What to do with my hair!!!???

[happypoobum]

Am in my fifties and think my natural colour is dark brown with a fair amount of grey.

I previously dyed my hair a rich auburn but five years ago, after a particularly bad break up, I decided I needed a complete change and have had blonde highlights ever since.

I have a T bar so the back of my hair is still quite brown (which I am not sure I like) and it grows out about every 6 - 8 weeks.

My issues are that 1. I want a change. 2. I just cannot afford the bill from going to hairdresser for colour so often.

I can't decide whether to dye my hair brown, auburn or blonde. I have home dye boxes for all three so please lovely mumsnetters can you advise me?

If it helps, I have blue eyes and quite pale skin.

I think with pale skin and blue eyes a light brown or auburn is nice.

However be careful dying over blonde and check the base colour. I once ended up a lovely green from doing this Hopefully someone else here can advise that way.

If you have a lot of grey and liked your blonde highlights then I would think blonde. Grey blends in best in blonde hair so you won't be struggling with noticeable roots.

However, dying hair is an art. Your hair will NOT transform to the colour on the box, the picture is very misleading. It depends entirely on your base colour. I would advise choosing a hi lift blonde that can lift your colour by at least 4 shades (L'Oreal are a good brand for this). You would need a to use something like extra light ash blonde to achieve a mouse brown/blonde.
If you only lift your brown colour by one or two shades it will end up a funny shade of ginger.

If you can afford to, pay for the first big change to be done by a colourist. You should then be able to maintain your roots at home with a box dye.

Unfortunately I just took the plunge and the blonde dye is on!!!

I will provide an honest report back when it's all done and dried off so that I can hopefully be of use to others in how NOT to do it

Oh good luck. I'm very excited (and nervous) to see you report back!
I was going to suggest a strand test but too late now

It's good!! I should have put more on the underneath of the back of my hair as that still looks a bit brown but overall it has gone really well and I will do a better job next time hopefully.

This will save me about £600 a year so am chuffed

Hooray! I was waiting to see how you got on!

Phew. I was a bit worried you'd locked yourself in the bathroom sobbing.
Welcome to the blonde side.
If you're darkest at the back, start there first next time you apply the dye so it's left on longest developing.

I'm early 40s and am growing out a pixie into a short bob. I was also paying a fortune for blonde highlights. I now use Olia and achieve a good all over blonde which blends with the greys lessening the regrowth issue. It saves a fortune!

Thanks for the tip nineties

I realise I will have to dye it more often as the roots will show sooner but it's still going to be so much cheaper.

I have to admit it did cross my mind I would have to convince colleagues I had become Amish to explain away a headscarf