Blonding hair: the most important thing you should know. All about blonding dark and light brown hair Blonding techniques

Surely every woman at least once in her life dreamed of turning into a bright blonde. Everyone knows that blond hair provides an image with special femininity and attractiveness. In this regard, the blonde procedure will be relevant for many years to come. Today, girls with absolutely any hair color can do blonde hair.

Naturally, natural light curls lend themselves best to this technique, but brunettes, redheads and brown-haired women find it difficult to achieve the result they need in one go. Blonding dark hair is a fairly long and difficult procedure. It is not recommended to perform it at home, and therefore it is best to rely on an experienced professional. In addition, this procedure is performed in several steps. After the first stage, the natural pigment loses color and the hair takes on a chestnut shade. With subsequent lightening of brunettes, the curls may turn red.

Blonding red hair is also performed in several sessions. However, as practice shows, it is not possible to achieve one hundred percent discoloration. It should be taken into account that lightening with chemicals has a negative effect on the structure of the strands, so after undergoing this procedure, the hair needs proper care.

How is classic hair bleaching done?

It is important to understand that dyeing your hair in light colors, photos of which are presented in magazines, can only lighten your curls by a few tones. Discoloration is carried out using two methods. The first is to use special brightening agents. Basically, the master uses blondoran coloring powder and hydrogen peroxide, the concentration of which the specialist selects, taking into account the structure and type of hair.

The second method is based on lightening the hair using a special dye. The nuance is that the paint is only suitable for brown-haired and fair-haired women. For brunettes and redheads, this option will not be suitable. After the blonde procedure, the master also performs toning to even out the resulting shade.

Radical blonde for short hair

This procedure ensures 100% bleaching of the natural pigment of curls. The resulting white color can be used as a base for dyeing your hair a light shade. Radical bleaching is a rather difficult technology, after which the hair will require a long recovery.

Photo

Features of the procedure at home

Blonding your hair at home is not easy, so the best option would be to contact a professional hairdresser. If this is not suitable, then for blonding at home you need to have the following materials:

special composition for lightening;
a towel or cape to protect clothes from chemical components;
gloves made of polyethylene or latex;
a special brush for dyeing hair;
a hair comb, preferably with large teeth;
dishes for clarifier;
a clock with a timer to control the time of blonding.

The procedure for doing blonde hair at home

First of all, you need to prepare the chemical composition. If you have blondoran at your disposal, you need to mix its contents: oxidizing agent and dye. If there is no blondoran, you will have to prepare the product yourself. To do this, you will need to mix ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, liquid soap and boiling water. Next, cover your shoulders with a towel and put on gloves.

Then you need to lubricate your temples, forehead and neck with Vaseline or greasy cream. This is necessary to minimize contact with the skin. 2/3 of the clarifier composition will need to be applied to the curls. It is recommended to apply the dye starting from the lower strands of the head and smoothly moving to the crown. The roots should be left 2-3 cm unpainted.

Next, you just have to wait a while for the dye to absorb into your hair. If your natural hair color is light, the waiting time will be 15 minutes, and if your hair is dark, it will take at least 30 minutes. At the end of this time, the clarifier that remains should be applied to the areas near the roots and wait 10-20 minutes. It is not recommended to cover your head with a towel. The last step is to wash your hair in warm water with some liquid soap.

Hair care after bleaching procedure

Blonding, unfortunately, harms your hair. After this procedure, the curls will look brittle and weakened. In order to restore hair, it needs special care.

Blonding on dark hair is one of the fashion trends that has not lost ground for several seasons. Famous stylists and hairdressers of the highest level offer their clients dozens of options for partial or complete hair lightening, allowing them to refresh their look.

Bright and ashy blonde, muted tones of ripe wheat, walnut and caramel, lightening hair along the entire length or experimenting with modern techniques - these are just some of the facets of blonde. Active ingredients with an innovative formula will allow brunettes and brown-haired women to easily add delicate, light notes to their look.

What is hair bleaching

The hairdressing procedure involves completely lightening the hair. At the request of the client, after removing the pigment, the master will give the bleached curls a pleasant, fashionable shade.

What do women who want to go blonde want:

completely change your hair color, for example, from brown-haired to blonde. A fresh image puts you in a positive mood;
make a fashionable haircut, add new shades;
enhance the natural color of hair;
give your hair extra volume, reduce the oiliness of your scalp;
prepare the hair for further tinting with pastel or, conversely, rich shades.

