How to Dye Black Hair Brown

It’s no secret that black hair is the most seductive and tantalizing of them all. But if you’re bored of your jet black strands and need a change of pace or simply hated your recent black hair dye job, you need to know how to lighten up to a nice, rich brown shade. Luckily whether you’re a natural black haired gal or a boxed black beauty, dying black hair brown is easier than you think.

First and Foremost: Assess Your Strands

Before you even think about heading to the beauty store, you need to assess your strands to get the right kind of dye.

What you need to know is this:

• If your hair is naturally black, you have what is known as ‘virgin hair’. There has been no chemical processes done to your hair. Virgin hair is incredibly easy to dye to brown (or even blonde) as there is no unnatural color on your strands.
• On the other hand, if your hair has been dyed you will not have such an easy time going to a lighter shade. Dyed black hair will need to go through several other steps before brown hair can be achieved, and the first step you should take is to use a hair dye remover to try and get as much of the artificial coloring out of your locks for a smoother transition.

How to Dye Naturally Black Hair to a Medium/Dark Brown

If you’re looking to take your virgin black locks to a dark brown or medium brown shade, it’s a rather simple process. All you need to do to achieve this is to purchase a box of brown hair dye in the desired shade you would like, one bottle of 30 volume developer, and all the tools necessary to dye your locks. The reason you need to mix these together is because the developer will lighten up your locks to the desired dark or medium brown color while the dye itself will tone the hair and keep it at the right shade.

-When applying, make sure your entire mane is covered in the dye. Don’t leave any sections or pieces out or you will need to re-apply the color on another day.

-Once you’ve ensured your locks are completely drenched in the dye, leave it on for up to 45 minutes (or as long as it takes for you to reach your desired shade of brown).

-Rinse out the dye and enjoy your new brown locks. If you find that the color is too ‘warm’ for you, you may use a toner with an ash brown tint.

How to Dye Naturally Black Hair to a Light Brown

If you would rather take your natural black locks to a light brown shade, the process becomes a tad bit more complicated. You will need to bleach your hair first before applying the light brown shade you desire, as jet black strands won’t come up to a light color without being pre-lightened.

Once you are finished bleaching your black hair, choose the boxed light brown shade you desire and apply it to your locks. Again, remember to have all of the equipment necessary like a brush and bowl for easy application.

How to Choose the Right Brown Hair Dye

You would think it is as easy as trotting down to the local beauty shop and buying the brown hair you want, right? But it’s not that simple.

You see, black hair has natural red and copper pigments that are easily noticeable when the strands are lightened. For this fact, you need to be careful when choosing the box hair dye that is right for you.

• When you want a natural looking brown result, you need to purchase a box dye that has an ash brown shade.
• If you’re seeking a warmer, richer shade of brown, it’s imperative to buy a box dye that has a natural brown hue.
• If you want your underlying red specs to come to life even further, you can use brown box hair dye that has red or auburn shades already inside.
• For light brown hair, you need to first bleach your hair to lighten it up before applying any type of light brown box hair dye you desire.

How to Dye Black Hair That is Not Naturally Black

Unfortunately dying black hair that is not naturally black is a much longer and difficult process. You see, applying brown hair dye on top of boxed black hair will do literally nothing. Artificially colored black hair cannot be lightened right off the bat as it won’t pick up the color. However, its not impossible.

Start By Bleaching  Your Hair

Since boxed black hair won’t lighten on its own, you need to do it for your hair on your own. In oder to lighten up your locks you will need to use powder bleach mixed with a 20 volume developer. Mix together and apply liberally to your locks. Ensure you do not miss a single section or you’ll need to repeat the process.

Once you have sectioned your hair and applied the bleach thoroughly from root to tip, leave the bleach treatment on for up to an hour. As different hair will take a different amount of time to take up the bleach, make sure you’re checking your hair every so often (every 5 to 10 minutes is perfect). Check the shade but also check the health of your hair, as bleach can be very intense and destructive to locks.

