If you have any color in your hair (including an all-over color or highlights), and you want to lighten your overall color, your options are:

1. Soften your color level slightly without a lightening process and then apply a color one level lighter.
2. Add some highlights to soften your overall color.
3. Do an all-over bleach wash lightening process and then color with a color which is 2-3 levels lighter.

1) If you only want to soften your color by half to one level, an unconventional but effective approach to soften your color is to wash your hair with an anti-dandruff shampoo for a week. This will lift out some color pigments, leaving you with a softer base, and you can then apply a lighter color. Look for a traditional anti-dandruff shampoo (not a colour-safe product).

2) Adding highlights will give you a lighter multi-dimensional finish. Our Highlights Kit let you create highlights, babylights or foilyage to soften your overall color and silhouette. Highlight applications can vary to suit your needs. You may want some subtle, super-fine babylights to add dimension and to lighten your finish, or a balayage effect. We include illustrated instructions for these different techniques in the kit. You can read more information about the highlights and order them here.

3) If you wanted to achieve a significantly lighter color result (2-3 levels), and you already have color in your hair, you would need to do a lightening process. color cannot lighten pre-colored hair, and a lightening process will lift out the pigments that are currently in your color.

You can lighten your base color by doing a bleach wash at home, which is quite quick, easy and effective. We offer Bleach Wash Kits which include everything you need to bleach wash your hair.

The bleach washing process will lift out all the darker pigments which are currently in your hair, giving you a lighter base color level. You can then apply a lighter color. Please remember that color selection post-lightening process is critical. Lightening always reveals natural warmth, so choosing a color with cool tones after lightening is almost always essential.

We always recommend that you consult with our colorists if you are considering a lightening process. They can help advise on the process, color and care your hair will need to achieve your color goals.

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