Who is suitable for blonde dyeing?

It is easier for girls and women with light curls to become a bright blonde. Brown-haired women and brunettes used to be deprived of the opportunity to have luxurious blonde hair without the use of potent hair-damaging compounds.

Now the situation has changed:

cosmetic companies produce lighteners, high-quality blonde dyes with protective components;
a radical change in color occurs with less harm to the hair;
To turn dark-haired girls into blondes and maintain the effect, special series of drugs have been developed. This includes not only dye, but also compositions that even out the tone and care for bleached hair.

Take note:

for dark brown-haired women and brunettes, stylists recommend choosing natural, natural, naturally muted tones;
Among the fashionable shades are light brown, ripe apricot, light walnut, honey-golden, caramel;
dazzling white strands do not harmonize well with dark eyebrows on brown-haired women and brunettes;
overgrown roots look sloppy; every two weeks you have to visit the salon to even out the shade.

Main types and features of coloring

How to turn into a charming blonde and maintain healthy hair? Which option to choose for dark curls? Pay attention to the main types of popular hairdressing procedures.

Classic blonde

Peculiarities:

curls are lightened by three, four or more tones than the original shade;
special paint or brightening compounds are used;
to raise the tone for red and dark strands, paint alone is not enough;
It is mandatory to use cosmetics that maintain durability and color saturation;
With classic bleaching, after removing the pigment, the strands are dyed in fashionable light shades.

Complete bleaching of curls

Peculiarities:

the only way to achieve ultra white strands;
the drugs have the most active effect on each hair;
modern preparations are gentler than the products used by hairdressers 20–30 years ago;
in beauty salons, specialists use gentle oxidizers from well-known brands;
follow-up care with the use of medicinal compositions with keratin is required.

Important! Violation of technology, increasing the exposure time of the composition can damage the hairs and easily “burn” them. Active loss of brittle hair after unsuccessful bleaching is not uncommon.

Blonding with the effect of darkened, deep roots

Peculiarities:

an original method of lightening hair is ideal for dark-haired beauties;
essence: at the roots, at a distance of several centimeters, the hairs are colored with a composition that almost matches your natural hair color;
an interesting combination looks impressive, especially with a fashionable haircut;
the regrown areas are hardly noticeable against the background of the dark color at the roots; coloring has to be done less often.

Important! Entrust this type of blonde only to an experienced professional. Often amateurism leads to a sloppy hairstyle.

Blonde toning

This method is recommended specifically for dark brown-haired women and brunettes.

bright, spectacular blonde often does not match your skin type and eye color;
Strong agents are used, the structure of each hair is damaged during complete bleaching.

The essence of blonde toning:

thin strands are lightened with special soft-action compounds;
then the hair gets fashionable light shades;
the color “stretches” from the roots to the tips, the effect of slightly burnt curls appears;
the light shade is as close as possible to natural: nutty, caramel, ripe wheat.

Contrast blonde

Using original techniques allows a professional to work a miracle on your curls. Hair is akin to a canvas on which the artist paints a unique picture.

Main options:

American highlighting or highlight blond. A gentle way of toning. Using a special brush, strokes are applied to the strands. Hair is dyed, natural shades are combined with new tones. Premium service. The best stylists create up to five shades;
zonal contrast highlighting. Certain outer sections of the hairstyle are lightened. Dark areas remain inside, while outside there are gentle highlights, which are later shaded with natural tones. Elite salon service. A strict calculation of the location of highlights, taking into account the shape of the face, the location of the parting, and so on is required;
diagonal blonde. The English method of two-tone dyeing is more suitable for fair-haired ladies. Feature - the strands are painted horizontally, not vertically. The haircut takes on clear edges. Contrasting blonde looks stylish and expensive. Amazing effect.

