Are you tired of your regular brown hair and looking for a change? If you are, dyeing your hair a trendy new color like silver might be what you need! But have you ever wondered what happens if you put silver dye on brown hair?
Don’t worry if you’re unsure! We’ve put together everything you need to know about silver hair dye on your brown hair, including steps to take beforehand and what your result should look like.
Key Highlights
- Silver dye on unbleached brown hair usually turns into a dark, dull ash brown.
- For true silver, lift hair to Level 10 (pale yellow) and then tone to a clean platinum base.
- After bleaching, rinse well and shampoo lightly before any toner or silver dye.
- Always do a patch test and a strand test before you use bleach or dye.
- If your hair is still yellow, a blue based silver dye can turn it green.
What Happens if Silver Dye is Applied On Brown Hair?
Silver dye contains blue and violet pigments. If you put it on brown hair without bleach, the pigments cancel some of the orange and red undertones. The result is usually a dark, dull, muddy, or flat ash brown. Whereas, after applying the silver dye, your lightened or bleached brown hair should have a metallic, shiny look. The dye looks like platinum or white-silver streaks on brown, lightened hair.
Several factors influence what your result will look like. Some of these include your hair’s starting color and condition, the dye and developer you’ve used, and how you’ve applied the color.
Here are some common results you can expect to see after putting silver dye in brown hair:
A Silvery or Grayish Hue
The most obvious result of applying silver dye to brown hair is a silvery or grayish color. The exact shade of silver varies depending on the specific dye used and the underlying tones of your hair. Silver dyes with blue or violet undertones create cooler, more muted shades of silver.
Silver is always a cool tone. If your hair looks golden or brassy, it usually means your hair was not lifted light enough before toning and dyeing.
Increased Shine and Vibrancy
Silver dye can give your brown hair a lustrous appearance. This is especially true if the hair has been properly bleached and toned before the dye is applied due to a more even base for the color.
A Dramatic Change in Appearance
Going from brown to silver hair can highlight redness in the skin. It often suits cool or neutral undertones best. If you prefer a softer look, beige or champagne tones are usually easier to wear than true silver.
You should prepare your hair beforehand to get your desired result. You will most likely need to bleach your hair in advance and have someone else put silver dye for you.
How Often to Bleach Brown Hair Before Applying Silver Dye?
Safety Note
Disclaimer: Always do a patch test 48 hours before dyeing to check for allergies, and a strand test to see how your hair handles bleach and toner. If you get burning, swelling, or a rash, rinse right away and stop.
For patch test steps, see the FDA hair dye safety guide.
Before applying silver dye to your brown hair, it’s essential to bleach it first. The number of times you should bleach your hair before using the dye depends on your hair shade level and texture.
Generally, one bleaching session may be enough if you have light brown or fine hair. However, for darker or thicker hair, two or three sessions may be necessary for the silver dye to take hold properly.
It’s also important to leave some time between each bleaching session so your scalp can recover from any potential damage caused by the chemicals used throughout.
Ideally, you should wait at least two weeks between each bleaching session when prepping for silver dye application.
This will give your scalp plenty of time to heal and allow for better absorption of the new hair color once applied.
When it comes down to applying the silver dye itself, ensure that all traces of bleach are removed from your strands beforehand. The leftover residue can interfere with how well the color takes hold of your hair.
To do this effectively, use a clarifying shampoo before coloring and follow up with a deep conditioning treatment afterward.
How to Get Brown Hair Silver
Now that you know what happens if you put silver dye on brown hair, it’s time to achieve your desired silver color. Here are the key steps to get your brown hair silver:
My Advice
- Get professional help to bleach your hair since the process can damage your hair if not done right.
- Do not bleach or dye if your scalp is irritated, cut, or sunburned.
- Wear gloves and follow the product directions exactly.
- Rinse bleach well and shampoo lightly before toning or using silver dye.
- Thus, you should consult an experienced stylist before making drastic changes like going platinum blonde.
Preparing Your Hair for Bleaching
Before you start bleaching, it’s essential to ensure your hair is in good condition. If it’s already dry or damaged, bleaching can cause further breakage and worsen it. Hydration is the key to this.
To prepare your hair, use a deep conditioning treatment at least one day before you bleach it. This will help keep the strands hydrated and minimize any potential damage from the bleach.
Additionally, do not wash hair with shampoo on the day of bleaching. This can strip away natural oils, which act as a barrier against harsh chemicals in the bleach mixture.
Applying the Bleach
After preparing your hair for bleaching, it’s time to apply the product.
When using store-bought products like L’Oreal Blond Studio Platinium Plus Lightening Kit or Wella Professionals Blonder Liquid Toners, always follow the instructions carefully.
Start by sectioning off small portions of your hair so that each strand gets an even application of color throughout. This will help ensure consistent results all over.
After applying the product onto damp (not wet) hair sections with a brush or applicator bottle, leave it on according to package instructions. Then, rinse the bleach thoroughly with cool water and shampoo lightly to ensure no chemical residue remains. Leftover bleach can keep damaging your hair and can react with toner or silver dye.
Depending on how dark your hair is, you may need to bleach it more than once. A vibrant, beautiful, all-over color will be easier when the hair is as light as possible before applying the silver dye.
Toning
After you bleach your brown hair, you’ll need to apply a toner to eliminate any yellow from the bleached hair. For silver hair, your hair must be lifted to Level 10, which is a pale yellow base. If your hair is still orange (Level 7 or 8), toner will not turn it silver. It will usually look smoky, dull, or muddy gray.
Use a purple based toner to cancel pale yellow. Use a blue based toner only if your hair is orange. Most toners are mixed with 10 volume developer for deposit, and some use 20 volume for a stronger result. Follow the toner label.
You’ll need to leave the toner in your hair for about twenty minutes, or as directed, before rinsing it out.
Warning
Caution: If your hair is still yellow and you apply a silver dye with a strong blue base, your hair may turn green (blue + yellow = green). Tone your hair to a very pale yellow or near white platinum first, then apply silver dye.
Applying Silver Dye
Divide hair into small sections to apply the dye to one piece at a time. Cover all the tresses. It’s important to follow the package instructions and avoid leaving the dye on for longer than the suggested time.
Wash, Dry, and Style
Wash hair completely and use extra conditioner for extra gloss and shine after dyeing.
Regarding styling, it’s best not to overdo it with heat styling tools. You only need to air dry your hair whenever possible, as this helps keep moisture locked into strands while protecting them from heat.
So remember, proper hair care is critical when trying to achieve perfect silver hues without compromising hair health and shine levels.
Maintaining Silver Hair Color
After dyeing your brown hair silver, you still need to maintain it. If not, your hair could turn brassy over time due to oxidation caused by environmental factors such as sun exposure.
Purple shampoos are also great options for maintaining desired tones between salon visits.
Now you know putting silver dye on brown hair is possible by following the above steps. Make sure you prepare your hair with a deep conditioning treatment before bleaching it to ensure minimal damage.
Moreover, you may need to have several bleaching sessions depending on the darkness and thickness of your brown hair. Then, make sure to use the right toner for your hair to achieve the color you want, whether that’s true silver or a softer smoky gray.