that you’d be applying shade 7.83 to your hair.
If you chose a 4.66 red and a 10 extra light blonde, the formula would be:
4.66 + 10 = 14.66 / 2 = 7.33
That means that you’d dye your hair with a 7.33 red.
Why is this formula important?
Because the next time you dye your hair, you can remember which tones you mixed to get that unique color you’ve been searching for.
So, you must write it down somewhere and keep it under lock and key.
Another thing that’s very important to keep in mind when it comes time to mix two shades is that you should use a 30 volume developer.
Yes, I know when it comes to dyeing your hair, you always use a 20 volume developer, but in those cases, you’re just depositing color.
In this case, we want to make the peroxide in the developer lighten your hair while also applying the dye to it.
So, this time, the developer is an important ally.
Now, if you’re ready to create your red dye, let’s take a look at what you’re going to need:
- A kit of red dye in the color you like
- A kit of level 9 or 10 blonde dye
- 30 volume developer
- A dye brush
Once you have all of the materials, you can get started. The first thing you need to do is mix the dyes.
Mixing dyes
Step 1
- Squirt the tubes of red and blonde dye into a plastic container.
- Add the 30 volume developer and mix until you reach a smooth consistency.
Apply the dye
Step 2
- Detangle your hair until no knots remain.
- Apply the dye from your roots to your ends and let it sit for 30-45 minutes.
Step 3
- Once the full exposure time has passed, rinse your hair with lukewarm water.
- Use the post-color conditioner included in the kits to nurture your hair after dyeing it.
And the last step is to take a look in the mirror to discover the unique red that you created.
Remember to keep the numbers of dye you used at hand since when you need to refresh your dye, you’ll need to use the same ones to get the same color.
Now that you’ve gotten your ideal red, you don’t want it to fade quickly, right?
If not, take note of these pieces of advice to keep your red as bright as the first day.
How to take care of your unique red color
- As a first step, don’t wash your hair with shampoo for at least 72 hours and of course, use a sulfate-free shampoo.
If you wait the full 72 hours, the pigments in the dye will better adhere to your hair fiber and your color will last longer.
- Do you remember how you used a 30 volume developer?
Your hair probably feels dry after using the 30 volume developer because it’s stronger than a 20 volume developer. So, give your hair a little extra love once a week with a hydrating mask.
- If the red color you’ve chosen is in the range of dark red, then your hair might look a little copper or orange after some time.
If that happens, then your best bet is to use blue shampoo once a week to eliminate those unwanted tones.
Now it’s time to get out and show off your unique shade of red.
Tell me, which shades of red and blonde did you use to get your ideal red?
