Is dying my hair red a big mistake?

[JuneSpoon]

My natural hair colour is gray brown with an undertone of red/auburn.

I used to get it dyed a chestnut colour i.e. red/brown. But I'd find that it would head more towards auburn over time than brown and I'd get bored. So for the past ten years I've been getting it dyed ashy dark brown i.e. no red undertones.

But now I'm getting bored and am considering a cherry red shade.

Has anyone done this? Is it hard to dye over, does the cherry keep coming through?

The problem is removing the red when you get bored of it, a bloody nightmare to say the least!

Also - covering up roots when it is nearly time to have a re-colour but you don't have time/money.

That is why I am no longer a rich deep red but more a warm golden brown. There are roots retouchers for the brown hair but nothing 'red' enough for the dyes I was using!

I had dyed red (bright copper) hair for years and last year wanted to go grey (part natural, part dyed). It was an absolute hideous nightmare to get rid of the red, numerous appointments and on one occasion 9 hours in the salon and my hair was ruined afterwards, totally porous and brittle. NOT the stylists fault at all, I knew the consequences of the end effect that I was after and accepted those.

All that was with firstly going from mid back length to a pixie to minimise the nightmare

It’s a lot better now but the first 8 months was not pretty 😂

Depends on the image you want to portray. I think red hair is tacky in all honestly.

I just don't think I've ever seen it look good on anyone really, I think it's one of those things where it's so artificial that it's jarring, so never looks very high end.

I am so boring with my hair though OP . I've always wanted red hair but in the sort of copper, natural redhead, Jessica Chastain meets the wesley's sense, but am always too worried the tone I end up with will look artificial so will never do it. Might buy a wig just to get it out of my system.

I personally don't like that colour, very unnatural looking, washes you out unless you have very warm skin tone.... and I can't think of a kinder way of saying this right now - but it's a bit of a chavvy colour.

High end???!!! Why would anybody want to look high end, whatever the flip that means?!

There really are some vile snobs on here sometimes.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie it means classy i guess. Conversely, who wants to look cheap and rough?

Well perhaps the colour is not perfect for everyone but do not underestimate the glow that comes from making yourself happy! If you like it that's all that matters. I know many people who make it what would be conventionally considered a "wrong"choice and they pull it off and make it stylish. Go for it!! I have just cut my hair short and rather disliked it but I am glad I have tried. It grows back.

There really are some vile snobs on here sometimes

Indeed. I often wonder why I'm still surprised when I see it

Having high standards about things doesn't make you a snob. And if you feel offended by the comments it's probably because in some way and on some level, you feel inferior. But thats your issue..

Oh yes, that'll be it. I stand corrected

I always think these reds look so tacky.
Unless you're a natural red head and dye it a slightly different tone. Red was always the go-to colour for when someone wanted to change their hair colour but couldn't afford/ be bothered to have it done properly. It ends up looking dull/ washed out.

Context, friends, context. Nothing it's tacky per se but depends how it is done/contextualised/interpreted. Think Albert Memorial. It works for some, no?

I've never heard such nonsense! This thread seems to be bringing out the very worst of Mumsnet.

I'm going to take my red-haired, cheap and tacky self away and nurse my inferiority complex.

And frankly, I'd rather look tacky than 'classy' whatever the fuck that means.

The picture you've posted is exactly the same colour as my hair (naturally it's dark brown). I love it. I think if you're very pale it could make you look washed out, you would need to wear more make up.

I'm 55 and mine is dyed a deep plum colour. Forgive the boasting but I have genuinely lost count of the number of people, mostly strangers, who stop me to compliment me on the colour. Latest was the chap at the recycling centre!! Go for it if you like it.

Just read rtft! I didn't realise red hair was considered tacky or chavvy. I get loads of compliments on mine.
Definitely go the hairdresser op, it's so messy to do at home. Try not to wash it for at least 5 days afterwards to prevent colour leakage. You'll need to commit to having it coloured around every 5 weeks to keep it looking good.

I dyed my hair this colour. It's hard to maintain the nice bright red. I was putting a colour wash in it every week which when I had two young kids, I just couldn't be arsed with after a while.

I found it easy to get rid of, just died it my natural colour, dark brown, again. I do dye my hair regularly though because I'm growing in grey.

😂 at Karen wants to speak to the manager haircut.

I wish I had PPs problem. Red just washes out my hair, I dye it a nice copper and 2 weeks later I'm back to dishwater brown. What dyes do you use to keep the dye in?

OP, what about these colours:

I think it depends on your colouring. Some reds seem to drain colour and make a person look ill.

I know it's a sweeping generalisation but I spent time in the Baltics 20 odd years ago and it seemed the only hair dye on sale was Tomato Soup Red and it suited no one.

(I speak as a chestnut-dyer for decades but I had freckles so it looked natural. I still miss "my" red hair )

I used to dye my hair a brown colour but had definite red tones in it. It made me look older as I have red in my complexion. Shame because I loved the colour, but on me it was all wrong. Now I go for caramel which I’m bored of.

So, update (I know this isn't the kind of thread that demands one but...)
I went to the hairdresser and her face when I said I was thinking of red was - not a great idea! So I went for brown with highlights. Then saw someone somewhere with a really bad red dye job so that confirmed my decision.

I haven't the time or money or patience for the upkeep!

Thanks to all the positive affirming opinions and thanks also for the voices of reason