Popular techniques for gentle lightening of dark hair:

shatush. Features: light tips, dark roots. A strand up to 1.5 cm thick is taken, backcombed, then strokes of special paint are applied. After the procedure is completed, dark strands with light highlights appear. And the blonde is present, and the color of the curls is combined with dark skin;
French gentle highlighting. The technique is recommended for sparse, thin hairs of chestnut or dark brown color. Brunettes should choose a different coloring technology. Curls are lightened up to four tones. Palette – nutty, milky-pearl, golden-honey shades. Advantage: during dyeing, the hair is carefully cared for;
balayage technique. A magical scattering of delicate highlights on dark hairs appears when applied horizontally with a brush. “Star dust” seems to settle on the curls. The hair is lightened by no more than 3 tones. The gentle technique hardly damages the strands; it gently colors the hairs using high-quality compounds with natural oils and minerals. Suitable for weakened hair.

About the salon procedure

You can add light shades to dark curls in a beauty salon or at home. Please note that turning blonde on your own is not always successful.

Remember: Many fans of hydroperite often go to the hairdresser to treat damaged hair or to cover up “sins” after unsuccessful blondening. Pay attention to this nuance.

Any of the proposed techniques for lightening dark curls can only be performed by an experienced hairdresser. Blonding and imparting exquisite shades requires skill, several years of experience, and the ability to make decisions depending on the wishes of a particular client.

If you dream of impressing others with a stylish hairstyle with fantastic shimmer, go to the salon and see a professional stylist. The specialist will tell you which technique is suitable for your hair type. Be sure to take into account skin tone, eye color, face shape, and length of curls.

The approximate price of blonding and its various techniques is from 2500 to 3600 rubles. The more prestigious the salon, the more money you will have to pay. But, believe me, high-quality blonde treatment is worth the money spent.

Pay attention! Before visiting your stylist, plan your day. Lightening, toning, and coloring takes a lot of time. The more complex the technique, the longer you will stay in the salon.

Technique for doing it at home

Do you rarely visit the hairdresser? Do you like tried-and-true home remedies? Try to lighten your curls with available products.

Please note that non-compliance with the technology, incorrect exposure time or too strong a solution will “burn” the hair and turn lush curls into tow. Many girls and women dye their hair at home, but blondening, especially with subsequent tinting, is best done at a hairdresser.

Basic methods:

discoloration with hydroperite tablets. The method, popular in Soviet times, has many disadvantages. The active drug has a harmful effect on the strands. Hydroperite tablets are dissolved in water, shampoo or soap foam is added. The composition is applied to the desired areas. The concentration of the solution depends on the type of hair;
hydrogen peroxide. If you have highlighted curls, use regular peroxide. For fine hairs, a 4–5% solution is required, for burning brunettes – a 6–10% solution. For coarse hairs, you additionally need ammonia or ammonium (a couple of drops). Apply the solution to your hair with a regular comb. Step back a couple of centimeters from the roots and paint this area last. The method raises 3-4 tones.

Useful natural products for blondes:

natural honey. Mix a little shampoo with 1 tsp. soda, ½ teaspoon of fine salt, exfoliate the scalp, rinse off the mixture. Then cover the entire length of the strands with high-quality honey. After 40 minutes, wash your hair with warm water and dry without using a hair dryer;
lemon juice. Moisten your curls with sour juice several times a day. Wash off after 15 minutes. Don't get carried away, watch the condition of your hairs. Be sure to make masks with natural oils for healthy hair. You will prevent your curls from drying out;
chamomile decoction. The method is only suitable for dark brown hair that has never been dyed. Every evening, moisten your hair with chamomile infusion, and make hair masks with chamomile infusion three times a week. After a few weeks, the curls will definitely lighten.

Hair care after the procedure

Helpful Tips:

use a hair dryer, straightener, or active hair fixing products less often;
Do hair wraps regularly;
wash your hair with a mild sulfate-free shampoo;
in the summer, protect your curls from the sun;
take care of your hair with products from the “For colored damaged hair” series with keratin;
Recommended medicinal cosmetics for healthy hair.

Important! Eat right, get enough rest. Hair is sensitive to negative changes in diet and daily routine. Dyed curls require more careful treatment.

Blonding is an affordable method that allows you to give dark hair original light shades. Contact the salon if you want to get something unexpected and amaze everyone. Using modern techniques, masters will completely change or refresh your image.

Blonding video
In the following video you can clearly see the technique of blonde hair in the salon:

In recent years, modern and safe techniques for dyeing hair in a light, but at the same time as natural shade as possible are considered especially in demand. One of them is bleaching, with which you can radically change your image. Next, we will tell you what this technique is, who it is suitable for and what its features are, and we will also get acquainted with useful recommendations from specialists on caring for bleached curls in the future.

