Need a change

SopChick

So I'm getting really bored with my hair, and since I'm trying to grow it, I thought colouring it might be a good solution. I've been wanting to colour it to a rich brown, maybe with a hint of auburn for a long time, but I don't know if I can pull it off. It would likely be an at-home deal, being that I'm a poor student and all.

Right now, it's around this colour. I'm sorry the pic is my headshot, I couldn't find anything else on my computer that I felt comfortable sharing. The background is giving it a slightly redder cast than it actually has. It's a few inches shorter than it was when this was taken, just below shoulder length.




I'm thinking I would really like to do something like this colour:



Do you think it would work ok? If you were going to do something like this at home, what kind/colour of dye would you look for?

jorja86

I think the color is beautiful and would look really good on you. I'm no help with at home color though, I'm afraid to mess with mine by myself at all.

IrishDreamer

I think it would look really good on you!

I'm no help with at home jobs... I've only ever done one all over color.

elannis

I have no advice because I don't dye my hair, but I think that color would be really cute on you!!

SKP82

I think that color would look fantastic on you!  I love it.

As far as home color goes, I used to do it very frequently and had success with it until I went dark and wanted to go back lighter.  Do you have Sally's Beauty Supply where you are?  If so, I would go there because they are very helpful.

Good luck!

[Deleted User]

I agree with the others...I know nothing about purchasing haircolor...but I thing you could totally ROCK that color! I say go for it!! You have to show us a before/after pic when you're done though!

Swazzle

I *love* that color & I think it would look really great!!!  

polkadot111

It would look beautiful!!

peekaboo2011

I really like that color!  Partially because it's close to what I have

As far as at-home dye jobs, that's all I do.  I recommend not grabbing the cheapest box you can find (Nice and Easy does well though), and comparing your current color to what it says on the box so that you get the right color

csousa1

You are so pretty Sop! I think that is the first time I've seen what you look like

I think that color will be GORGEOUS on you! I do at-home dyeing all the time, and I love it. I dye my hair darker all the time, so it is much easier to do at home than if I were lightening it. I also have dyed my hair almost that exact color (I think it was the Feria one that Sun mentioned, actually!) and it came out awesome. Feria usually does a great job of having different tones in the color, so that you don't feel like your whole head is a solid color but still have highlights and such. I say go for it!

SopChick

Thanks for the opinions ladies

I'm thinking maybe I'll wait until I'm home for Christmas and I can get it done professionally by my regular stylist, but who knows, I might get bored and brave between now and then. I'll definitely post a before & after when I do it!

motoLyn

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_need-change-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:a32f5152-601e-47cb-94e8-d4d901327826Post:fdb491f3-eb50-4f87-8d6e-a473ca4f8725">Re: Need a change</a>:
[QUOTE]I think I've been that color... it's a mahogany (auburn + brunette) color and I think Feria has a great version of that.  Feria's reds are very prismatic.  I'd try going a few shades darker than what you are now, darker colors deposit color so they don't damage your hair as much so you can do steps down over time. I think it was called chocolate covered cherry when I used it.
Posted by sunbird627[/QUOTE]

I agree I like Feria, it worked best for me.  I also used chocolate cherry but it does deposit a rich red in my hair.  So it was very auburn.  I think that color would look very pretty on you. 

leia1979

That's a beautiful color! I would recommend using a demi-permanent color because you're going darker. It's less damaging to your hair (though not damage-free) and won't lift the natural color out.

Of demi-permanent colors, I like Clairol Radiance Colorgloss, which can be purchased at Sally's. But nevermind, I just wrote a bunch and realized they discontinued their red shades. Too bad.

Instead, I'll recommend L'Oreal Color Gems. You'll need to buy one tube of color and one bottle of Color Gems developer. You'll also need a mixing bowl and brush or a squeeze bottle to apply. You can get all this at Sally's. Don't forget gloves! I like the vinyl ones best.

Depending how dark and how red you want to go, I would recommend either 5.53 Warm Brown or 4.56 Dark Mahogany Brown. Err towards something one shade lighter than you want. Sometimes these can come out a little dark. Sally's should have a book with hair swatches.

http://www.lorealtechnique.com/gems_03.shtml

ETA: Just as an FYI, I dye my hair a level 3 color (1=black, 10=platinum blonde), and my hair is quite dark. That's why I think a level 4 or 5 would work for you to go darker without going scary dark.

SopChick

Thanks! Being that I'm pretty fair-skinned, I would tend to err on the lighter side too, so I don't wind up looking like Wednesday Addams, haha. I was thinking something around a 5 would be a good idea, maybe even between 5 & 6 since it's somewhere around a 7 right now.