hello everyone, i just have a question i was hoping someone could help answer .. i`m 22 years old and had never done anything to my hair (it`s naturally darkish brown) .. about a month ago i got some dark blonde highlights in it .. there aren`t many, actually there are barely any on top because i had them covered up, they are just under my hair (i hope you understand what i mean). i was okay with them for a while but i just want my hair to go back to my natural all one color look. however, i don`t want to dye my entire hair because only about 10-15% of it is highlighted. i bought revlon colorsilk in dark brown and am going to pick out the highlights tomorrow and dye them back to dark brown using the aluminum foil technique .. my question is, how long do i leave the hair wrapped in the alumimum for ? is it possible for the color to come out completely different (like orange or something), and, even though i`m dying it dark rather than light, will the color fade in a few weeks and my highlights come back through ?

if someone could please help me on this i would GREATLY appreciate it. thank you so much !

Hi!  yes,lets' see a pic if you can so we can get a better idea and try to help out.  I think it's always better if you're going to do anything at all the timing should be less because you can always add more time,but not take time away.  Less is more in the long run.

Virgin hair is so beautiful,but if you are really intent on doing something,definately seek the knowledge and advise of a professional hairdresser who if you can find a good one specializes in what you want to do and is specialized in long hair.  Think about what you want and think again to make sure this is what you want.

Hello, lilprincez

Isn't it an awful feeling...once you've coloured your hair exactly the way you thought you wanted, only to long for your natural colour a few weeks later?

I think we've all done that once or twice, and have had to learn the hard way. 

Seeking a professional's help and advice is a good idea. Just explain to her/him that you no longer want highlights and want the lightened strands to match the rest of your hair again.
    They will probably be able to isolate the highlighted strands easier than you would be able to yourself, since they have the right tools as well as the advantage of being able to see all over your head. They should also be able to custom blend a haircolour that will match your natural shade better than anything you can find in the store (hopefully).

Your natural hair is beautiful!! Best of luck.

I agree that you should got to a pro, abiet one who is going to listen to you.  I think, depending on how you treat the hair i.e.  washing, that the covered streaks will possably turn a little red. I cannot say for sure.  You have nice brown btw!

I may be too late on this - but a more temporary option might be to try using a coffee rinse to darken the highlights.  Brewing strong coffee, letting it cool (of course), then rinsing thru your hair can darken the hair.  It probably would not bee very noticable on your natural color, but should make the lightened hair a bit darker. 

Repeated  use of the rinse can eventually darken the hair noticably.

The coffee can be rinsed thru your hair after you have shampoo'd it.  One way would be to pour the coffee over your hair so that it drips into a bowl or bucket.  Then you can pour it thru your hair several times. 

The lightened hair will "take" the coffee faster than your natural, unprocessed hair, so it probably won't darken your natural hair very much to start with.

As for how long it will take to grow out the highlights .... the average hair growth is 1/2" per month (6" per year).  Hair grows fastest in your teens and early 20's.

Good luck with your coffee rinses and let us know how it goes. 

I'm not sure how dark the coffee will make your hair, as I've not done this myself (I'm a blonde).  But one person that I know who did coffee rinses regularly said that the color was subtle and darkened with each use.

In doing some surfing for more info for you, several sites recommended pouring the coffee thru the hair about 15 times, then letting it set for about 20 minutes, followed by a weak vinegar rinse (to "seal" the color). 

The "color" is temporary and will wash out with time.

I'd suggest trying this once and see if you notice any change.  If not, repeat it each time you wash, until you get the desired results.