Q&A for How to Dye Over a Dark Hair Dye

If you have dark brown or black hair and it's been dyed that color, you're not just going to be able to put dye on it and achieve the results you want. You'd need to use a lightener. Usually for that, I'd recommend seeing a professional.

You can apply red dye directly to naturally black hair to achieve a rich wine-colored hue. For brighter reds, you may want to bleach hair first and then dye.

You can use blonde dye on dark hair, but it may become brassy and probably won't lift as light as you'd like. Some companies make special "high lift" dyes that will give you bright blondes without bleach.

Dark hair that hasn't been previously colored can be dyed the same level or up to two shades lighter without bleaching. Previously dyed hair can be dyed darker, but it can not be dyed lighter without bleach.

As long as you are dying your hair darker, you will not have to use bleach. Bleach should be avoided unless it's necessary as it can damage the hair.

No, color does not lift color. In order to apply a lighter dye, you would need to first remove the current dye by using a color remover kit, or by doing a bleach bath on the hair. Once you've removed the darker dye, you can apply a lighter dye.

This depends on how vivid you want the maroon to be. If you don't mind a darker shade of maroon, you don't need to bleach your hair. If you desire a lighter shade of maroon, but you have very dark hair, perhaps a level 1 or 2, you would need to bleach your hair first and then apply the maroon dye.

Since your roots are gray, then the rest of your hair is likely gray beneath the dye. If you remove the color, then your hair will likely be gray.

For best results, you should not use higher than a 20 volume developer. Since your hair is already blonde, you may be able to stick with a 10 volume developer, depending on how much lighter you want your hair.

If your hair is currently a dark color, and you would like to re-dye it a lighter color, bleach it before coloring it for best results. If your hair is a light color (typically shades of blonde), you can go right ahead and dye your hair whichever color you like.

Yes.

No, it will not show up, and if it does, it will be barely noticeable. Think of it as trying to write on a black piece of paper with a red marker: you just wont see it. You will need to have lighter hair for the red to show up on your hair.

If you want to dye it a lighter color, you may have to bleach it first. To go darker, you don't have to bleach first.

I suggest bleaching it first, and then dyeing it brown so that the color will show.

Not unless it is still visible within your brown hair, but if you're dyeing the entire segment of hair in which purple is visible, then no, that old purple will not show.

No. You will likely have to use the color remover and then your will likely have to dye it the color that you want.

If your hair is dark gray, then you'll have to use bleach or light auburn won't show up well. If your hair is light gray, then go straight ahead.

You can wait for your hair to grow enough that you have cut the dyed hair out. Or you can bleach your hair. If you are really scared you can get a professional to do it.

Bleach or use a light hair dye to highlight your hair, then dye your whole head with purple dye. The black won't take in any purple and you'll end up with purple highlights.

If blonde is your natural hair color, you might just have to let it grow out. It would be hard to dye black to blonde without bleaching your hair.

Yes.

Brew a pot of some strong black tea and let it cool down. Pour it into a bowl. Rinse the black tea into your hair a few times. Rinse one last time, waiting ten to fifteen minutes before rinsing out completely. Shampoo and condition your hair, then towel dry.

No. It would be like trying to draw on black paper with a red crayon or marker. It won't show up.

Yes, you can bleach your hair or dye it blonde and it should cover the green, but you might need to use a toning shampoo to get out some remaining greenish tints afterward.

Yes, use something similar to Color Oops. It will take away the color and your hair will still be healthy.

If you have dark hair, the best thing to do would be to section off the stripe and bleach it. Once you've bleached it, wait a few days or weeks for your hair to calm down and then proceed with the dyeing process.

Use a color remover first, then do a light bleach wash. You'll end up with a orangey color. This is the perfect base for applying a burgundy color over it.

Yes, but you may have to bleach it first.

Yes, but you first need to lighten your black dyed hair. One simple way to do that without having to bleach your hair is to wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo. A clarifying shampoo will help reduce the intensity of the dark color, as it causes your hair to fade faster. Shampoo your hair with the clarifying shampoo at least twice in the shower for the best results. When you get out of the shower, use a hair dryer to heat up the clarifying shampoo on your head before rinsing it out. That can help your hair cuticles open up and release even more of the color in your hair. Once your hair has lightened up a bit, you can try to dye over it.

Your best bet is to choose a slightly darker color such as auburn or velvet rather than a lighter color such as blonde or a bright red color, which may not show up as well in your black hair. At the same time, you may want to pick out a hair color that will complement your skin tone. It's also a good idea to go with a dye that's 1 or 2 shades lighter than what you're actually going for. When you dye your hair at home it often comes out darker than you expected. Most hair dye kits come with a developer, but if yours doesn't, pick up a 20-volume developer from a drug store. Follow the instructions that come with your hair dye to mix the dye with the developer proportionally. Then, dye your hair following the directions on the packaging.