Bye Bye Bleach: Keeping Ash Blonde Real (and Permanent!)

Are you tired of your light, bleached blonde fading back to its former glory in just a month?

3 min readBeauty

Our Take: The Ash Blonde Dilemma – When Glamour Meets the Real World

Okay, let's talk about this ash blonde situation, because frankly, it’s a bit of a hair-raising tale, and we’re here to inject a little humor and a lot of clarity into the chaos. Our reader, bless their heart, is trying to navigate the tricky terrain of returning to their natural 7 ash blonde, after years of chasing the lighter, bleached dream. They’ve had their hair colored, only to watch it wash out faster than a celebrity apology on social media. Now, the big question: is their hairdresser telling them the whole truth, or is it time to find a stylist who speaks fluent "permanent color"?

Here’s the lowdown, and spoiler alert: it’s not quite as simple as a quick toner. When you've been bleaching your hair for a while, you’re essentially stripping it of its natural pigment. Going back to a natural shade, especially an ashy one, requires depositing color back into the hair shaft. A toner, while fantastic for neutralizing unwanted tones and refreshing existing color, often doesn't have the staying power for this kind of transition. It’s more of a temporary fix, a chic accessory rather than a foundational piece. The fact that the color washed out twice suggests that the hair might be too porous from the bleaching to hold onto the pigment effectively with just a toner.

So, is finding a new hairdresser the answer? Potentially. It’s not about saying your current stylist is wrong, but rather that they might not be the right fit for this specific, and frankly, quite common, hair journey. A good colorist will understand the science behind color correction and restoration. They’ll likely suggest a multi-step process, possibly involving filling the hair with underlying pigments before applying the desired ash blonde shade. This approach is designed to create a more stable base and ensure the color lasts. Think of it like building a fabulous couture outfit – you need a solid foundation before you start adding the dazzling embellishments. It’s about achieving that effortless, empowered look without the constant anxiety of it all washing down the drain.

Ultimately, this is a reminder that while we all love the aspirational glamour of a perfectly executed hair color, the reality often involves a bit more nuanced artistry. It’s about finding that sweet spot where the expertise of your stylist meets the unique needs of your hair. Don't be afraid to ask questions, seek second opinions, and find someone who can bring your hair vision to life with confidence and a touch of that relatable, no-nonsense humor we all appreciate. Because at the end of the day, we want our hair to be as resilient and fabulous as we are, not a fleeting fashion moment.

From Beauty

Like the title says, I have natural 7 ashy blonde hair. I’ve been getting it bleached lighter for years. I’m wanting to just be all over natural again. I went in December & got it done. Looked perfect but had done turned back bleached blonde by February. Went back in February and same thing, color had all washed out but this month.

I asked my hairdresser if there was something more permanent then just toning it, as in can we just dye it a she said no.

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