You know the bleach treatment is complete when you’ve reached an orange or red hue. Don’t be frightened- this is not the final result, but it’s a necessary step to ensure your dark hair will change into a brown shade.

In the case that your hair feels unhealthy or dry, you should have a conditioner on hand to help with the health of your locks. Wash out the bleach with cool to warm water, shampoo, and thoroughly condition your hair. You may also want to put on an all-day conditioner after you’re done showering, so your hair can gain softness and nutrients even after bathing.

Dye Your Hair Using an Ash Brown Shade

When it comes to dying your box black hair to a brown hue, you must purchase an ash brown shade as you need to tone down the red hues in your locks and ash brown will do this automatically. It is suggested that you purchase an ash brown shade that is one shade lighter than what you want as your hair will likely not grasp the lighter hues but settle at a nice natural looking shade.

You have two options when it comes to dying your hair brown:

• Permanent hair dye. This type of hair dye is exactly how it sounds, permanent. It provides lasting coor that doesn’t need to be re-colored or toned as often.
• Semi Permanent hair dye. This kind of hair dye does not last as long and will need to be reapplied often to keep the shade. However, it is far less damaging on your locks than permanent hair dye. If you’re hair is on the unhealthy and dry side, you may want to stick with semi permanent hair dye until your hair is in better condition.

Whether you opt for a permanent hair dye or semi permanent hair dye, it’s a cinch to dye your locks to the desired shade of brown. Mix the hair dye with 10 volume peroxide and thoroughly saturate your mane. Once all of your hair is covered with the brown coloring, leave it on until you have reached the desired shade of brown. Remember to check on your hair often as coloring could be a long or short process, depending on how well your hair responds to the dying process.

Taking Care of Your Brown Hair

Luckily, dying your hair a brown shade is not as hard on the hair as bleaching. In most cases where a natural black haired gal goes brown, there isn’t any special aftercare that needs to take place. Simply using your conditioner often and keeping your mane in good health is enough. However, you will always need to re-apply the hair color every few weeks when you start to notice any kinds of fading.

On the other hand, if you used bleach during your dying process, you need to take extra special care of your mane as bleaching causes a lot of trauma to the locks.

-Leave in conditioners are an absolute must after bleaching hair. Leave o- conditioners will ensure your hair is being repaired and moisturized throughout the day and night.

-Another option is to give your mane a moisturizing hair mask. There’s plenty of these available at your local store, but you can also throw together your very own hair mask with ease. One great DIY hair mask is the following:

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

2 Teaspoons of Coconut Oil

1 Tablespoon of Honey

1 Large Egg

Mix together and apply thoroughly to your mane. Leave this treatment on before washing off with cool water. Repeat 2 times a week for the best results.

-Try all natural remedies like coconut oil and olive oil. These oils are rich in nutrients and have the potential to heal and moisturize your locks with ease.

-Try not to use too many hot tools on your mane, as these are severely drying to hair strands. In the event you need to use your hot tool, apply conditioner beforehand. There are specialty products out these specifically designed to take care of hair before using hot tools.

See? Going from black hair to brown hair isn’t so difficult after all. However, it’s important to realize that natural black hair and boxed black hair require different steps in order to achieve the brown shade you desire. Pay attention to how you apply the dye as well, making sure there is no strands left untouched for even, fabulous results. Enjoy your new beautiful brown mane!

Have you ever dyed your hair from black to brown? How did it go? What were your results? What steps did you take? Share with us!

Related Posts

• 

  How to Remove Red Hair Dye
  How to Remove Red Hair Dye
• 

  How to Dye Hair Purple: Tips and Tricks You Must Know
  How to Dye Hair Purple: Tips and Tricks You Must Know
• 

  Best Hair Bleach
  Best Hair Bleach
• 

  How to Fix Orange Hair
  How to Fix Orange Hair