To ask for your hair colouring/highlighting advice

[MintCassis]

I desperately need a hair cut (just realised it's two years since I've been to the hairdressers!! ) Recently I've been finding more and more grey hairs and I'd like to try a way to cover them but have never had any colour treatments EVER!

My hair is curly, long, dark brown and the grey is getting very noticeable around my hairline and centre parting. I don't have a clue what to go for though - full head of colour? half head of highlights? full head of highlights? how often it'll need repeated?

Any advice would most gratefully received. I have a couple of important interviews coming up and I want to look professional and grown up. I don't really have a style at the moment, very much a wash-and-go kind of person, and it makes me look younger than I am not in a good way

Hi OP! I’m not a hairstylist in any way, just giving advice based on my experiences. I’d possibly rethink the highlights. As your hair is a dark brown the colour might not lift as much as you’d like. You could potentially end up with orange toned highlights. Highlights can look really nice, but it takes a lot of time and money. I had to go back to the hairdressers a few times to get it the colour I wanted. I have ashy brown hair and had a balayage around 2 years ago. while it does look nice I wouldn’t do it again. The bleach hasn’t been kind to my hair and I’m considering getting an all over colour (just need to bite the bullet!). Also I’m not too sure if highlights alone would cover the grey around the hairline, they may have to apply a base colour first. but like I said I’m not a stylist so could be wrong.

A full head of colour would look lovely, a nice chocolatey brown always looks gorgeous!

If your heart is set on highlights though then definitely have a chat with the hairdresser and see what they say, maybe ask them to do a strand test so you know what colour you’d be working with! I would recommend balayage/“sombre” over just straight highlights, less upkeep as it’s more natural, and it can grow out while still looking nice. Hope that helps in some way

I am the same as you and have gradually been going half to 1/4 shade lighter each time I go the the hairdressers. Plus I get a few blondy foils here and there. My greys are way less noticeable. It’s alao better to have lighter hair when you get older. Less harsh.

I have highlights every 6 weeks to help with the grey and keep hair colour lifted but lighted. Am naturally lightish brown. Have three colours put in: blonde, caramel, light brown. Condition not affected at all though not sure hairdresser uses bleach.

£115 to £150 a pop depending whether I have T bar, half head or full head.

I would think if you can afford to have it done at hairdresser, start off with a few highlights, because you may have to experiment, so better to start off trying lighter, and easier to switch back to darker. If you decide to stay dark it's easy enough to do yourself.