Does Anyone Have Blonde Highlights?

sheilacurl · 08-25-2009, 10:08 PM

Is it possible to have highlighted AND healthy curly hair at the same time?

hello curlies, I could use your advice...

I stopped getting blonde highlights because I wanted to improve the health of my hair. So for the last 3 salon visits I have been getting an all over semi-permanent color. I have been going grey since I was 16 (Thanks a lot, Mom and Dad, lol!) so NOT coloring isn't an option...yet.
The semi-perm color doesn't cover grey well either but the stylist said it's better for the hair. So what's the point of dying it at all right???
I didn't realize how blah my hair looked until I started looking at older pictures of me with highlights. My hair is below the bra strap length and I would LOVE to have it longer, but it made me feel "pretty" to have those blonde things on my head.
Am I stuck with an all over color or is there ANY way to keep a few bleached strands healthy?
Is there anyone with highlighted hair that could share their beauty secrets?

Lucky Charm · 08-25-2009, 10:20 PM

I have lots of blonde highlights! I make sure to be gentile on my hair and use a goooooood conditioner!
If you want only a few highlights, you could always just ask for a couple face framing foils. Some color around the face might be enough :-)

shelbymustang · 08-25-2009, 10:20 PM

I've been coloring my hair for the past 3 years pretty frequently. The way I look at it is as long as you're taking good care of your hair and committed to the long haul, you'll be fine. I took a break in the beginning of CG to give my hair a break. I've gotten multitudes of highlights since then and what I find important is to make sure you do a good deep treatment before to prepare your hair for color (especially bleach) and don't let them use salon products on your hair that would hurt all of your hard work! Even Lorraine Massey bleaches her hair and validates it because she takes such good care of it. Good luck; if you want to go blonde...do it!

kathymack · 08-26-2009, 04:43 AM

I have blond highlights. Right now, I'm letting them grow out to see if my gray hair is "interesting" yet. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be.

I get mine done professionally. I think the chemicals they currently use are gentler then they used to be. I also get my hair cut every six weeks--so it's not a problem. The idea of the face framing highlights is a good one. You should also think about protein treatments and DTs, too.

msgiblet · 08-26-2009, 04:45 AM

I've been getting highlights and lowlights for a long time now. I agree with everyone above - just do deep conditioning about a week before and 10 days after and take good care of your hair. I do have my highlights done with colorant-based instead of bleach and that helps, too.

momof3curls · 08-26-2009, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgiblet

I've been getting highlights and lowlights for a long time now. I agree with everyone above - just do deep conditioning about a week before and 10 days after and take good care of your hair. I do have my highlights done with colorant-based instead of bleach and that helps, too.

Ditto. Check out my avatar. Heavy blond highlights.

hmixon · 08-26-2009, 07:47 AM

The damage to your hair will depend on the texture and porosity of your hair. I got highlights because my friends with fine, non-porous hair assured me that they wouldn't damage my hair.
WRONG!!!
I should have done more research on here first.
I am coarse and very porous and my hair got fried. My colorist knew what she was doing- it wasn't her error. I take excellent care of my hair and do DTs and use high end natural products and my hair still got fried. Being protein sensitive and coarse, reconstructing with protein was quite a trick.
As with almost everything hair related- it depends on your specific hair and how porous and coarse it is.
All that said- I do LOVE how the highlights look so it was trade off- I lost definition and clumping and got more volume and color.

sheilacurl · 08-26-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelbymustang

... don't let them use salon products on your hair that would hurt all of your hard work! Even Lorraine Massey bleaches her hair and validates it because she takes such good care of it. Good luck; if you want to go blonde...do it!

Thanks shelbymustang, that's very encouraging! So do you actually bring all of your cg products to the salon with you?

sheilacurl · 08-26-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgiblet

I've been getting highlights and lowlights for a long time now. I agree with everyone above - just do deep conditioning about a week before and 10 days after and take good care of your hair. I do have my highlights done with colorant-based instead of bleach and that helps, too.

