Highlights after brown dye job

[Lou834]

I had my light brown hair dyed a darker brown colour last week with my usual hairdresser. She did a nice job but I just can't get used to the dark tones. Feeling I look older and washed out. Really keen to get some caramel and lighter highlights through it. How soon can I go back without a) wrecking my hair and 2) offending hairdresser whom I do really like for cutting and usually colouring!? Just this time not quite me!

That's an unusual choice if you are older for a professional hairdresser to agree to. But it does depend on skin tone. Most white people seem to go greyer in skin tone as they age so darker hair colours (and the harsher dye tones) are too much. It does age.

So be honest take pictures of the colour & style you like. Perhaps take a (deliberately) awful picture of you and just show her.

As a child I had very dark brown hair, and pale skin. I went grey initially in my 20's and even by late 20s/early 30s wasnt looking that good with natural dark brown hair and heavy grey. So my new hairdresser began to dye my roots with a more mid-brown - I then began to ask for caramel /blond highlights and over time we lightened the base colour and continued with occasional highlighting. The highlighting was clearly hairdresser but the base colour choice was so natural looking that no-one ever knew I had gone grey. During and after lockdown - that period where most women had inches of grey I chose to continue dyeing (many didnt) and went for an all over blonde colour. It suits the colours I wear and I found the grey too stark.

But my hair despite all the grey (I must be 70% grey) is in excellent condition and shine, so I would think that you would be able fairly soon to request for a re-dye if they are using good quality products. Regarding offence: my hair dresser is a really good friend and has been for many years. When I went last time we both agree the cut had got too long, and she took quite a lot off - that I didnt mind and wanted, but the layering isnt quite right. So when I next see her and I go every 5-6 weeks I shall tell her that when I do my own hair it doesnt quite sit right. That does mean I dont have to tell her that the cut wasnt quite OK. She works from home - I dont pay full salon prices, she is flexible when I can go, we have a great catch up. But when you walk in she will probably know anyway. Hope you can get the cut/re-colour you want.

Thanks @thelionthewitchtheaudacityofTHISbitch I did leave the choice with her as to more highlights or have a change and go darker. I also did say though don't want to look washed out! Unfortunately the latter has happened. I'm 38. Look tired pasty with this colouring. I'll try and get booked in before Xmas for some highlights!

Your hairdresser won't care, they'll be happy you are booking back in for more highlights because people are cutting back and bookings are down (according to a friend who's a hairdresser).

I've done the same thing in the past, being dark makes me look washed out but I've still tried it a few times hoping for different results 🙈

@hay5689 😂that's me all over. I have a similar issue with fringe or no fringe! 😏

Get active section or even just face frame of highlights till your next scheduled full colour - will lighten and add dimension without too much damage.

I often read hair should lighten as you age I'm 62 with dark mousey hair colour, for years had very light bleach highlights , I've slowly in the last 10 years had some golden mixed in as I found very light bleach to harsh, now since lockdown have not been to the hairdressers to let my natural colour come through, but I feel drab with the mousey colour so I put a few blonde in myself just on the top, I don't have hardly any grey hair, I just don't think my natural hair colour suit me.

This was trendy at one point maybe 10-15 years ago - my hairdresser then did this as a surprise for me and I hated it!

Brown hair with highlights through it that is. I'd go back now and ask for highlights, pay for them obviously.