Hair is definitely looking mousey - how to best brighten it?

[LilRedWG]

I've finally admitted it - my dark blonde hair has transitioned into mousey. :(

I don't really want to go down the route of highlights as it's an expense to maintain that I can't justify at the moment, so does anyone have any tips on how to make it look a little less dreary?

Thanks in advance.

I used to have the most amazing natural highlights, but it would seem they have buggered off - maybe the lack of sun has something to do with it.

Anyway, I've uploaded a picture to my profile.

I think aveda blue malva brightens hair. It is meant for grey but it works on fair hair too to kind of 'lift' it.

Thanks Noddy - will give it a go. DD and I had a 'discussion' the other day as she insists on saying my hair is brown. I wouldn't mind if it was - I just can't stand this none-colour.

I don't think you are mousy in that photo. Indeed, your hair is v shiny and lovely. I have mousy hair and am off to look up blue malva

I've just seen the price - about five times what I normally pay for a shampoo! But I may just be that desperate!

I see my hairdresser on the school run as his kids are at the same school as DD - may collar him in the morning.

Thank you Figwit. In some lights it looks okay and it had been straightened in that one. Other days it look distinctly BLAH! :(

It lasts forever you don't have to use it every time weekly is enough

Thanks noddy! Are you the gorgeous red-head on your profile?

That was years ago!

Interestingly, I have used Aveda Blue Malva in my time (on recommendation of my stylist at the flagship Covent Garden salon, now their style director) precisely to tone down my highlighted blonde hair when it had been too lightened by sun - ie, to take brassy notes out of it. Anyway, it's very nice shampoo, well worth the money and perhaps it can multi-task!

I use Blue Malva for the same reason, to lessen any brassiness in my recently highlighted hair; which is dark blonde naturally and too had lost its own natural highlights. You only need about a 10p size blob so it lasts for ever & smells lovely.

Aveda can be bought online from other sellers at a cheaper price than direct from them.I've just bought a sun & swim type shampoo from Look Fantastic and they have 20% Aveda atm.

I used to have dark blonde hair that then turned to mousey brown, now i have quite a few grey hairs around the front which i hate cos im not that old! So now i dye my hair brown but sometimes it looks just a little too dark for me but im not having highlights again like i used too as it just ruins the condition of it, i would rather have dark nicely conditioned hair than highlighted straw like hair. I find having darker hair means putting on just a bit more eye makeup, and a darker eyeshadow to balance my complexion with my darker hair.

I'm in the same boat, blonde hair turned mousey with some grey and I just don't know what to do with it. I don't want to die it as that ruins it and makes it really dry but I'm scared to use henna (was looking at them in Lush) in case it goes too dark/ purple/red and I look hideous. DM has been hinting at me to bleach again but I just can't face it being in such bad condition again.

Sigh - I hate getting old. :(

Watching this thread with interest. I have exactly the same colour hair as you LilRedWG. Feeling really frumpy at the moment as I'm 28 weeks pregnant and could do with my hair having a lift, without the financial commitment of highlights at the hairdressers. So, Aveda Blue Malva is the way forward? I'm off to investigate...

Not sure about Aveda Blue Malva though, I'm not sure I want my silver hairs to look even more silvery!

Have to say I did find the effect of that very subtle - it did tone down brassy notes but certainly didn't change my hair colour dramatically. DH also used it on his all-grey hair and it looked (and smelt) nice but not really very different. Did make it more manageable, but I think that's true of any quality shampoo. (Mainly use Kerastase or Pureology now).

No doesn't change colour just looks brighter