What is it?

Today, every salon offers hair bleaching services. This is a special technique for dyeing hair using the most gentle means that allows you to get the purest light shade of blond.

Previously, the word “blonding” was not used; as a rule, this technique was simply called lightening, and therefore it is on everyone’s lips. But what then, as now, lightening involves removing hair from a darker shade to a lighter one. With all this, complete discoloration of the pigment’s own occurs.

Ladies often carry out this coloring procedure on their own at home, using ordinary store-bought paints.

Doing this, of course, is extremely undesirable, since Such coloring compounds have a very negative effect on hair health. And it’s almost impossible to get the desired shade when dyeing at home. Usually, after such “procedures,” girls have to overpay in order to correct the result.

Peculiarities

Many stylists and hairdressers are sure that at least once in their life every representative of the fair sex has dreamed of becoming a passionate blonde. Everyone knows that white hair color makes ladies more feminine, gentle, sweet and graceful, but at what cost does it come to those who were not born blonde?

Blondes who regularly dye their dark hair have to take a lot of care of it, because such bleached curls are very thin, they are prone to loss, dullness, brittleness, this list of “troubles” can be continued indefinitely. In addition to expensive salon blonde treatment, ladies also have to purchase expensive care. Therefore, before dyeing your hair a noble blond color, a dark-haired girl is advised to weigh the pros and cons.

It is best to carry out the blonde procedure on brown and light brown hair. On such curls it is easiest to get the desired shade of blonde, be it from a warm or cool color scheme.

But for ladies with dark hair, including brown-haired women and brunettes, it is almost impossible to get the desired tone the first time of coloring. In some cases, it may take up to 3 visits to a specialist to obtain the desired shade.

It should be noted that Blonding on dark hair is always a complex, long-term and expensive procedure, which requires great professionalism of the master. Usually, at the first stage, the natural pigment is not completely washed out and the hair color turns out “dirty”, but this picture is eliminated in subsequent stages and dyeing sessions.

Blonding is even more difficult for red-haired ladies than for brunettes, even with modern technology.

Usually, to maintain the color, you have to use additional products, otherwise the color turns out to be light red or yellowish.

Despite the many features, blonding is not contraindicated for dark hair. The main thing is to remember that in the future they require exclusively professional care, which should be carried out regularly not only at home, but also in salons. Here you should understand that you will have to use not only professional shampoos and conditioners, but also additional tinting agents to maintain a beautiful and radiant shade, as well as to avoid the appearance of yellowness.

Varieties

Today, experts distinguish several main types of blondes.

Classic blonding can be found on the “menu” of any fashion salon. It involves lightening the hair by just a few tones, without causing much damage to the hair. Discoloration in this case can be done in several ways.

Using a special coloring powder and hydrogen peroxide in the required concentration based on the type of hair and its condition (not the most gentle method, but very effective and always relevant);
Using ready-made paint. Quite safe coloring, after which the hair will probably not turn into a washcloth. However, this coloring is suitable only for fair-haired and brown-haired girls. This method is not used for very dark hair, as well as red hair.

There is also radical blondness. As the name implies, it involves completely bleaching the pigment of the hair to obtain the purest light shade.

Radical bleaching is indeed a very complex and not the most useful dyeing procedure, especially when it comes to dark hair, since after it it takes a very long time to restore the curls.

Scandinavian

With this dyeing technique, the crown of the hair is dyed in a cool shade, and the ends of the hair are dyed dark. This creates a smooth transition between the two shades. As a rule, this effect is created exclusively by high-quality tinting products.

Zigzag

The ziz-zag technique allows you to get original shades of blonde on your hair. Very similar to shatush and ombre.

Platyphysis

This variety with an original name involves dyeing curls in a pure and shiny platinum shade.

"Lace"

Typically, hairdressers use this technique when they need to color individual strands of hair.

This technique is considered quite safe, moreover, with its help you can get delicate borders of color with tints.

To achieve the result, the master carefully winds the so-called laces, applying a coloring composition to them.

"Strainer"

Most often used to create playful tints in hair. Typically, several paints or oxidizers are used simultaneously. A stronger pigment is applied to the roots, and the most gentle pigment is applied to the ends.

