Hair dresser colouring virgin

[ginmakesitallok]

I've always just coloured my hair myself - usually just to brighten it rather than cover grey. However, the time has come when I think I need to get it done properly (sorry DD1 - my hair is going grey not blonde ). But, I really don't know what to ask for - highlights? lowlights? half head????. I'm shite at getting my hair done regularly (last time I got it cut was last September!) so am worried about roots showing really quickly. I'm going to hairdressers on Saturday, have a Wedding mid-April, if I get it coloured on Saturday will I have horrible roots by wedding?

Also - what colours would be good? Hair is naturally reddy brown, pale Irish skin.

Please help oh wise women!

Ask the hairdresser for advice - they often call over another colleague and discuss it. If you want to tone in the grey with the rest of your hair they may suggest highlights using foils. If your hair has a lot of grey throughout then a block colour may be the way to go with perhaps a few foils on top to break up the colour.

The colour usually lasts up to 8 weeks before you get serious roots so you should be ok mid April for the wedding. They will try and get a colour close to your natural one if that is what you want. I used to have very dark hair, but pale Irish skin and have gone lighter now as it is more flattering and easier to blend in the greys.

I have good results at the salon, but the cost is an issue for me now - every 8 weeks, plus the haircut is serious money even taking advantage of colour sales and discounts etc. Don't be afraid to ask about the costs as hairdressers are not always up front - they say "oh, shall we put in some foils too" and you may find it really ups your bill. You can save money too sometimes by getting a junior to dry your hair as I was charged a blowdry rate for "technical styling" on top of my colour charge when I went once a didn't have a haircut too.

Good luck

Thanks Haggis - but I've chickened out and just booked in for a cut and stopped off at Tescos for a semi-permanent. Maybe next time!

Haggis, you sound like you know your stuff.... i have a similar dilemma - have been home-dyeing my hair dark red for years, natural colour is medium brown (with quite a lot of grey now!) I went for cut and blow-dry today and had a chat with hairdresser about colour - she said I need to start colouring my roots whatever colour I want to change it to, but will need to let the red grow out. My hair is past shoulder length so this will probably take a couple of years I'm looking to go light brown/dark blonde and hairdresser said that she can't put this straight on all over as a base colour because the red will still be very visible.

Any thoughts/advice?

Ginmakesitallok - I hope you don't mind me piggybacking your thread, just thought it made sense since my question is similar to yours!

I am sorry JosieRosie I don't know about that. I had a friend with dyed very dark hair and they put some foils and some dye on the roots in with a dark brown to blend the colours in with her greying roots and take it a bit lighter until the black base had grown out and she could go lighter - it took a few goes but not 2 years.

I think if you go in and ask if someone is free they'll come and speak to you in most salons if you want to get a second opinion.

Josie - try Colourb4 extra strength, it removes the dye from your hair without changing the base colour

Thanks a lot ladies. I had heard about Colourb4 but was scared it would trash my hair - I have extremely curly, extremely dry hair and it can't take a lot of abuse! Have you used it CMOT?