Dying my hair - what colour? Pics on profile.

[LRDTheFeministDragon]

Hi all,

I've just had my hair lopped off from below shoulder-length to a crop so it feels strange! I've never had it dyed before - I was thinking of a dark red, but not sure what colour exactly. I've put pics on profile - what do you reckon? And what special jargon do I use at the hairdresser's so she knows what I want?

If you can link to pictures with the colour red you think would work that would be great, because she's sent me away to find pictures and I'm coming up with nothing!

FWIW, I really hate the purply colours I've seen on some dark-haired people that get called red - if anyone has advice on how to avoid that I would love it! It just looks very unnatural to me.

No, no to red.

Yes yes to v. dark rich brown.

I say that as a ginger.

This?

www.auburnhaircolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/image17.png Or more of a dark auburn?]]

With your skin tone and brown eyes I would go with the dark auburn. Or a dark choc brown as mentioned.

ehem ... Or more of a dark auburn?

Thanks for the links math! That first one is stunning on her, but will be too light on me (sadly). I like the tone, just want it a lot darker.

tethers - hmm, you're making me re-think ...

Your hair colour is so lovely I'd be inclined to leave it natural.

Love the cut too, really suits your face.

I think I guess where you are on the balcony, does the place begin with a B ?

Yes, I am beginning to get cold feet - but still hopeful someone will link to the perfect colour!

The place does not begin with a B (though I'm intrigued now ).

I thought the B place was the Barbican.

Those flats had very distinctive looking "slanted side" balconies.

Well they did back in the 80s.

If you want to give your hair a lift without detracting too much from your (frankly jealous making) natural colour, how about matching your natural colour to the swatches in the hairdresser and choosing one tone up and one tone down in really fine highlights. You can always add more contrast later if you think the impact is too subtle, but it is really hard to go back if you have too drastic a change and don't like the result.

If you want to try something more adventurous you can always have it done in a semi permanent colour first and see how you like it.

fast - that sounds good, actually - she said I might not like highlights, but she was talking about thick ones. Thanks for the help!

(Btw, not the Barbican!)

The thick ones are really big here in Italy, but I can't say I like them.

Too easy too make somebody look "stripey" by accident.

If half the village is anything to go by, accidents happen more often than success stories.

Yes, I don't want to be stripey!

Thin, dark auburn ones might be nice though.

I think your natural colour is great as it is too.

But - if you are keen to colour then I'd say be guided by what clothes colours suit you. Pick out your most flattering clothes (that you wear next to your face) and see whether they are warm (yellowy/orange) or cool (blue-based) colours.

Don't ever get your hair dyed a colour that wouldn't suit you on a scarf.

subtle auburn highlights

I think these look nice. But would still try them in out in a semi the first time.