I over-darkened my piece but didn't worry too much, as I though I'd just lighten it up a bit using a product called "Color Oops". Well, after multiple attempts at this, the color has hardly changed! I've let it soak extra long, and nothing. I'm really surprised that it barely even lightened it, when it's supposed to actually completely take out the color. The parts of the piece I darkened should go back to blonde, but they're still dark brown. I know processed hair is said to retain dye longer than usual, but this is unbelievable.

You can normally lighten colour by applying creme peroxide...that`s the `catalyst` which is mixed with the colour-paste ---- obviously I`m unaware of how / what product/s you used to darken the hair, but I use a tube of colour `paste` and mix it with creme peroxide...the less peroxide used-the deeper the colour, and the more peroxide mixed-in, the lighter the colour will be [ the duration it`s left on the hair will also affect how `deep`it goes] I have never had this issue simply because I never allowed the `mix`on the hair for longer than a few minutes.... I asked the salon person [who I was dealing with at the time] what I should do if I went too deep with the colour and she said to just apply the peroxide to the hair to lighten the colour again.... I`m unable to give you a `time`on it...just try it for 3 minutes first and see how it goes [ try a very small/unnoticeable section of hair first until you see how it looks] Creme peroxide is a white, slightly ` gooey` liquid/substance. Here`s one example of what I`m referring-to: http://www.ebay.ie/itm/WELLA-WELLOXON-PE...0615751025
and here is an item I found too --I`d advise AGAINST mixing bleach with the creme peroxide.... just try the peroxide on it`s own and keep a close eye on it... I cannot give you any definite timings.....just proceed cautiously! http://www.ehow.com/how_5061121_remove-h...loper.html

(12-13-2011, 10:40 AM)Paul In Ireland Wrote: You can normally lighten colour by applying creme peroxide...that`s the `catalyst` which is mixed with the colour-paste ---- obviously I`m unaware of how / what product/s you used to darken the hair, but I use a tube of colour `paste` and mix it with creme peroxide...the less peroxide used-the deeper the colour, and the more peroxide mixed-in, the lighter the colour will be [ the duration it`s left on the hair will also affect how `deep`it goes] I have never had this issue simply because I never allowed the `mix`on the hair for longer than a few minutes.... I asked the salon person [who I was dealing with at the time] what I should do if I went too deep with the colour and she said to just apply the peroxide to the hair to lighten the colour again.... I`m unable to give you a `time`on it...just try it for 3 minutes first and see how it goes [ try a very small/unnoticeable section of hair first until you see how it looks] Creme peroxide is a white, slightly ` gooey` liquid/substance. Here`s one example of what I`m referring-to: http://www.ebay.ie/itm/WELLA-WELLOXON-PE...0615751025
and here is an item I found too --I`d advise AGAINST mixing bleach with the creme peroxide.... just try the peroxide on it`s own and keep a close eye on it... I cannot give you any definite timings.....just proceed cautiously! http://www.ehow.com/how_5061121_remove-h...loper.html

Thanks Paul! The dye I used was Just for Men. The dye remover is called Color Oops. It does NOT contain peroxide, and is therefore considered to be less damaging to hair. But this could be the missing ingredient. This product does have amazing reviews, but those are from women using it on real hair. Do you feel peroxide is in fact safe for hair pieces? I wonder if I'm getting a bit too far in over my head here... is it time to take it to a salon? I'm reading now if you dye hair or bleach it, subsequent dyes can turn out quite different than expected. Half the piece is blonde now, the other half brown. How the hell am I going to get it all to be an even shade of brown?

I`ve always used creme peroxide which is the catalyst which is mixed with the actual colouring paste... then applied it to system hair..never damaged it. I don`t quite `follow` how you have ended up with two different colours of hair on your system ? [blonde and brown] You initially said you`d simply gone too `deep` with a colour and needed to lighten it again...... from your last post there I see you want all the hair to be a brown colour..... the blonde hair should take on /be easily changed to brown.... I`ve always found `koleston perfect` and creme peroxide mixed, give me best results....very very easy to use. http://wella.com/en-EN/koleston.aspx
You can normally order these off Amazon. I find it hard to get a true idea from these colour-chart things of what shade would be best to order [ or I should say used to when I was blending my remaining hair and a topper--I`m Fullcap now so it doesn`t arise]
Just had a look on Amazon..this is probably better again..... http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1...x=koleston+
I`d simply order the one you think is what you want/need PLUS their `developer`[Creme peroxide] which is down the page there and `treat`the blonde hair first and see how it goes.....only leave it on/in for a few minutes at a time, rinse out and have a `look`....see how it`s looking compared to the brown part.... if the brown part as it is now is the bit which went too `deep`initially, just treat that first with some creme peroxide to lighten it, then dye the blonde hair to match it.... hope that helps.

