Highlights after years of growing it out...

[mynameischloe]

I'm sure there was a thread about this a while back but I can't find it.

I've grown out all my old bleach for the last three years and am now completely natural.

However... I hate it. I feel old and drab :(

I'm thinking of getting some lighter balayage through it but will I kick myself having let it grow out for so long?

Has anyone else done this? Any regrets?!

I’ve grown mine out and understand how you feel.

I think if you colour your hair, it will look amazing. The first time or two always does. Then, in my experience all that will happen is you’ll get stuck in the cycle of trying to get your hair to look as good as it did the first time, whilst your hair is getting lighter and lighter!
I think the only way to avoid this is to find a very good (and likely very expensive) hairdresser.

Thank you. I'm hoping balayage will be slightly less high maintenance!

Agree with the above, the key is a good hairdresser. I have a balayage type effect but my hairdresser only adds more lightening to it every 3 visits, so every 3-4 months. It looks exactly like my hair used to look naturally before I had children when I could afford much more regular holidays and the parts nearer the ends had been bleached naturally by the sun.

Definitely avoid highlights, they never look natural and you get roots so fast and as PP said you end up just wrecking your hair and colour by having it all bleached before long. Mine is really textured with different tones. You need someone who knows what they are doing, and also to look after your hair with good shampoos and treatments so it doesn't get dry/ damaged.

I've got balayage, shoulder length asymmetric bob.
I love my balayage as it looks great and the dark roots allow me to put a root dye on at home, I've got a lot of grey at my roots.
I also put a toner on when the blonde starts looking dull and in between I use a purple shampoo.
Really easy to maintain

Thanks everyone!