The idea of ColourB4 is that is removes colour from the hair (permanent and semi-permanent) by shrinking the colour molecules so that they are small enough to pass out of the hair follicle and be rinsed away. There are no bleaching agents involved, though I wouldn't necessarily know whether any of the solutions have the potential to damage hair. Although the idea is that it removes colour and takes you back to your original colour, it won't necessarily be your natural colour. Lots of permanent and semi-permanent dyes contain peroxide which can lighten the natural hair colour. So if you were a natural brown, you can find you end up a bit brassy or few shades lighter than you are naturally.
I have come across complaints about the smell. It doesn't bother me too much and I find it very reminiscent of perming solution. However, the smell is quite strong and as you need to be in a warm room for best results, it's probably a good idea to move somewhere more airy for the hour processing time. I wrapped my hair up in clingfilm once I had applied the solution to keep the heat in and avoid the issues of splatters.
What I find to be the biggest nuisance when using this is the rinsing stage. You have to rinse twice over, with a buffer stage inbetween, for a minimum of five minutes. This really feels like an eternity as you need to have your head directly under the stream of water massaging continuously for best results. In the instructions it suggests you use your mobile phone to time the five minutes, this recommendation sounds like a disaster waiting to happen to me (mobile plus water equals broken phone in my book!). I asked my other half to tell me when my time was up instead.
Anyway, we'll get on to the bit you'll be most interested in. How does my hair look now?
BEFORE
AFTER
Well, it's definitely not black anymore! It's lighter than my natural colour and probably a touch more 'auburn' and lighter than it looks in the pictures. I haven't bought another box of dye yet and in fact I think I may wait a while and try and decide whether to get it coloured at a salon. In the meantime, I'm tempted to try a colour enhancing shampoo to tone down the brassiness. I wondered about the Aveda Black Mavala shampoo. I'm actually going to an Aveda salon to get my haircut tomorrow so might ask for some advice whilst I am there.
It doesn't seem to have damaged my hair particularly. My hair felt a bit dry after the colour stripping but I washed it this morning with L'Oreal Serie Expert Vitamino Colour shampoo and mask and my hair felt nice and soft again. I realise there's a terrible irony in my using colour protecting treatment in the circumstances but I really like this particular pair as they make my hair feel so nice. Considering the lack of fading, I would say these plus the Pureology Hydrate shampoo really do work to preserve the colour. It's just a shame it wasn't a colour I wanted to keep!
Disclosure: The L'Oreal and Pureology were sent to me by the PR officer for www.activebeauty.co.uk. I bought the ColourB4 myself from Boots
This is great thanks so much for this post I never knew such a product was available on the market. I thought I was going to have to visit a salon a few times and pay a some hefty bills. I am wanting to get my hair back to it's natural shade so I can dye it more of a warmer shade. I just looked on Boots web site and they have 2 different types the one you tried and then a pink box which is a couple quid cheaper and not as strong I dont think.
ReplyDeleteSeeings my hair is pretty dark compared to my natural colour and the colour I want to achieve would you suggest the extra strength one? Sorry long ramble lol x
The Extra strength is definitely the one that's recommended for dark hair. You run the risk of having to do it a couple of times over if you get the regular box.
ReplyDeleteThere's a Twitter giveaway running at the moment I think to win a box. You should have a go! This is the twitter account - @ScottCornwall.
Jane x
Now you know I love a good ole hair dying adventure! ;) It's really shifted that colour off your hair!! When you first coloured your hair I thought it looked ok, but now I can see the comparison between the lighter and darker shade the darker one looks way too dark!!
ReplyDeleteI found that it left my hair a bit brassy as well. Oh and all that rinsing...I actually thought at one point that I was washing away my hairs will to live! lol Looking forward to seeing what you do next! :)
x
I used this last year & my hair went really auburn too. To tone it down abit I've been using Toni & Guy dark brunette shampoo & conditioner & it really does add a little colour. Once after using it a friend asked if I'd dyed my hair again as it had darkened it that much x
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this post im surprised as ive never known about this before. I got a colour today but im a bit worried as my hair has a lot of colour in it but the roots have none so using something like this first seems a great idea. Thanks hun xx
ReplyDeleteIt looks much better now, glad to see the colour remover did a good job! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't think that this would actually work, it looks very good, I guess the black was too much of a contrast. I actually haven't coloured my hair for years and lately I have been tempted to do it but I guess once you start colouring your hair you just can't stop :)
ReplyDeleteIt has worked really well, I am always sceptical about how well this kind of thing would work so its great to see it put to the test., I only wish I had known about it 3 yrs ago when I accidentally dyed my hair black!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I read this because I was going to buy it today! Think I'll try my trusted old Boots one again.
ReplyDelete@Ms. Wedgie: Yes, it worked a treat! It’s looking less brassy now after a few washes. I went out and got some travel size versions of the John Frieda Brunette stuff to see if that will help. I will have to do something more permanent eventually to tackle the greys!
ReplyDelete@Karla: This is good to hear, I bought some of the John Frieda stuff to see if that will help it look more brown. Fingers crossed it will help for now as I can’t face dying it right now after the cut disaster!
@nicoletta: Definitely worth a try. I can’t remember where I heard about it first, it might have been a forum. It works well though and is good for getting rid of build up on the ends. Cheaper than getting a salon to do it too.
@Jadegrrrl: I’m very pleased with how it worked. Very handy product to know about!
@Klara: I really have to colour mine because I have quite a lot of grey. Well, I guess I don’t have to but I’m not ready to embrace my natural ash as a statement just yet! The ColourB4 definitely works and I feel so much better about not have the dark colour. I am looking rather wistfully now at the after pictures. My hair looked so much better without these stupid layers :(
@Debbie: It does work well. It’s a little pricey, £12 odd for the Extra Strength but I think it’s cheaper than it would be getting it done at a salon. It’s time consuming but well worth it to get rid of the dark colour. Hopefully I will help someone else that’s had a similar disaster situation. If only there were a packet to sort out my current mess, I’d be on to a winner!
@SweetLikJelly: Hi, I thought the ColourB4 was very good. What put you off? I didn’t realise that Boots did their own brand of hair stripper. Or was it the dye I used that made it dark in the first place that you wanted to avoid?
Many thanks for all of your comments,
Jane x