Color recommendations?

[Toni]

Yes, it's funny when we realize that "less is more".

I would be interested in what you would look like with darker hair, like black or dark, dark brown. You had said you were 22 and you can certainly get away with DARK hair. Older ladies start to look more harsh and worn with the darker hair tones. On a young lady, it can be striking.

I think too of the women of the Orient, as I think I mentioned before here. Unlike Rose McGowan who has pink undertones, they have the definite yellow undertones as I believe you shared you have. They have jet black hair and the contrast is striking. One difference would be their natural black eyebrows and eyelashes, yet they do not necessarily have heavy or thick ones. And when made up, they don't overdo their makeup either. Instead, just enough is usually used to even out skin tones and accentuate their eyes too.

[Stefanie]

I'm actually part Italian, so I think that's why dark hair may be suited for me. I did dye my hair a dark brown once, and I really loved it. It made my skin look mroe vibrant, and it was the middle of winter. I'm in the process of convincing my fiance to dye my hair for me

[Toni]

Hi Stefanie,

Italian? Wow! Yes, try the dark color. I think you will like it again. As the title suggests, why not take it in steps before making the permanent commitment? Temporary colors are just fun to mess with and don't absorb much, I will admit. Depends on your hair color and type, this is true. You guys could do it for fun one weekend with the black temporary rinses you can find in almost any drug store and probably Walmart.

The first step I'd take would be semi-permanent color as it will wash out eventually in about 4-6 weeks. This will give you plenty of time to decide on the dark, rich tones before making that big step.

[topsyturvy]

Toni

Your color combinations are awsome! I was thinking the same thing. Brunette with Auburn highlights or golden. There is a picture of Mandy Moore posted on this board, and her hair combos are great. I have noticed that if you take her hair off, her skin tone seems to be yellowish as well.

[Stefanie]

I've decided to try out a dark brown again. I got the dye other other day, and I will be doing it probably today (although I meant to do it yesterday, and Monday...) I'll let you all know how it goes when I finally get to it! I hope that it turns out as dark as the last time, I couldn't remember what color I used before.

[brunette]

Well she has a punk image, she was engaged to marilyn manson for a while. But she wouldn't do that extreme red unless it suited her.

I agee you are a warm and the brow eyes make it easy for you to really play up the eyes withut a lot of problem.

I wore eyeliner in high school and this guy friend of mine screamed out there's this green stuff around your eyes!

[Stefanie]

So we dyed my hair yesterday with the dark brown. Somehow, the roots are a dark brown with the little bit of red naturally in my hair showing through, and it gets darker down to the tips which are almost black. I have no idea how that happened... I'm thinking about just finishing it off and making the whole thing black so it's even... Should I wait? Will fixing it now wreck my hair?

[Toni]

Hi Stefanie,

I am so sorry that I did not see that you had purchased color yourself and were about to dye your hair. I would have asked, and still want to know, what brand name and color name.

The first thing that comes to my mind is about the condition of your hair prior to dying. If your ends are split and/or dry, the color will grab there first. Professionally, we usually do the ends last for this reason and then recommend a snip of the ends AFTER. If they were too bad, a stylist has a few tricks up her sleeve. I should have asked you all this before you did your color. The health of our hair is like the health of anything else. It's important that it be ready for certain procedures. I apologize for not asking about the condition of your hair sooner. I didn't see that you had bought dye and were about to actually go for it.

All in all, if you stand back away from a mirror so as to not see the color discrepancies, what do you think of the dark color on you? Do you think you will like this dark color? What do others think of the dark color, looking past the brown/black difference for now? I'm asking this before I give any advice on what to do next. Either way, I would not redo your hair for a couple of days. How far up from the very ends does this dark/black color go?

I will check back tonight or tomorrow.

[Stefanie]

No problem, Toni, thank you for being so concerned!

I went with Garnier Nutrisse brand, dark brown color. I actually called my mom from the store because she was the one who dyed my hair when I went dark brown before, and I wanted to ask what brand it was that she used because my hair reacted very well to it.

I think the color isn't as bad as I made it out to be. It seems more that it was the lighting in my house that made it look that way. It still is a bit lighter at the roots than the ends, but not so bad. The red in my hair from before IS showing through throughout my hair, so it is a dark with dark red highlights when the light hits right... kind of pretty, actually.

I am still considering fixing it so that it IS the same color all over, but I think I notice the difference more than anyone else. My fiance, the one who did it for me, is the only one who has seen it so far, and he says he actually really likes the dark color. My brother is coming to visit tomorrow, so I'm going to see what he thinks. The dark is growing on me!

My ends were very healthy, I just got 2 1/2 inches cut off last weekend (I decided to cut it up shorter so the layers can grow out more evenly). I'm not sure I can tell exactly where the dark color fades into the lighter one... that is one problem I would have if I decide to fix it. Should I buy the same color and do my whole head over? Or should I treat it like I am doing a root fix?

[Toni]

I have heard good things about this at-home hair color and clients who use it have good coverage, so this is baffling. This product is designed to be an easy at home hair color. For whatever reason, your ends just grabbed the color deposits more.

I usually like to wait at least a week after a haircut to allow the ends to close well before applying a chemical. Am one of those stylists who does not like to do haircuts before for fear the fresh cut ends will soak up perms and color. It could be that your hair cut was too fresh.

Speaking of "fresh", the style is for two toned hair coloring. Perhaps you should give this look a chance out in public around your friends or co-workers? Am very happy that your fiance likes it. And the color with the red coming through sounds so pretty. Are you sure you want to change that?

This brand is something I cannot specifically advise you on. I do know that the only way you will be certain to achieve all over darker hair is to buy a darker color. Look first to see if there is a phone number Garnier Nutrisse has for you to call for advice.

And I'm afraid to tell you, the only way you can get rid of those darker ends is to have them cut off. I know you don't want to do that since you just got it cut.

So three choices:
1. Call Garnier Nutrisse. They are the experts with their product.
2. Go darker all over with darker color, staying away from ends until last
5-10 minutes.
3. Getting the ends snipped off. The color change will be better found
with close-up lighting or out in the natural sun. (the latter is my
preference for color)


Good luck! And let us know what you find out/ decide.
Oh and btw, any chance of a before and after shot ? I would imagine lots of us would love to see the 'new you' .