AIBU to think achieving a cool brown hair shade is impossible?

[ThatsNicePet]

My natural hair is mousey. I can achieve cool blonde shades using bleach - but my hair suits me darker too, so at the minute I’ve got a salon-applied ‘cool’ brown on.

In the sunlight this is bright orange, the colour washes me out and makes me look really pale. I’ve had this before with brown dyes - despite going for ‘cool’ or ‘ashy’ colours they always throw off loads of red tones. Is there a cool brown dye? Does this exist?

All brown shades have a red undertone as far as I know.

Are you going permanent? How often do you go? My hairdresser achieves a cool brown on my but my week 5, the sunlight has faded it and warmed it up.

I should also add - I’ve tried the purple shampoos and toners on my brown hair, and they do nothing. Colour attached of my not-cool-brown hair

Ahh the pic didn’t work. Yes, it’s a permanent dye, happy enough with the salon so it might be my hair. I’ve been twice recently for a colour, both times had a cool brown which went red very quickly

YANBU, mine is a lot darker, but I'm cool rather than warm colouring.
For me after a week or so they go an awful copper colour, which looks awful on dark brown hair.
I've given up now as must have tried every shade and those at the hairdressers.
Good luck, hope you find something.

Could you get a cool brown but with some balayage highlights to stop the washing out pale look, but still look dark overall?

Try blue shampoo rather than purple.

Then you likely have natural red tones in your hair. Avoid anything with the word honey or golden in the description.

Garnier Nutrisse Ice Coffee doesn't let my red tints show through (not what I wanted though! 😂).

There's a shampoo by matrix, it's called Dark envy and it definitely helps to keep the brown cooler xx

@Penistoe

Could you get a cool brown but with some balayage highlights to stop the washing out pale look, but still look dark overall?

My hairdresser did mention she could try some highlights at some point - so I’ll ask about that and mention how the ‘cool’ she’s used previously just isn’t staying cool on me.

Wasn't there a thread where someone recommended a green toner for brunette dye?

Thanks for the shampoo recommendations, I’ll check them out

Ooo the dark envy looks interesting! Green shampoo!

They exist, Tong and Guy applied a cool brown to my hair - it has ash undertones rather than red

I have used this in the past, it is a really nice cool brown shade

Matrix Green Envy Hair Mask is what you want, it really does work. Have had this problem for so long and nothing worked, purple and blue toners made no difference. It's the green that cancels out the red/orange in brunette hair. Get the mask rather than the shampoo or conditioner, it's great!

Sorry, Dark Envy I mean!

Your hair looks blonde to me op, not brown,

I use dark envy mask, it’s a green, so counteracts the red, but honestly I’m not sure it would work on you becayse unless it’s my screen I see you as blonde.

@Yellowtulips33

Matrix Green Envy Hair Mask is what you want, it really does work. Have had this problem for so long and nothing worked, purple and blue toners made no difference. It's the green that cancels out the red/orange in brunette hair. Get the mask rather than the shampoo or conditioner, it's great!

That’s what I use, cross post, but as said the op looks blonde to me.

I also see you as blonde. Dark blonde but definitely not brown

Just to add, the only hair dye that I've found is genuinely 'cool' is Josh Wood with one of their 'smokey brunette' shade shot plus thingies. I go for 5.5 but that does come out very dark so be warned!

Thanks all for the tips!

This is another picture I’ve just taken in the shade - the previous was in the sunlight. It does look very different in different lights!

(I’ve been colouring my hair since the Wella Toners days of 1998 when I wanted red streaks like Ginger Spice )

L'Oréal do an excellence creme range in cool shades which is brilliant but I have only seen in boots. I haven't looked back since finding it!

Ah ok yes that does look brown. Dark envy would work then to counteract the red.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0829Q58GP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

I think with nice n easy hair dyes it’s anything with natural in the name which doesn’t contain red, but ultimately they all go there in the end.

Dark envy ordered! I can’t wait to give it a try. Thanks again!