Bottle-dying Asian Hair, boo Options

[Melissa]

I've always gotten my hair professionally done, so it always looked good, but recently, I started experimenting with the cheap hair colors from L'Oreal and Garnier Fructis, and NOTHING shows up on my hair. I've tried dying my hair red like... 4 times in the past few months (I know, it's not good for my hair) and the only thing that happens is that it glows a little bit red in full sunlight.

Anybody know a product that works? I'd prefer NOT to bleach my hair before dying it.

[synthase]

Try leaving the products longer in your hair, or using a lighter/bolder color so it will show. I use Shiseido and its really nice. I'm not sure if they have it in the USA though..?

[arcanum]

Don't buy bottle-dye. Go to a beauty supply store, such as Sallys. Buy a BOX color that you like, and a developer(30-40 volume, would probably work. but you may want to ask one of the workers).
That is the stuff they use in salons, and you can buy a bottle applicator for it.

[Melissa]

Hm, come to think of it, Sally's is the first place I should've looked. I'm going to go try that. How much is it, usually?

[arcanum]

Boxed color is about... $5-$6ish, or atleast here it is.
And the developer isn't very expensive, about $3 depending on the size of the bottle. And the applicator bottle is like $2.
But with the applicator bottle, you can reuse it. Just wash it out. So its a good price.

Make sure you have gloves too. =]
Most of the time, the box colors don't come with gloves.

[missnh]

None of it works because you have dark hair, obviously. You need to get a slightly more expensive kind that is aimed at people with dark hair, or you'll need to bleach your hair before you dye it any other color.

[arcanum]

^ Well, that isn't entirely true. She can get a higher level red (maybe like a 7 or so, depending on the tone she wants) and a 40 volume developer, and it will lift without her having to use bleach.
I've lifted my moms hair at school with 9N and a 40 vol, from a dark brown. No bleach used.

[missnh]

^ Yeah, that's what I meant when I said "You need to get a slightly more expensive kind that is aimed at people with dark hair", because I have dyed my hair red before using some drug store brand hair-dye, and it turned out just fine without having to bleach it.

[arcanum]

Ahh, okay. Gotcha.

[ersatz]

What you guys said is not expensive at all. o_o

[arcanum]

It is slightly more expensive, which is what Michelle said:

None of it works because you have dark hair, obviously. You need to get a slightly more expensive kind that is aimed at people with dark hair, or you'll need to bleach your hair before you dye it any other color.

Store bought ones are pretty cheap. Cheaper than buying color, developer, an applicator bottle, and gloves.

[Melissa]

None of it works because you have dark hair, obviously. You need to get a slightly more expensive kind that is aimed at people with dark hair, or you'll need to bleach your hair before you dye it any other color.

No, I get that, I really do. I bought the $11-15 kind that's specifically for dark brown to black hair and even had a "before and after" hair sample picture.

My hair didn't change to the "after" picture at all.

[synthase]

You should try a more asian brand adding to what Michelle said to find one that is aimed toward people with dark hair.