SuperGrover... Lemon Lights vs. Sun Streaks... beautiful long hair in multicolors

Hi everybody...

SuperGrover had beautiful results with John Frieda beach blonde Sun Streaks. You can see her pic on the thread below. So I am inspired!

But when I went in to buy it, I checked out Lemon Lights... same manufacturer. It seemed gentler, so I picked it out instead. I already posted on Product Review, so I won't repeat here. I just don't know if it does anything.

And I am chicken to use the Sun Streaks. You probably have to have the right shade to use it. I probably do, since sun-in worked well for me many years ago.

So... if anyone has used Lemon Lights please let me know how it worked for you...

SG, when you used Sun Streaks, did you apply it on your hair when it was wet or dry? And you mentioned that you only put it on the roots... I have a difficult time putting anything just on my roots... it ends up about 3 inches out or more!!! I massaged the Lemon Lights "just on the roots", but it was difficult for some reason, because it ended up not just on the roots. Another reason why I'm afraid to try the other product.

Also with the Sun Streaks did you see a change in color right away?

I have seen many women that have super long hair that is color enhanced, or multi-colored, and it does not appear damaged at all. I can't just walk up to them and ask how they do it.

I'm trying to not use my brush as much, I gently comb out after washing (either with a seamless comb or my wooden comb) and then I air dry.

There was a time when I would french braid right after I washed it because 1... it was out of my way and 2... it created wonderful waves when it was dry. But I am thinking less handling is probably better.

Thanks for the help!

wittils

Hey Wittils! Thanks for the compliments. I'm so pleased to have someone admire my hair color! *blush*

Unfortunately, I can't really say where the Beach Blonde color ends and the regular dye color begins. I used to lighten my roots with Garnier Belle Color. It's been almost 2 years now that I've been using the Beach Blonde.

Yes, it is very labor intensive to get it on just your roots. Before I begin, I comb my hair VERY well so it will separate for me when I grab a piece and try to pull it aside. I start with a part on one side of my head and just do what you can see. Then make another part about a half inch down and repeat. The stuff is pretty thick, so it will cover all of the hair between the half-inch parts. Just continue this until you've crossed your whole head.

Then I bend over (maybe sit on the toilet or a chair) and try to do the same thing on the back of my head. Which is much harder, because you cannot see what you are doing.

The sides of my head are actually what probably get neglected the most. By this point I'm usually too impatient and try to do my best with spots here and there. I usually have someone else look at my head for spots I have missed, and give them an unsharpened pencil so they can touch the exact spot for me. (Everyone's squeamish about getting the stuff on their hands!)

I think it's OK to get some of your previously dyed hair, and not just the root part. This will help it blend and look more natural. In fact, most people are surprised to learn I dye my hair at all. :) I do think that Sun Streaks doesn't damage my hair too much.

The tube says you can leave it in all day. I imagine that's better than reapplying. I just leave it in for a couple hours and blow dry it once or twice, though I keep the dryer always moving so it won't scorch as much. Being in the sun would probably be best! Work on my tan, too. It needs it.

As for Lemon Lights, I think you have to use it a LOT to see any results. I do have a tube that I used at the beach last summer. At the end of the day, after a shower and my hair had dried... I couldn't see any difference at all.

If I went to the beach a lot, it might be worth it. Sadly, I don't. So it's Sun Streaks for me. At least I only have to use it once every few months.

Hope that helps!
Traci

Traci,

Thanks so much for sharing how to do this. It's very helpful. I just might try it, although I am afraid of orangish hair happening.

We went to the ocean for a few days and I decided to keep it protected instead. I really need a break from the dyes, semi or not. But I really hate the drab of my roots. Just a little pick-me-up to keep the color bright is what I need. The coloring seems harsh, I really lose a lot of hair in the process and obviously don't like that.

But my hair looks so blonde right now, I don't know how that happened. It keeps getting lighter and lighter! I always start with golden browns. Then when it begins to fade I put on the Sahara, so I guess that is why. I like the light golden browns best and wish it would stay that way.

Thanks again!!
wittils

What is Sahara?

My hair is naturally DARK DARK blonde. Which everyone in the world... my husband, my hair dresser, my best friend... they all tell me my hair is brown. I disagree because it WILL go blonde if I am out in the sun. Which I was every summer until I went to college.

So if your hair is true brown, I guess Beach Blonde Sun Streaks might turn it orange, because the peroxide is the cause, I think.

But I'm glad your hair color is good now! I hope it lasts!
I hope you had good beach weather! It's been much too cold to go to the beach up here in the Northeast.

Hi there...

I went through that too... people telling me my hair was brown. Of course this was before I started dying it. But even lookin back I realize now it was really a dark shade of blonde. I think this is why it turns so blonde when I color it, no matter what shade I use. But like you, my hair would pick up natural highlights in the sun, and the ends were always so much blonder than the top part.

Like I said, I tried different times to color it to a soft golden brown... hmmm... L'Oreal's Open Osiris for instance. Or Feria's Amber, that was so long ago, but that's dark. And there was a shade darker than Amber that I used and guess what, it faded to blonde. (Feria was horrible, never again).

Okay... Sahara is the very lightest shade of Clairol's Natural Instincts. My roots are drab and sort of dark. Underneath below the ears it is pretty dark. But the Sahara shade brightens everything up, not a tinge of orange. Just beautiful shiny blonde. But keep in mind none of these semi dyes lighten. So I don't know what's up. I am not that blonde to begin with.

I am not coloring my hair ever again, unless I use Natural Instincts. But not this summer. Do you think the Sun Streaks is gentler than the semi dyes?

wittils

Oh, I tried to dye my hair back to it's "natural" shade of dark dark blonde several years ago, because I wanted to stop dying my hair. I thought if I dyed it dark, then I'd never have roots to lighten ever again.
The dark dye didn't take though, which is just as well. Much as I really want to stop dying my hair, I REALLY like it lighter blonde.

I've never tried semi-permanent dyes. Do they have hydrogen peroxide in them? Sun Streaks is probably harsher than than semi-perm, but at least you only have to do it once!

You know, I have like 2 inches of undyed root now, and it seems no healthier than if I had dyed it. So I think I'll get to dying it soon!

I don't have a clue which one of these products is harsher. Semi-permanents do have peroxide, but no ammonia like the permanent dyes. My guess is that Sun Streaks or any lightner like that has more in it than a semi, since semi dyes do not lighten... or claim not to at least.

At any rate thanks again, you have inspired me!