Essentially, which is 'better' - blonde or brunette hair? And why?

[MrsSeanBean]

Apologies if this has been done before.

I speak from a neutral position 'the fence' so to speak, as I am currently coppery on the advice of my (new) hairdresser , but normally veer between the two extremes in an attempt to look like (a) Grace Kelly or (b) the chic mum you always see out who looks better than you.

Naturally I never resemble either.

Any thoughts?

[ZZZenAgain]

what is your natural hair colour?

[MrsSeanBean]

Grey

[Curiousmama]

Well I was blonde for eons...everyone thought it was natural but I am in fact a brunette. I went brunette last year and now have my own colour totally, all dye is out It's lovely, get great comments and it suits my skin tone. I have to convince people though that in fact this is my natural colour.

Are you happy with the reddish tints?

[ThePhantomPlopper]

I've been both.

I'm naturally a brunette.

I'm happier with dark hair, the sun has added some natural highlights and it looks good ATM.

Blonde is good if you can afford to get it done properly every 4-6 weeks IMO. Its a bloody pain in the arse though.

[MrsSeanBean]

It's odd about the red: every time I have any red tones in my hair everyone says it suits me. I am still undecided, it;s OK I suppose.

The hairdresser had a chart with colour cards which she held up to my face and apparently red tones suit my skin and eyes best (very fair skin and blue eyes). ut even before I was grey I never had red in my hair, I was blonde as a child then turned mousey, and then (at 30 ) went grey. It's been a struggle ever since. I really envy people who don't have to colour their hair at all.

It's a real palaver with having to be 'given' a base colour before you can add highlights etc, not to mention lengthy and expensive.

[ThePhantomPlopper]

also looks good if you're a natural blonde I should have added.

[TrillianAstrahasaJOB]

Brunette is good because it looks shinier than blonde, and people are less likely to think you are a bimbo.

Blonde is good because individual grey hairs don't stand out so much, and it's less harsh on paler skintones.

Um... and other stuff.

[ZZZenAgain]

maybe have a go at blonde then, you can always go darker if it isn't right.

How about the shade you had as a child if you like that colour? Otherwise something like a pale Scandinavian blonde or something. Won't look so bad when the roots show the way naturally very dark hair does.

[MrsSeanBean]

Interesting Trillian (congrats on job btw) - the blonde was draining and ageing me (according to the hairdresser's wisdom). you never really know if you can trust their opinions I find (unless you go to London and pay about £250 @ John Frieda, which I can no longer afford to do at all, let alone sustain!!)

[ZZZenAgain]

actually speaking of red, I saw a lovely colour once but cannot remember the name. It was a very pale red, more gold-blonde and I have been toying with it since

My hairdresser is a boring old marter and won't do it though

[Curiousmama]

Ok I suppose isn't good enough I agree go blonde, make the most of your lovely fair skin and blue eyes. Plus if you eventually just have highlights these grow out gracefully so even better!

[PinkTulips]

imo almost everyone looks better as a brunette... very few suit blonde and generally those who do were born that way

[TrillianAstrahasaJOB]

She was born that way PinkTulips!

If you have a good hairdresser then I'll take back the 'brunette makes you look pale'.

[Jewelsandgems]

hairdressers always try and make me red and each time I hate the roots that grow. Because they are lighter than the red tint, looks like I have hess hair.

And I must admit grey does seem to sprout through darker tones almost immediatly, whilst blonde seems to be more forgivig.

I am pale pale blonde and I have pale skin. Aparently, a mistake many fair-skinned people make is having too much of a honey blonde and that makes the skin look washed out. Having a pale pale blonde actually suits pale skin. All I know is I much prefer the blonde me, as opposed to the red me. Blones have more fun (and IMO that is very very true)

[Vamonos]

What clothes colours suit you more - warm browns/oranges/tans or cool blues/whites/violets?

If you can't wear warm colours then 'warm toned' hair colour won't suit you either, which is what Jewels is saying about pale/platinum blonde vs honey blonde.

You can have cool / warm tones of both blonde and brunette, the trick is to recognise the difference which isn't always easy!

[MrsSeanBean]

I always thought I suited cool colours. I can wear lack without looking 'washed out', and love navy and green. Apparently orange also suits me though, which is odd, as that's definitley 'warm'.

I have to admit that reeddish hair does make my eyes stand out and look a really piercing blue. And I heard somewhere that if your eyes look better it's a sure sign the colour flatters you. So I am a bit stumped. I've found blonde is tricky to get right (to a nice cool beige colour) unless you spend a fortune.

[ZZZenAgain]

could you go in a wig shop and try a few wigs (pretending you want one for a party or something) and see what suits you better? Or even drape hair pieces across your forehead (you know those clip on ponytails and things like that)?

[FigmentOfYourImagination]

you have to go with whiechever shade suits your natural skin tone/eye colouring.

I look ruddy as a blonde but glowy (in a good way) as a brunette. My colouring is too warm for blonde shades.

[edam]

My hair and eyes are very dark brown, almost black, and my skin is very pale. Once did work experience at a fashion mag and tried on a blonde wig - fashionistas stared at me in horror and said: "NO!" so have never been tempted since.

And assume for someone so dark to go blonde would take ages and ruin my hair. And my eyebrows would look very odd. Would have to have my hair straightened as well as I think curly blonde dyed hair looks a bit Bonnie Tyler (well, it would on me) so would probably end up bald!

[MrsSeanBean]

Figment, my skin is looking very ruddy (and blotchy) at the moment. It leads me to suspect the colour is not flattering, but then it could be someting to do with this week being the hottest of the year!

[Curiousmama]

Agree with the eyes rule. Also I used to be blonde for years as I've said and never looked good without make-up. Now I hardly wear any and rarely need foundation.

[thumbwitch]

neither. Ginger Red rools every time.

[shhhh]

I have been both, naturally a dark blonde/brown BUT went platinum blonde..liked it at the time although dh didn't. Now looking back at pics I looked..well not the best.

I found it to harsh and high maintenance.

Im now very dark brown almost black and love it. My hair feels healthy, not dry and when I wash it it feels soft and luxurious iykiwm..blond always made it fel straw like and even worse when wet.

I find dark a more elegant colour, very glam and so sexy.

[shhhh]

btw, I suited both colours and same comments from my hairdresser who has done my hair over the last 15 ish years..

BUT dark is much more me