Dyeing process

The dyeing process and the necessary technique are usually selected by the master based on the condition of the hair, its needs and the desired result. The process of dyeing dark hair can take from 1 to 5-6 hours in the salon (depending on the length), and if we talk about several sessions to remove the dark color, then most likely you will have to come to the hairdresser more than once.

Hair is often bleached at home, which is undesirable for a number of reasons that have already been mentioned.

However, if you have skills in hair coloring and want to experiment at home, We recommend that you take into account the following points.

It is best to choose a coloring agent (coloring composition, oxidizing agent and other components) in a salon or in a professional hairdressing store. You should immediately take hair care after dyeing.

When purchasing a ready-made coloring composition, it is very important to read the instructions in detail before using it, and also be sure to conduct a test in advance for the occurrence of an allergic reaction.

Depending on the initial shade of your hair, you need to correctly calculate the time for lightening. If you buy regular paint, the time is always indicated in the instructions.

Before the dyeing process, it is very important to prepare everything you need: protective gloves and an unnecessary towel for your shoulders. Coloring compounds can cause burns on the skin and are also very difficult to wash off. That is why it is highly undesirable to neglect personal safety.

Not very dark shades of hair can be easily lightened at home the first time, but dark-haired ladies are still recommended to consult a specialist, at least in order to choose the right coloring composition and oxidizing agent for home dyeing.

Sooner or later, every woman thinks about radical changes in her appearance. And most often this means changing hair color. Blondes become brunettes, and brunettes become blondes. And if in the first case it is much easier to achieve the desired color, then turning from a dark-haired beauty into a blond one on your own is not so easy. The relevance of this type of repainting has led to the emergence of the now popular hair blond. But what is this?

General information

Let's start with the fact that the blonding procedure is also called washing. Its essence lies in the fact that a special chemical is applied to the hair. Penetrating deep into each hair, it washes away their own pigment. This substance contains an oxidizing agent, the amount of which will determine the final result. So, for example, if you are planning an easy transition from brunette to blonde, then the applied substance will contain 1-2% oxidizing agent. Well, if you want a radical transformation of your hair after bleaching, then the oxidizing agent should be up to 12%.

Features of the procedure

The peculiarity of blond hair is not only the opportunity to turn a dark-haired or red-haired girl into a blonde. The procedure is distinguishable from others both by its technique and by some preliminary measures.

It is better if your head is unwashed before the procedure. Sebaceous secretions will protect the hair from the aggressive effects of the oxide.
Before bleaching, it would be a good idea to trim the ends and get rid of split ends.
To make the blonde process more active, each strand is wrapped in foil after applying a bleaching agent to it.
Depending on the structure and color of the hair, as well as on the desired effect, the blondorant is kept on the hair for 15 to 40 minutes.
After the bleaching substance is washed off with water, the head must be washed with a special shampoo - a color stabilizer.
After washing off the blondorant, the strands are dried and painted with tinting paint with a small proportion of oxide.

Varieties

Photos of hair “before” and “after” bleaching indicate that through the procedure it is possible to dye even the deepest brunette blonde of any shade, from cold to warm tones. This is convenient because you can successfully choose the shade of your hair in accordance with the girl’s color type.

In this regard, hair bleaching is divided into several types:

Scandinavian point. A distinctive feature of this technique is that it involves the use of two shades of blonde - light and dark. The first one is applied to the ends of the hair, and the darker one is distributed in the root zone. Thanks to this technique, it is possible to recreate a more natural color. Also, the advantages of the Scandinavian point include the fact that it makes the hair more voluminous.
“Lace” is a bleaching technique that is considered the most gentle. Its essence lies in the fact that the master takes selected strands of hair and winds them on special laces soaked in a bleaching agent. The end result is an effect reminiscent of highlighting, but at the same time looks very natural.
"Zigzag". The method is that before dyeing, the hair is divided into strands, each of which is wound on large curlers. After this, each resulting curl is dyed in different shades of blonde (mostly 2). The result will be an iridescent color of two light shades, the transition between which is completely invisible.
The platinum blonde effect, or platyphyse. Creates an image “a la Marilyn Monroe” when the curls are almost bleached. Platinum colors are used as the basis for blonding. Of course, such a final color cannot be called natural, but this does not detract from its attractiveness.
“Strainer” is a method that involves layer-by-layer application of oxidizing agents to different parts of the strands. First, a substance with a high content of hydrogen peroxide is applied to the root zone. Then apply powdered oxidizing agent to the entire length of the hair. Afterwards, peroxide is applied and finally tinted with the shade chosen by the client.

