So today I’m spillin’ the tea on how I did that black hair with hidden red underneath look at home. Total game-changer but man, it got messy. Buckle up.
The Setup Phase
First, I dragged my dusty hair dye box out the closet. Had my black permanent dye ready – trusty old Box Black, nothing fancy. For the magic underneath? Some fire-engine red semi-permanent stuff I found online. Grabbed my mixing bowl, brush, old t-shirt I didn’t care about ruining, some clips, and prayed to the hair gods.
Getting Down to Business
Okay, step one: dye ALL my hair the base black. Looked kinda boring, honestly. Felt like a solid black wig. Let that sit for the full time, rinsed like crazy till the water ran clear. Towel-dried it gently – no rough stuff yet.
Now the real fun began. Sectioned off the top half of my hair. Seriously clipped it up and away, super secure. Only left the bottom sections near my neck and underneath layers hanging loose. This is where the peek-a-boo happens!
Mixed up that bright red dye in my bowl. Scooped that stuff on with the brush only onto those exposed underneath bits. Tried to be neat, but c’mon, it dripped everywhere. Worked it in good, making sure every strand down there was coated. Covered it with cling wrap to keep things moist.
Set a timer for the red. Twenty minutes felt like forever. Peeked under the wrap – OH. MY. GOD. SO RED. So vibrant! Rinsed just that red section separately over the sink, using cold water. Tried not to let the red bleed up onto my black hair. Still saw some pink water running down the black strands – panic stations!
The Big Reveal (And Minor Freakout)
Let everything dry. Pulled down the top sections. Looked… mostly killer! That flash of red when I moved my hair was exactly what I wanted. BUT. Spotted a few streaks where the red dye had bled onto the black hair around my nape. Like, faint pinkish lines. Oops.
Wet a washcloth with some gentle soapy water and VERY carefully scrubbed just those little pink bits. Took a few goes. Then conditioned only the red parts really well – semi-permanent dye needs that moisture.
Final Thoughts & Lessons Learned
Overall? Absolutely love the result. That hidden red pop is fire. But guys, doing this solo is intense. If you try it:
- Section like your life depends on it. Seriously. Pin the top hair UP and away.
- Be ready for drips. Lay down towels, wear a sacrificial top.
- Rinse the red separately and CAREFULLY. Cold water only. Try not to let the runoff touch the black.
- Watch for bleed marks! Spot clean immediately if the red stains the black.
- Condition the colored bits extra. Keep that red bright.
Would I do it again? Heck yeah. But maybe with an extra pair of hands next time. Totally worth the scare for that sneaky peek of color!
