Goinf from highlights to block colour?

[Howaboutthisone]

I've had highlights for years. I've had to cut back on amount spent on hair after having children so now instead of £130 (which I couldn't really afford back then anyway) I pay £30 for a cut and colour in the comfort of my own home.
I've been happy with it and am still really happy with the cut. I'm just feeling a bit stripey. I'm thinking about switching to an all over colour. Is this a bad idea?

[Howaboutthisone]

Anyone?

[Borninthe60s]

I changed from blonde highlights to a darker semi perm colour with just a few highlights in the summer. Not for cost just for,a change. The amount of people who've said how nice my hair is makes me think I must have looked a minger before. Do it if you fancy a change. You can always add highlights after if you feel too dull.

[burnishedsilver]

I've changed to an all over semi permanent. I much prefer it. My hair is softer. It looks and feels healthier.

[Bertieboo1]

I have also changed to an all over colour and much prefer it now - I think highlights are less popular at the moment from what they were telling me.

[burnishedsilver]

Just to clarify, I went for an all over brunette colour.

My sister went from highlights to an all over permanent blonde colour. It was awful. Her hair was like straw and the regrowth looked horrendous. She paid a lot of money to look very cheap.

[anothercrackatit]

I would say it depends on how you're going to deal with the regrowth. Does the idea of living with roots worry you? I dyed mine really light from a mid blonde and the regrowth was visible every ten days. Obviously you could minimise this with a smaller difference (although it will always be a straight, unblended line), dying it its natural colour or a semi permanent. Be aware that a semi can look brassy on blonde hair, maybe do a test first if you do that way?

[Howaboutthisone]

All good points. Thanks! I've been wondering about it as I'm not sure now that I've seen my hair looking stripey rather than 'multi toned'. The roots and the fact that it might look 'cheap' if I go for the wrong shade are concerns. But then stripey feels a bit cheap looking at the moment. Hence feeling confused and 'trapped between a rock and a hard place' (slightly dramatically worded).
Would it be easy enough to go back if I gave it a try and felt cheaper looking?

[burnishedsilver]

What is your natural colour?

[Howaboutthisone]

I'm sort of a dark blonde mousey colour I think- I've been colouring it for the past twenty years so haven't seen it in a while properly!

[CookieKatie]

You could always put your natural colour on the roots down half way. Like the ombre look celebs have? Could be less of a shock than all one colour

[Howaboutthisone]

I do like that ombré look but it's quite popular with the pupils I teach- and I think a lot of them have moreover spent on it than I could. Daft way of thinking, I know. I think I'm in a bit of a strange phase!

[Silverpinkswirls]

Put your hair dye on the roots for however long the packet says around 10-15 mins then comb it through down the length to make it less blocky.

[Howaboutthisone]

Is that for an overall one colour dye silverpinkswirls?

[jelliebelly]

Probably time for all over colour but I'd keep it close to natural if you can to avoid roots being too obvious

[angelinalo]

Make sure the brown colour you choose has red tones in - otherwise the blonde will go green! You can always change to a 'cooler' colour later - but if you are doing it yourself then the first one must have a hint of chestnut or warmth to it :)

[anothercrackatit]

I put this dark blonde on mine and I'm really happy with the results. You can always stick in a few highlights if it's too dark for you, maybe do it over a weekend? Or are you thinking of having it done by your visiting hairdresser?

[Howaboutthisone]

That's nice anothercrackatit. Yes- I'm still going to have it done by my mobile hairdresser. I'm still happy with her, just not so sure about my colour now.
Can I post photos here then remove them after a little while so you can see what I mean about current colour? Is that possible?
I should say though that it's probably been 8-10 weeks since I last had my hair done so it's done pretty well and maybe it's my current roots that are distorting my opinion?

[anothercrackatit]

I'm not sure about removing photos, perhaps ask the admin? You could certainly change your username in the future and blank out your face, any identifying features etc in the pic? I'd post some photos for you to see if it was not such a (potentially!) big deal!

[burnishedsilver]

Post a picture of the back of you head. We'll still get the gist.

[Howaboutthisone]

Here goes ...

[Howaboutthisone]

Are these any good?

[Laststop]

I am a hairdresser and would say before you go all over one colour ask for fine highlights 2 blonde to one medium choc brown no darker than a base 7 and thus should make it less stripy and more natural looking

[Howaboutthisone]

Thanks for that.

[burnishedsilver]

I'm going to throw a spanner in the works and say I think its lovely :-)

I think the lighter pieces could be thinner or could be toned down a bit but I'd be inclined to stick with highlights.

[anothercrackatit]

I think the light stripes are possibly a bit too light and the reds too red? Is this what you had done previously or is it an attempt to copy a subtler salon style? The regrowth is beautifully subtle, congrats to the stylist there.