Late 40's brown hair - going blond

[lechatnoir]

I want swishy blond locks - Appreciate this might be ridiculous for someone with dark brown/slight reddish toned hair that doesn't visit the hairdresser much twice a year at best and I don't mean bleach blond, but those lovely expensive looking honey sun kissed highlights. I look drab and always felt glamorous when I was blond and in my 20's & now greys are creeping in and I'd love to go much lighter.

What's the process to go dark to much lighter? What sort of maintenance are we talking to keep it looking decent?
Anyone done it and want to share before & after pics

Not keen on the striped look here

Might be a bit too light but this is the idea:

I have done it. Previous hairdresser did make me a bit stripey but more recent hairdresser much more skilled so it looks more natural now. Original hair colour is dark brunette but it really is pretty light now! Have highlights on top and sides which lightened it overall and a bayalage to lift the colour from the ends up. I really like it. Hairline/parting is quite grey too so regrowth isn't stark. Have it coloured maybe 2 or 3 times a year now?.Not cheap but I like how it looks.

Does it help lift the drabness? I feel like dark hair is really aging (on me) and hoping for a more youthful appearance

I had dark brown hair I dyed even darker. It took about three or four full heads of highlights over a year to go blonde but I've done it. I now go to the hairdresser's once every 10/12 weeks and alternate between a full head and half head. It takes around seven hours with a cut and I pay £150+. I book my next appointment at the current one.

Find a good hairdresser's someone recommends and go in for a consultation. Anyone who says you can instantly go fully blonde is probably lying.

It'll take a bit of trial and error too. I had some darker tones put in to bring out the brighter ones but both my hairdresser and I decided that wasn't working so changed it last time.

I think it's more flattering for me. My hair is a bit like the second set of pics. But I didn't go from dark to that in one go.
I second the above, go to a recommended hairdresser and be prepared to spend a bit. I don't find maintenance of this particularly onerous now.