Ombré All Day

Happy Monday(...err, Sunday, thanks to a trigger happy 'post' finger)!

This weekend I attempted to achieve my own version of ombré haircolor.  This style is perfect for the serial hair offender and as you all know (bleach, dye, repeat), I fit the bill. My ends are so fried, color really doesn't stand a chance, which is why ombré seemed like the perfect way to transition to a darker color.
 I've been dyeing/bleaching my own hair for years so color isn't altogether unfamiliar territory for me, but I've never tried anything beyond all-over color, so this was a bit intimidating.  However, I found this simple video tutorial from BellaSugar, which boosted my confidence enough to give it a try.

Just to be clear, I didn't follow all the directions on the video.  I used it more as a guide. I wanted a fairly dramatic change, but since my hair was very light and also incredibly porous and damaged,  I had to repeat the process shown in the video, once with semi-permanent color and again with permanent color.  I used a semi-permanent light red brown and a permanent medium red brown to get the color I was after.  Also, I didn't use boxed color.  Instead I used a professional color & developer from Sally's Beauty Supply, since that's what I'm used to and more comfortable with.

I applied my color just as they do in the video.   And this is how it turned out:

The scariest part about dyeing/bleaching your own hair is anxiously watching it process.  This is no different, though it's important to keep in mind that the little flaws you notice while the color's on probably won't be noticeable when you're done.

I am so stoked on my end result and I think it will only look better as it fades, so it's perfect for the summer months!   Obviously, you can opt for a color closer to your current shade if you want a more subtle look.  I was just ready for a change.

If you're wondering why I don't just go to a salon, it's because after several very expensive and disappointing experiences, I quit. I taught myself as much as I could about hair (more specifically, my hair) and have been going it alone for years.  It's not for everyone and I still go to the salon for other things, but if I can figure out how to do it myself you better believe I'm going to.
*This transformation cost me $23 and took about 2.5 hours.