Thanks for the help, msgiblet! Are colorant-based highlights common in most salons? I had no idea there was an alternative to bleach! Why wouldn't my stylist suggest something like that??? Thanks again!

sheilacurl · 08-26-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky Charm

I have lots of blonde highlights! I make sure to be gentile on my hair and use a goooooood conditioner!
If you want only a few highlights, you could always just ask for a couple face framing foils. Some color around the face might be enough :-)

Thanks Lucky Charm, face framing foils is a great idea, I'll give that a try first and see how that goes! I have to order a goooooood leave in conditioner from curlmart. I want to try either one of the jessicurl DT's, has any one had luck with those?

sheilacurl · 08-26-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmixon

The damage to your hair will depend on the texture and porosity of your hair. I got highlights because my friends with fine, non-porous hair assured me that they wouldn't damage my hair.
WRONG!!!
I should have done more research on here first.
I am coarse and very porous and my hair got fried. My colorist knew what she was doing- it wasn't her error. I take excellent care of my hair and do DTs and use high end natural products and my hair still got fried. Being protein sensitive and coarse, reconstructing with protein was quite a trick.
As with almost everything hair related- it depends on your specific hair and how porous and coarse it is.
All that said- I do LOVE how the highlights look so it was trade off- I lost definition and clumping and got more volume and color.

Hi hmixon, sorry to hear your hair got fried! My hair is very fine and highly porous. I guess that's why I'm afraid of doing more damage to it. I've tried a V05 protein treatment recently but I ended up with LOTS of frizz, so that contradicts what my fine hair SHOULD like. I was just hoping that taking a break from bleach would help restore it's health, but I probably need something more. I noticed you use a jessicurl DT, how does your coarse hair like it? I need to find at DT that my fine hair likes.

msgiblet · 08-26-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheilacurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgiblet

I've been getting highlights and lowlights for a long time now. I agree with everyone above - just do deep conditioning about a week before and 10 days after and take good care of your hair. I do have my highlights done with colorant-based instead of bleach and that helps, too.

Thanks for the help, msgiblet! Are colorant-based highlights common in most salons? I had no idea there was an alternative to bleach! Why wouldn't my stylist suggest something like that??? Thanks again!

That I don't know. Maybe different salons use different products. The last salon I went to used bleach; the salon I go to now doesn't so it's something you might want to ask about.

sheilacurl · 08-26-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathymack

I have blond highlights. Right now, I'm letting them grow out to see if my gray hair is "interesting" yet. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be.

I get mine done professionally. I think the chemicals they currently use are gentler then they used to be. I also get my hair cut every six weeks--so it's not a problem. The idea of the face framing highlights is a good one. You should also think about protein treatments and DTs, too.

Hi kathymack, I wish my gray hair would be "interesting", that would make life so much easier! But when my (gray) roots really show, I get more, "you look tired!" comments. I've tried a VO5 protein treatment recently and ended up with LOTS of frizz, so I assumed I was protein sensitive. I see that your hair is fine too, which protein treatments do you get along with? Should I avoid them if I got frizzy? Thanks for your help!

shelbymustang · 08-26-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheilacurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelbymustang

... don't let them use salon products on your hair that would hurt all of your hard work! Even Lorraine Massey bleaches her hair and validates it because she takes such good care of it. Good luck; if you want to go blonde...do it!

Thanks shelbymustang, that's very encouraging! So do you actually bring all of your cg products to the salon with you?

Anytime! Tiffany did my color last time so I didn't have to explain or bring anything since she has loads of fantastic products. However, my friend is the one doing the color this time at her salon and when I mentioned it she said that they had a "great, curl encouraging, sulfate shampoo" which basically means that it is going to be full of sulfates, parabens and cones. We'll see when the time comes but I am going to bring my products with me; I'll check ingredients on what she has and go from there. I understand the perspective of wanting a lather especially if there's bleach involved.

kathymack · 08-26-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheilacurl

Hi kathymack, I wish my gray hair would be "interesting", that would make life so much easier! But when my (gray) roots really show, I get more, "you look tired!" comments. I've tried a VO5 protein treatment recently and ended up with LOTS of frizz, so I assumed I was protein sensitive. I see that your hair is fine too, which protein treatments do you get along with? Should I avoid them if I got frizzy? Thanks for your help!

