Anybody know how to get alcohol-based dye to take hold in fine hair?

[BreweryYardRat]

I'm a guy. I've got medium-dark brown hair with blond highlights, but it has an extremely fine texture. No matter what I do, I can't get dye to hold in it. Bleaching it doesn't work -- the bleach turns the hair blond, but the dye still starts washing out in patches within a few days, even if I turn a hair-dryer on it. I've tried alcohol-based and I've tried water-based. No difference either way.

I'd really prefer to dye it black, but having to touch it up every couple days is way too much maintenance for my tastes.

Anybody have any suggestions that might help, or will I have to just give up?

[IcyPeas]

1. I wouldn't mess around with it yourself...

go to a professional and have them do it.

What do you mean by alcohol based or water based? What kind of dye are you using? I (female) use Clairol Natural Match and I have very fine blonde hair. But the dye never just "washes out"...