What to do with my hair?! Pic attached

[TangerineCandyfloss]

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[Image removed by MNHQ at OP's request]

Nothing! It’s lovely ♥️

Does it feel dry? Maybe a moisturising mask or that miracle water stuff by loreal?

Hello

So I'm going to a brand new hairdresser in a few weeks and I'm ready for a change. More than ready!

As you can see, I have an old balayage, which is very warm, although doesn't look quite so orange in the flesh It's definitely quite dry since bleaching, but I've stepped away from the straighteners and have invested in some very expensive shampoo and hair masks, to really build it up in case I decide to lighten further.

I'm happy to have a few inches off, but don't want a short style, as it does suit my face at all.

I'm naturally dark brown, with quite a large scatter of grey now. I'm quite pale (as you can just about see) with green eyes.

Suggestions?...

Thank you!

Keep growing out the colour, the dark looks best on you, other than that it just needs styling, either straight, wavy or up.

Bless you, @justanotherneighinparadise. I think the dark is becoming quite aging against my skin tone. Feeling a bit witchy.

I think you need some long layers put in to lighten it up and give it a better shape.

@lifehack, my hair is naturally wavy/curly/frizzy and looks a bit of a mess unless I at least blow dry it. I would normally run over it with straighteners, but am giving it a break. That's what it looks like after a rough dry.

@Aquamarine1029, I have long face framing layers. Well...did! But have avoided layers at the back, as I assumed that would bring out more curl.

I think you should be trying to bring out the wave and curl. You straightening it, forcing it to try to be straight, is what's causing the dryness and frizz.

@Aquamarine1029, hmm. I just always feel a bit messy with my natural hair. Plus, the dark makes me feel quite washed out.

I'd be more than happy to embrace the curls if it suited me. I love curls!

I would cut the majority of the lighter ends off and have a longer bob.

All over gloss colour similar to your natural tone to add shine and a 1/4 head of foils on the ends in a few different lighter tones.

That dark colour is lovely on you, and it’s a warm brown as opposed to a cool one,
Is your hair fairly thick or fine?
Do you need to wear it up or back for work ?

@sabrinathemiddleagewitch, I think I'm torn between that and going all over lighter.

@Cleverpolly3 it's a lot thinner than it used to be! I used to have super thick hair, which would take all day to dry (back in the day I left it alone) and I'd have to use special hair clips for extra thick hair. Now I can easily grab all of it in one fist It's definitely thinner at the top of my head, so can look a bit flat at the top and bushy at the bottom. Which is a great look 👍 Especially with the ever increasing grey!

I wear it in a bun quite a lot, just to stop me touching it and making it greasy, so needing to wash more. Trying to wash less as part of the healing process.

I have dark hair and am also pale with green eyes. I also have bleach treated ends, why not get the highlights refreshed and blended up just a bit (I find i look better with the top part naturally dark as it works better with my eyes). As for the warmth in the lightened parts, I add a bit of pink/purple colouring to it before u wash it and it gives it a lovely colour, not super bright like crazy colours but jusy something a bir different and nicer in my opinion than the brassy highlights you get on darker hair. The brand for the colours I use is called adore and I can only get them online.

It's absolutely beautiful hair. Don't do anything drastic. Just get the brassy colour toned down and the balyage blended better and it'll look fantastic. This is not easy to achieve though and not many hairdressers can do it well, so make certain your new hairdresser is bloody good.

[quote TangerineCandyfloss]@lifehack, my hair is naturally wavy/curly/frizzy and looks a bit of a mess unless I at least blow dry it. I would normally run over it with straighteners, but am giving it a break. That's what it looks like after a rough dry.[/quote]
Keratin. It strengthens your hair and deals with that frizziness. It's not cheap but means you can just air dry without having to straighted.

Olaplex can be a good nourishing treatment too. Definitely agree with layers and maybe a toner rather than colour? And roots.

I would leave it long, but cut it a few inches shorter.

I have very dark brown hair with no grey at all - everyone thinks it is great and that I must be delighted, but in fact it looks seriously weird with an older face.

@Perlea, thanks for that. Will check it out.

@Popsy321, aww thank you. You're very kind Well I'm really hoping this one is worth the wait! I think she specialises in corrections and balayage and blonde seems to be her thing.

@Extrapepperoni, do you mean the keratin straightening treatment? I did an at home one a couple of times and yes, it's brilliant for de fizzing and I loved not needing to do anything to it, but my hair looked quite flat and definitely got greasy much quicker. Plus my goodness, my eyes stung when doing it, my throat too a little, so I'm not sure how good it is for you. And actually, thinking about it, my hair started to thin quite a lot after using it.

I always have Olaplex at the hairdressers, but found the number 3, at home one a bit..meh. Maybe I needed to persevere though.

@Mischance, yeah, very dark hair can be very unflattering past a certain age. I think I'm getting there now, which is why I'm considering going all over lighter. Don't want to completely fry my already dry hair though.

Olaplex no 3 by itself is very meh but coupled with the new no 0, it's fantastic.

@Popsy321, number 0?! There are so many! What does this one do that the others don't?

It's the same as the in-salon treatment but just a diluted version of it.

@Popsy321, ah, ok. I definitely feel a difference, for a while at least, when I've had the salon one. Is it protein based? I have started to use protein masks recently, so don't want an overload.

Caramel coloured highlights? Just something subtle to brighten it up a bit if you feel its a bit too dark

[quote TangerineCandyfloss]@Popsy321, ah, ok. I definitely feel a difference, for a while at least, when I've had the salon one. Is it protein based? I have started to use protein masks recently, so don't want an overload.[/quote]
No, not protein based.

Honestly, I don't think you can expect any decent recommendations when your face is hidden. Face shape and features are huge factors in determining what would look good. You are best asking your hair stylist for advice, they are experts.

Just to add a couple of things to note - don't assume shorter hair = less work it is often the opposite, think about your daily life (do you like to tie your hair up? if so no short bobs), and don't get a fringe unless you are prepared to style it every day and get very regular trims.