I use the Nexxus treatments--now the Aloxxi ones:

Nexxus Protein Treatments

Tried to look up the ingredients for the VO 5 treatment--but couldn't find it easily. I stay away from the K-pak because of the mineral oil. Mineral oil makes my hair dry and frizzy and I have problems removing it. I also do a DT following a real protein treatment.

sheilacurl · 08-26-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathymack

I use the Nexxus treatments--now the Aloxxi ones:

Nexxus Protein Treatments

Tried to look up the ingredients for the VO 5 treatment--but couldn't find it easily. I stay away from the K-pak because of the mineral oil. Mineral oil makes my hair dry and frizzy and I have problems removing it. I also do a DT following a real protein treatment.

Thanks for the info and the link! So a DT is the secret to a successful protein treatment, hmmm, I am going to buy some Aloxxi and try 'er again! Oh wait, I don't have a DT yet. I need to place my order on Curlmart, I went crazy to get the free shipping and now have a $71 order, lol. I'm just tired of trying to convince my hubby that I need all of these expensive hair products.
So I haven't placed the order yet

Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioner is in "my cart", hopefully I have success with it if/when I do place my order.

kathymack · 08-26-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheilacurl

Thanks for the info and the link! So a DT is the secret to a successful protein treatment, hmmm, I am going to buy some Aloxxi and try 'er again! Oh wait, I don't have a DT yet. I need to place my order on Curlmart, I went crazy to get the free shipping and now have a $71 order, lol. I'm just tired of trying to convince my hubby that I need all of these expensive hair products.
So I haven't placed the order yet

Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioner is in "my cart", hopefully I have success with it if/when I do place my order.

If KCKT was too heavy for your fine hair, you may not want the Jessicurl WDC. Her products left my hair limp and lifeless in a week--and I didn't find the KCKT moisturizing enough for my fine hair! I did like it better in the low dewpoints (the KCKT.)

sheilacurl · 08-26-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelbymustang

Anytime! Tiffany did my color last time so I didn't have to explain or bring anything since she has loads of fantastic products. However, my friend is the one doing the color this time at her salon and when I mentioned it she said that they had a "great, curl encouraging, sulfate shampoo" which basically means that it is going to be full of sulfates, parabens and cones. We'll see when the time comes but I am going to bring my products with me; I'll check ingredients on what she has and go from there. I understand the perspective of wanting a lather especially if there's bleach involved.

Yeah, you're right, the last thing you want to do when you get home from the salon is having to wash all of that other crap off of your head! I can't see why she couldn't use your own clarifying poo instead of their crap? Then use your cone free condish and gels and be all set! I would LOVE to do that the next salon visit, but I'd be afraid of the looks I would get. I haven't found a great stylist yet, so I'd be too chicken!

sheilacurl · 08-26-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathymack

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheilacurl

Thanks for the info and the link! So a DT is the secret to a successful protein treatment, hmmm, I am going to buy some Aloxxi and try 'er again! Oh wait, I don't have a DT yet. I need to place my order on Curlmart, I went crazy to get the free shipping and now have a $71 order, lol. I'm just tired of trying to convince my hubby that I need all of these expensive hair products.
So I haven't placed the order yet

Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioner is in "my cart", hopefully I have success with it if/when I do place my order.

If KCKT was too heavy for your fine hair, you may not want the Jessicurl WDC. Her products left my hair limp and lifeless in a week--and I didn't find the KCKT moisturizing enough for my fine hair! I did like it better in the low dewpoints (the KCKT.)

Wow, that's good to know, I'll delete it from my order! Do you have any recommendations for a DT? Thanks again for your help!

kathymack · 08-26-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheilacurl

Wow, that's good to know, I'll delete it from my order! Do you have any recommendations for a DT? Thanks again for your help!

Understanding that I'm a fickle pm, I'm currently alternating the CJ Rehab and the DM Deeply Rooted Deep Condish & Hair Repair as DTs.