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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask whether you prefer being blonde or brunette?

60 replies

therewillbetime · 06/12/2018 21:55

Very trivial I'm afraid but would appreciate any blondes who have gone to brunette (or vice versa). Was white blonde as a child, then as I got older, my hair became mousy. Since I was early twenties (now forty) I have had a combination of light blonde and chocolate streaks which basically make my hair look blonde overall.

I'm fed up with it and fancy a change but certainly don't want mousy hair. I have quite fair skin and green eyes. Is it better being a brunette?! I have never ever gone completely brown and cannot imagine how it would look. I'm basically rather boring and not someone who has experimented much with different hair colours in the past. Any experiences gratefully received.

OP posts:
ikltownofboothlehem · 06/12/2018 21:58

I prefer reds. Similar colouring to you and red always looks better on me.

NonaGrey · 06/12/2018 21:59

Is it better being a brunette?

Better than what?

Hair colour is personal preference.

I know a few blonde women who would look considerably younger if they switched to brunette.

I also know a few women whose dark hair is not doing them any favours.

It’s personal preference and personal taste. .

Pick the one you like best. If you can’t decide ask your hairdresser for their opinion.

Xmasbaby11 · 06/12/2018 21:59

I have my mousey hair highlighted blonde. I have medium pale skin and blue eyes..
The colour lifts my complexion and looks natural. When I went mid brown, my features didn't stand out so well. I just looked blah. I tried a darker colour but my eyebrows are fair so didn't look natural.

I'm sticking with blonde!

MonsterTequila · 06/12/2018 22:00

Would you go ombré? Best of both worlds then

HildaZelda · 06/12/2018 22:01

I'm a brunette. I went blonde once. Never again. I looked like a washed out corpse.

Grumpasaurus · 06/12/2018 22:02

Op, I am the same. White blond as a child, mousy natural hair now. Pale skin with pink undertones and green eyes.

Like you I have always maintained some sort of blond, usually highlights of some variety with lowlights of some variety. Once I went rogue and went brown. It looked awful. Then I tried a darker brown, thinking it would look more contrasty. It looked worse. Now I have balayage so my roots don't need doing so often, with a nice clean blond from 3/4 down xxx

Grumpasaurus · 06/12/2018 22:03

Ps I also often add purple or pink as peekaboo colours which look great.

Original poster
therewillbetime · 06/12/2018 22:05

So is ombre like balayage? Is that darker at roots (brown) and lighter at ends (blonde) ?

OP posts:
Laiste · 06/12/2018 22:10

I'm naturally mouse but for the last 30 years have been pale bleach blonde with low lights/dark under dye. Bra strap length straight hair.

Every 5 years or so i get bored with it and go dark brown.

And then within 2 months go through £££ and major stress going back to pale blonde.

Why? Well - my theory is this: I love the rich, sophisticated sultry look of long glossy dark brown hair and i see it on other women and love it and think ''Yeah - lets do that''. BUT unless you've got the good thick lovely hair the reality of me with dark hair is just total thin lank boring greasy looking ordinariness. Blond is easier to get looking exciting. I turn heads blonde. I bore the pants off even myself brunette.

Original poster
therewillbetime · 06/12/2018 22:33

Thank you Laiste - I know what you mean about the idea and the reality of thick glossy brown hair. I might think again!!

OP posts:
Princess1066 · 06/12/2018 22:35

Natural blonde here - faded to mousy in my thirties - live in Ireland so serious lack of sun most of the time Hmm

Been through various cuts - long , medium & short & a variety of shades of blonde, red & brown.

Am now very dark brown with a chin length bob & everyone says it really suits me so I'm sticking to it for now Grin

Sometimes it's just a matter of trial & error - I cut & colour my own so I'm lucky in that regard.

lilySalvatore · 06/12/2018 22:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

baubled · 06/12/2018 23:23

I'm fair with green eyes and have red hair, why not throw blonde/brunette out and go for a complete change Grin

lostlalaloopsy · 07/12/2018 08:02

I just had my dark hair lightened with a few blonde highlights. I prefer it this way, I'm very pale so the dark hair was washing me out. My main problem with being blonde is that I have incredibly thick hair so dying it takes ages!!

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 07/12/2018 08:06

My hair is really fine, I'd actually like to go darker but if I don't bleach it's too flyaway and greasy.

Just a thought I think you can get apps or go on websites wheré you upload a photo and it changes the hair colour or style for you so you can experiment with different looks

knittedjest · 07/12/2018 08:08

I prefer my hair dark, almost black. I'm very pale and have a strong jawline and light eyes. With dark hair I'm pretty striking (don't mind me tooting my own horn) but with blonde hair everything just seems to blend together in a cloud of beige. Plus my hair grows like a weed and I'm too lazy to upkeep blonde hair.

PaintingOwls · 07/12/2018 08:10

Aesthetically I liked blonde more on me but the bleach totally obliterated my hair. I'm also lazy and found the upkeep a pain.

JamPasty · 07/12/2018 08:23

I dyed mine ginger - had more complements on it in the first year or so than I ever did as a blond. Upkeep is a royal pain though (applies to all dye jobs I assume)

MrsScamander · 07/12/2018 08:35

Redhead Grin

MulticolourMophead · 07/12/2018 08:37

I used to do brown as I started turning grey around 20. I would have gone bokdervin colour but my ex didn't like the idea i might do something outrageous.

I now have white blonde bleached hair and it does suit me.

MulticolourMophead · 07/12/2018 08:38

Bolder in colour, not whatever that was there 😁

UserMe18 · 07/12/2018 08:42

I am very pale with blue eyes, I've found blonde hair doesn't wash me out as much, I tend to do ombre with a couple inches of darker roots. I like having dark glossy hair (more natural for me) but I find blonde makes me stand out a bit more. Thankfully with roots being acceptabe it's low maintenance, if it ever really falls out of fashion I may have to go dark again because I can't be doing with a 3 hour hair cut every 6 weeks lol. I agree with others I think lighter hair is less aging (on the women I can think of at least).

MsHopey · 07/12/2018 08:43

Brunette is too boring for me personally. I like my hair to be BAM in your face.
I loved blonde, white blonde, but the bleach made my hand terrible, the condition was scary and I lost most my hair in a bleaching accident. And my roots came through in around a week and looked terrible.
I too am naturally a mousy colour.
I have dyed it red pretty much ever since it all broke off.
Only have to do it every 8 weeks or so and way less damage than being blonde, and I still get go show my personality with it.

Birdsgottafly · 07/12/2018 08:45

I was blonde, or a mix, from when I was fourteen.

I went brunette on occasion and although I suited it, I liked being blonde.

I now have to be brunette, because my grey comes through so quickly and I have to home dye.

I'm going to go back to the hairdressers next year, when I've done a few jobs in my house.

Take advantage of being able to do what you want with your hair!

PoisonousSmurf · 07/12/2018 08:46

I seem to be treated better as a brunette. 'Dumb Blonde' is a term bandied around far too much.