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Original poster

Dark brown hair going grey. Blonde balayage?

50 replies

Gardenerboo · 23/05/2023 20:30

I have dark brown (almost black) hair and have had all my life. My greys are increasing quickly, probably around 30% grey now.

I keep reading about people who go lighter/blonde to blend the greys but I’ve never had light hair and don’t know how to do this.

I have pale skin and if I went blonde I’d look washed out. What’s the answer? Balayage? what do those of you with dark hair do? Simply embrace the grey which I am happy to do if that’s best for my skin tone. Just wondered if I’m missing something.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gardenerboo · 23/05/2023 21:16

Hopeful bump

OP posts:
tattychicken · 23/05/2023 21:55

Can't help you but am watching as am in the same situation. My natural hair was dark, have been dying for ages. Am sick of it, but not sure where to go with it. Blonde would be weird, I think.

pizzaHeart · 23/05/2023 21:56

Highlights?

Original poster
Gardenerboo · 24/05/2023 06:03

@tattychicken that’s how I feel! My colouring is very non-blonde. But I’d like to do something I think. Just bit not sure what.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gardenerboo · 24/05/2023 06:04

@pizzaHeart thanks, I’ll have a Google.

OP posts:
HarlanPepper · 24/05/2023 06:09

have a look online for 'grey blending on dark hair' - it's highlights but different colours. For your amount of grey it sounds ideal. Probably need to spend £££ on a shit hot colourist though! At least, because it's highlights, you won't need your roots done every 3 weeks.

Campervangirl · 24/05/2023 06:18

I've got a balayage / root smudge for the same reason, grey.
Brown roots and then into blonde.
It's really brightened me up.
I buy a root hair dye (Clairol or Superdrug own brand) for in between salon visits, literally touch up around my hairline then down my parting, takes in 10 minutes.
I also use a purple shampoo once a week to brighten my blonde.
I also use Shrine Drops in silver (Boots online) for a really good boost on my blonde.
Go for it, I love mine

MrsMorrisey · 24/05/2023 06:22

I have the same issue and my hairdresser is going a quarter of a shade lighter each time I colour my hair.
So mine is a light brown now with a reddish hue.
Next appt we are going to put more ash in the colour.
I trust what she says and it's always looks good.

Newusernameaug · 24/05/2023 06:39

I had this and it made the grey roots stand out even more tbh, because then there were 3 colours, dark natural hair, grey, and blonde highlights / balayage.

I’ve now gone for the same dark as my roots but allowing the greys to come through and it looks much better tbh.

Original poster
Gardenerboo · 24/05/2023 06:42

@Campervangirl - brightening up is exactly what I need! This is the perfect description. Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gardenerboo · 24/05/2023 06:43

@Newusernameaug this is my concern, that I’ll go to the expense of doing it and because I don’t know what to ask for, it doesn’t look any better…

OP posts:
SybilWrites · 24/05/2023 06:58

I have naturally very dark hair too with just a few greys in at the moment - all in one spot. I have olive skin and don't suit blond or any warm colours really so won't be getting highlights or balayage when I go greyer.

I think I'm just going to embrace the grey and go greyer! I am in my 50s though so I feel ok about this.

Passthebrownsauce · 24/05/2023 06:58

I dye my roots at home and have a balayage done about once a year in the summertime, so am due to have it done again soon!

SybilWrites · 24/05/2023 06:59

(I follow various grey accounts on Instagram, including Jack Martin colorist -they all look fab grey).

LennyBalls · 24/05/2023 07:03

Hi, I did exactly this for the same reason. Was very dark brown and I am now very light blonde.
It was all done with highlights and toners over a couple of years. Go to a recommended hair colourist expert as they will know the best way to do it without too much damage.
I am very happy with the results. I am lucky that I suit dark and blonde hair.
However, I now spend a fortune on my hair to keep it in good condition. Expensive shampoos and leave in conditioners etc. Also the Dyson hair dryer.

Original poster
Gardenerboo · 24/05/2023 07:08

@SybilWrites i was totally ok with going grey, looking forward to it even but mine is so patchy, not beautiful and striking yet, that I feel I need to do something to improve the wait. I guess I’m in the in between stage right now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gardenerboo · 24/05/2023 07:10

@LennyBalls this sounds like a great transition! I don’t know if I suit blonde as I’ve never been anything other than very dark brown. I’m assuming that I won’t as I’m very pale but maybe this is the way to go about it…

OP posts:
Daffodilwoman · 24/05/2023 07:13

I think you need to be careful if you have pale skin. Blonde hair can really wash you out. Could you have a chat with your hairdresser?

speakout · 24/05/2023 07:18

I am sure bit can look amazing for some- depends on your colouing and skin tone.
I did what you are suggesting OP, I look really bad with blond or light hair.
I am quite grey, naturally chestnut brown before that- I keep up with root touch ups regularly- I haven't found a better soluttion.

ChocAuVin · 24/05/2023 07:24

I have dark hair and my colourist runs ash highlights through it in two tones. Like a pp I use purple shampoo and shrine toner in between to keep it from going brassy (also paler olive skinned)

It blends rather than covers the grey and I love it.

LadyWithLapdog · 24/05/2023 07:26

@Newusernameaug so is your hair dyed in the grey shade of your roots coming through? I don’t think I suit blonde hair, or at least I don’t on short hair and I’m now growing it, so will be worse on long. How easy is it to dye hair grey? Bleach & hair dye as with any colour?

LadyWithLapdog · 24/05/2023 07:28

@ChocAuVin are the grey highlights through your dark hair?

ImAvingOops · 24/05/2023 07:42

I have dark brown hair and had highlights put in to hide the grey. I kept getting more and more until I was blonde all over. It was very hard to keep my hair in good condition, although it definitely worked as a means of not going grey.
I've gone back to brunette now because the condition of my hair was awful and tbh, blonde can wash you out if you are pale.
So my advice if you do decide to go for lightening is to be subtle. I'm going for some caramel highlights next, rather than blonde and not getting too many of them.

powerrangers · 24/05/2023 07:43

If your hair is almost black it will end up a very brassy colour. The whole Jack Martin thing is very over rated. It is very very difficult to get very dark hair to even close resembling pale blonde without frying it. It will end up yellow and you will need to constantly have it toned. Everyone thinks their hair will end up like Jack Martin's hair. Interestingly we never see his clients after 6 months. Just grow it out. Once it's below your ears it won't be a straight line of demarkation. It will be a non distinct line because the top hairs and bottom hairs will all be different levels.

VerasRaincoat · 24/05/2023 08:01

I had a very light balayage done a few years back when my hair started greying and word of warning! Grey hair is more fragile. If you have dark mixed in with the light they have to use more peroxide to get to a base blonde and if your hair is more fragile it can cause it to break and fall out. My hair turned the texture of candy floss dropped out in handfuls, I had to cut it ajd start over.

I now have my roots done regularly in a soft iced brown with a lighter brown sort of grown out balayage right at the ends (where if it reacted badly and fell out it wouldn’t be an issue to chop it).