(12-13-2011, 12:18 PM)Paul In Ireland Wrote: I`ve always used creme peroxide which is the catalyst which is mixed with the actual colouring paste... then applied it to system hair..never damaged it. I don`t quite `follow` how you have ended up with two different colours of hair on your system ? [blonde and brown] You initially said you`d simply gone too `deep` with a colour and needed to lighten it again...... from your last post there I see you want all the hair to be a brown colour..... the blonde hair should take on /be easily changed to brown.... I`ve always found `koleston perfect` and creme peroxide mixed, give me best results....very very easy to use. http://wella.com/en-EN/koleston.aspx
You can normally order these off Amazon. I find it hard to get a true idea from these colour-chart things of what shade would be best to order [ or I should say used to when I was blending my remaining hair and a topper--I`m Fullcap now so it doesn`t arise]
Just had a look on Amazon..this is probably better again..... http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1...x=koleston+
I`d simply order the one you think is what you want/need PLUS their `developer`[Creme peroxide] which is down the page there and `treat`the blonde hair first and see how it goes.....only leave it on/in for a few minutes at a time, rinse out and have a `look`....see how it`s looking compared to the brown part.... if the brown part as it is now is the bit which went too `deep`initially, just treat that first with some creme peroxide to lighten it, then dye the blonde hair to match it.... hope that helps.

Sorry Paul, my explanation was not clear at all. I got halfway through dying the blonde system brown, and then stopped because a) I was scared of coloring too close to the base and possibly staining it because I didn't feel as comfortable with that as I was hoping, once I actually attempted to do it and b) I noticed the parts I did dye looked way too dark. That is how I now have a 2-colored piece.

So the peroxide creme BY ITSELF can be used (in small stages to test the resulting shade like you said) to lighten the ultra-dark brown dye that I over-applied, to the proper level... OK, I agree that should be my first step, and then continue dying the remaining blonde sections once (if?) that works. The peroxide sounds good but in the worse case scenario, say I spill some or whatever and cause the color to actually become too light and it needs to go back to being slightly darker again... will it be able to be dyed darker or will it be permanently affected from the peroxide?

Do you think the peroxide creams are available in stores? Maybe acne cream would suffice? Wait, there're all sorts of hair coloring products in stores, it must be there. I'm just used to using Just For Men, but it sounds like your recommended products allows much more fine-tuning of the color, whereas Just For Men basically allows none.

Yeah stealth... just put the creme peroxide on by itself....it won`t be `` permanently affected`` by it ....the salon I used to buy-from told me to be careful when colouring hair until I got `the hang of it` and only leave colour on for a few minutes at most..I asked what to do in the event of going too `deep`... she told me to lighten it up again using creme peroxide on it`s own...as I said, I never had to do it though. Just apply on a small inconspicuous area and see how it goes. I`ve never used anything other than salon-grade items such as Wella Koleston, because you can `control`the depth of colour by controlling to ratio of Koleston to Peroxide mixed and then timing it . If you over-lighten the colour you can re-colour the hair again....the neat peroxide should just lighten up the colour..it won`t prevent the hair from absorbing colour again..... I assume by what you describe, you got an all-blonde system in order to have `good`knots and you intended to then colour the hair all over.... I know wearers do it, but I think for newbies, just starting off with the front bit in blonde, and colouring that bit first, will be enough ...I think it`s a big-ish job which can be `problematic` for newbies.....if you feel you`re getting out of your depth, well then take it to a stylist...make sure they keep the mix off the lace though.....many of the salons which specialise in Afro womens` hair would be well-used to dealing with lace systems as many of those women wear systems.

Just For Men is a different type of dye to most other dyes you can buy off the shelf.
The problem with it is that it just keeps on colouring.
Even their blonde colour will turn darkest brown if left on for too long.
Because it develops so quickly, its not really suitable for dying hair systems where you have to take your time.
To remove the excess colour, you need to use Goldwell Color Remover.
Its a professional product and very easy to use.
You can buy it through Sally's or ebay.
http://www.goldwell-northamerica.com/sit...r-remover/

It will even remove any colour that accidentally has stained the base.

Paul, the type of dye you are talking about and are used to using penetrates the hair. The peroxide prepares the hair by making it porous.
As you say, you control the depth of the colour with the peroxide.
They are permanent dyes.
Dyes like Just for Men (which is a semi permanent colouring) work in a different way in that they sit on top of the hair and create a 'mask' of colour.
Thats why they are recommended to hide grey hairs.
Using peroxide with Just For Men will only make things worse as it will strip away some of the colour and just leave the brassy tones.

Stealth, if you use the Goldwell Color Remover all over the piece it will strip out the colour you've applied and take it all back to one single colour and then you can start again.
After that, you would be better to use a permanent colouring system as Paul does, that you can control better.

Thanks for that Hersute... as I said, the only ones I`m used to using are the `professional` ones such as Koleston..... and I know how they `behave`...those other over-the-counter branded ones such as `Just for men` I have always avoided as I imagined the results could be not what I wanted.... I just figured the stylists/salons would all use them if they were so good etc... I`m sure they`re fine for certain situations ---- I was unaware [until now] that they `act`/ `behave` differently ...it sure explains stealth`s situation. I think he should follow your advice and get that colour remover and start over with the Koleston/peroxide mix. At least that has clarified things ..... good to share that.... cheers.