I put a dark colour over highlights and it's now streaky! HELP!!

Hello,

I started off with naturally medium brown hair but I really wanted to go blonde, so I went to my hairdresser and got golden/honey highlights. I was really pleased with the results and went back for more a month or two later, although my hairdresser did exactly the same colour I didn’t like the result as I found it looked slightly ginger.

I really wish I'd have simply got a lighter tone of the highlights, but instead I dyed my hair permanent 'darkest natural brown' and immediately regretted it! My hair turned jet black while some of highlights remained the same , leaving my hair a streaky mess! I put up with this for a few months and have just used a semi-permanent brown dye. My hair is now a fairly dark brown but with a red tinge to it, however I'm sure as time goes by the colour will fade and my blonde/ginger streaks will come back.

I'm determined to go blonde as I've realised I much prefer it, is there any way my hairdresser or myself could get my hair to a medium/golden blonde without using bleach as I don't want to damage my hair. At present my hair is quite thin and in my opinion in good condition. 

If you could help me, it would be very much appreciated!

Thank you,

Anon, UK

The short answer to this would be no, you can't lift all that dark colour out of your hair without using bleach. Because tint (permanent colour) doesn't lift colour. It is fun to change hair colour, but what you have to remember is that the hair can only take so much processing before it finally says enough is enough and becomes either too damaged, or just doesn't look good.

I recommend going to see your colourist and explain what your goal is and they will be able to advise you on what is going to be the best way to get you lighter with minimal damage.

John Clark at Brooks+Brooks, London