Want copper hair - how to go about it? (or feel free to talk me out of it!)

[Greywarden]

I have dark brown hair. As a teenager I used box bleach and various dyes and tried out most colours under the sun, generally doing a sloppy job of it too. I ended up with horrible hair so I got a very short pixie cut and started all over again. Fifteen years later it is almost waist length and all my natural colour. I haven't touched the colour again because a) I don't trust myself to not destroy it again and b) money has often been tight so I've known I can't afford regular salon visits as an alternative.

I would love love love to have copper hair, and it finally feels like the time to do it. I have the financial stability to afford the salon at last and have started going for regular professional haircuts for the first time in my life. I've also lost some of my physical confidence and sense of identity in recent years (nothing drastic but a combination of becoming a mum and having a busy job seem to have worn me down so that I don't feel like I look or dress like myself anymore). I'd love a refresh of look. I'm also starting to get a fair few mid-30s greys creeping in, which is another motivation.

Byt how do I do it? Hairdresser says I'd need to commit to appointments every 4 weeks if I have all-over dye, which would be tricky. I wonder if some sort of ombré approach might work but not sure it's what I'm looking for. I'm feeling the temptation to do it myself at home but don't want to go back to the days of hair chaos...

Does anyone have advice?

Copper is a lovely choice, however red colours fade very quickly. Your hairdresser is correct about the frequency you'd need to visit the salon.

Personally, I wouldn't do it at home though. Box dyes always look very flat and unnatural.

Perhaps you could go for lots of copper low-lights instead. You wouldn't need to upkeep as often and the regrowth wouldn't be as obvious.

Copper is so hard to upkeep (a sacrifice worth making though)
With your history, and the fact you have such long untouched hair, I'd be really hesitant to bleach the lot (which is, as you say it's dark brown, I'm assuming the hairdresser has said needs to happen?) Some hair can stand up to bleach, but I think for some of us it's just not feasible! However you might not be able to get copper without a bit of bleach - i would avoid ombre and start out with copper lowlights as PP suggested - that will look lovely with the brown! And it means you came see how your hair comes with being treated.

DD has similar natural hair to you (she calls it boring brown..!) and dyed it copper for most of 2023. She absolutely adored it and I have to say it looked fantastic - a real natural auburn colour and she got so many compliments. Her hair was so long, shiny and healthy too since she wasn’t bleaching it. Upkeep is really intense though and she was constantly having to go back and get her roots redone - they’d be visible after 2 weeks! She had to dye it back to brown as she was going travelling, nowadays she’s back to her old balayage look. Choose your hairdresser wisely as it’s difficult to get one who can do a natural looking ginger /auburn. I see far too many women with carrot orange hair and it’s not a good look! DD still wishes she could be naturally copper, really misses it but does not miss having to go to the hairdresser so often. You only live once though OP - I’d go for it if I were you.

I loved my hair copper, but the upkeep was awful. The dye fades so, so quickly, and as soon as you get any root showing it just looks grim. I’m now white blonde, so still need regular maintenance but when my dark roots come through it looks okay.

Go for it! Copper looks awesome.
I use box dye and accidently dyed mine copper. I got so many compliments on it though that I kept it up.
(It can look abit dire when your roots show. I'm lucky that most of my grey is underneath my fringe so I get away with a lot!).

I would do my research and get a recommendation for a skilled and experienced colourist. Go for a consultation and have a chat with them! A colourist worth their salt will have a look at you and your colourings/style/lifestyle and make suggestions. You could do a deep auburn balayage into a lighter coppery red for example. There are loads of options!

I made the leap to copper and I love it!

I got my hairdresser to do it for me the first couple of times and then switched to box dye. (Garnier Turmeric Copper)

It does fade quickly and you will suddenly find that certain colours of clothing do/don't clash with your new hair, but it's a fun shade!

Hairdresser here ( Also had copper hair for a long long time )
u don’t need to go every 4 weeks !
I used to get my roots done 7 weeks at a time
in between there are lots of colour refresh masks and mouses to use to keep hair fresh !
Also make sure they only use permanent hair colour the 1st time u go !
every visit after should be permanent colour on roots and a toner semi on mid lengths and ends !!
word of warning it’s high maintenance or u want it super vibrant
if u don’t mind it fading and looking more natural it’s a lot easier
Hope this helps

DD definitely needed hers done every 4 weeks. Her hair grows very quickly and even after 2 weeks there’d be visible brown roots which always look quite silly with copper.

I guess it depends on how dark your hair is and growth !
my hair is a level 7 mousy brown so it’s hardly ever noticeable !!