DIY hair dye, going from dark red to a lighter shade

[Monr0e]

I am a natural red head. For the past few years I have been using home dyes to match my grey roots (which grow at the rate of knots ) to the rest of my hair. The closest colour match I could find that doesn't turn my roots pink or orange is quite a dark red.

As I'm ageing I'm starting to feel the colour is a bit too harsh for my liking and would like to tone it down and go lighter. But I don't want a bright ginger / copper colour either! Ideally a more natural lighter strawberry blonde / amber colour if one exists.

I wish I could afford to have it professionally done but I just can't. I'm a full time student and we have a tight budget which just doesn't stretch to having monthly hair appointments. I've had a look online but can't seem to find a suitable shade and was hoping for some inspiration. Can anyone recommend any home dye hair kits that might fit the bill? thank you

you'd need to strip the existing dye out first as hair dyes won't lighten it for you. I haven't used one before so can't advise. You need something like CoulourB4

www.colourb4.com

Thanks demented, I've used colourB4 before and it has worked well so would definitely use that first before trying out a new shade.

I am a natural redhead too. I’ve gone a bit mousey/grey in past year or so so have been dying to maintain a red look. L’oreal did a perfect match to my natural hair colour (Sardinia) but they discontinued- I’ve been on a quest to find my ultimate natural looking red since.

Ive recently used this. It looked pretty good/natural. I’ve bought some more to try again. Might’ve be worth a go.

I wish L’Oreal would bring back the Sardinia- it was perfect!

www.boots.com/loreal-preference-infinia-7-23-rose-gold-blonde-permanent-hair-dye-10241830?cm_mmc=bmm--Google+Boots+PLAs--BAU--C=%28GB%3AWhoop%21%29+Boots+Shopping+-+Category+-+Beauty+-+Mobile%28GB%3AWhoop%21%29+L%27Oreal&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgMnYBRDRARIsANC2dflrglxGUu_sshWP-8CzILDzYqWlXDJheseUtRIkPnbarcNg3VC2_8saAlReEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

What about a direct dye?
After stripping with colour before.
It has no peroxide or lightners but is a natural dye so would maybe tone in the greys more without changing the colour of your hair. Or you could choose a bolder red of course
Adore do a good red/ginger/copper range

Zippy, that looks like it might be just what I'm after, thank you. I used to use Sardinia as well. I know use Brooklyn but I've found my hair just seems to be getting darker and darker and as it fades it goes an orangey ginger at the roots which I dislike.

Ducks, I'll look into that, thank you. Although I definitely don't want to go bolder but more subtle. I've been a red head all my life though and would definitely like to stay one, just a more natural shade.

I used Brooklyn too initially when they discontinued Sardinia. It was too bright and obvious for me. This new rose gold one is more subtle. I actually had balayage on my hair by a hairdresser. Could you get that to lighten it and then just touch up the roots with the rose gold when needed. This is my plan (haven’t actually done the root touch up yet though). That may even put your darker areas?

What's a direct dye?

Its a semi perm dye not mixed with peroxide. Usually plant based so there is very little damage from using it.
Brands such as manic panic, directions or adore. They are often used for crazy colours. But do have more natural colours. Esp adore.
To give a hint of colour or tone greys you can use the dye as is with no prep to normal hair. But to go for a crazy colour or pastel you need to lift the hair with bleach before applying the direct dye which is where the damage to the hair comes from.

The benefit esp if using to tone is that the dye fades out and causes no damage unlike box dyes which have developer in them