How is blonding done?

The procedure for lightening hair to blonde level still has a detrimental effect on the structure of each hair, since aggressive chemicals are used. But this would not be a particular problem if hair bleaching did not need to be renewed every month, or even more often. This is not the only warning; one can also add that it is better not to do bleaching at home if you do not have the skills. Otherwise, you may not only not get the desired result, but also seriously damage your hair.

And yet, at home, you can bleach your hair by following the following sequence of actions:

Mix the oxidizing agent and the blonde dye in a glass, ceramic or plastic container.
The area of the neck and forehead is lubricated with a rich cream to protect the skin, and some kind of cape is thrown over the shoulders so as not to spoil the clothes.
2/3 of the total composition of the blonding substance is applied to the entire length of the hair, without missing a single section.
Time it for 15-20 minutes (depending on what effect you want to achieve).
Then the remains from the container are applied to the hair roots and wait another 20 minutes.
Wash off the dye from your head with warm water.

After 20-30 days, the procedure will have to be partially repeated. The roots will grow and will have to be painted over. To do this, also prepare a coloring agent (in a smaller volume than for the entire head of hair), apply it to the roots and wait 20-30 minutes.

Hair care after the procedure

So, since hair bleaching is not a harmless procedure, after it is carried out, special care is required for the hair:

You should wash your hair only with professional shampoos - color stabilizers.
Use purple balms once every 7-8 days.
Make masks for bleached strands once a week.
It is worth abandoning perms and thermal procedures (curling irons, straightening irons, hair dryers). It is better to dry your hair naturally, and if you still need to use a curling iron, then you need to remember about heat protectants.

Photos "before" and "after" hair bleaching

The best way to understand how effective hair lightening is is by looking at the photo. Below is an example of blonde before and after on dark hair.

The effect obtained from dyeing light brown hair using the presented procedure looks somewhat different. The result is presented below.

It is possible to turn into a platinum blonde after the first procedure. You will look approximately as shown in the photo.

Service cost

The price of hair blonde depends on several factors:

the region where the salon is located;
hair length.

For example, in Moscow and the region, the cost of the procedure ranges from 1000 to 6000 rubles. In the regions - from 500 to 2000 rubles.

As for the relationship between hair length and price, then (average cost in Russia):

the procedure for short hair costs from 500 to 1500 rubles;
Blonding for medium hair - from 800 to 2500 rubles;
for long ones - from 3000 rubles.

Creative partner of La Biosthetique, owner of hair boutique Ksenia Izumrud

1. Make a shatush

A dense, monochromatic blonde is not suitable for many girls: it creates a noticeable “wig effect” and after 3 weeks requires correction at the roots. In addition, an even border between bleached and natural hair always looks untidy.

Nowadays, shatush and balayage are in fashion - techniques that will allow you to be blonde, but without having to touch up your roots every two weeks, damaging your hair.

2. Soft transition between natural roots and colored hair

In order not to constantly update the color, it is important to do the correct coloring once. If you have dark hair, first you need to lighten it, moving away from the roots. The key task of a colorist is to create a soft and harmonious transition between your natural roots and colored hair. In fashion is the effect of highlights and hair, as if bleached by the sun. Keep in mind that it is almost impossible to achieve such a result at home - it is better not to try. Find a trusted professional who will do the first thing perfectly, but how the color will look in the future is up to you.

3. Do express toning

Express toning is a salon procedure that allows you to maintain color. The composition is applied to the hair, which needs to be left in for literally 1-5 minutes. This allows you to remove yellowness and give your hair the desired shade. And most importantly, express toning is safe for your hair: unlike classic full dyeing, it does not damage your hair; on the contrary, it makes it more shiny and “filled.”

4. Wash your hair when necessary, not every day

If you want the color to last really long, then try not to wash your hair every day just for the sake of styling. Do this only when necessary!

5. Use a toning shampoo

Professional cosmetics stores sell many tinted shampoos for blondes. For example, with blue pigment - against yellowness, or warm shades - caramel, honey... You don’t need to use this shampoo every time, but only every third wash. Also use tinting hair masks - once a week, not more often.