Will I make a mistake dyeing my hair?

[discov]

I fancy dyeing my hair a couple of shades darker. It’s currently my natural colour and has been for years - a boring mid brown. I used to have it red years ago but don’t want to do that again as it was a pain to get rid of. I’ve lost almost 4st this year and want a change with my hair too, but don’t know if I’ll regret it since I currently don’t have to do anything with it apart from a trim every so often!

I’ve attached some very zoomed in pictures so you can see the colour.

I’d be box dyeing as I am super skint!!

Would love some opinions - should I just leave it be or go for it?

I just purchased some box dye, too, I have never used one before. And I decided not to. I'm going to bring it back, unopened. Between doing a strand test and a skin test to make sure that I don't have a reaction to it, and roots and everything else, permanent versus semi-permanent, no I don't fancy doing it. Your hair looks lovely by the way it's a lovely color, and it looks long and thick and healthy.

Dying hair with a box dye is fine, it’s just up to you if you want to start dealing with roots!

I always use a box dye and find them really good. However your colour is beautiful as it is, I think you’d regret going darker than that.

I currently dye mine to be the colour you’ve got. I never leave it on as long as it says to, darker shades will develop very quickly and can very soon go much too dark.

I use box dye. There are actually some very good ones and can be healthier for your hair as you’re not stripping it, and they are very conditioning.
But, your hair is a gorgeous colour! You have such lovely natural highlights. If you use too dark a colour you’ll risk it being a block of colour and lose those lovely natural tones.

I box dye, and have done for about 40 years. I've always used Belle Colour by Garnier. It's number 5 close to my natural colour. Plum shade was nice when I was younger.

Gorgeous hair op, just leave and enjoy.

Thanks all - I think my hair is really boring but nice to hear others think it looks good! I have one singular grey hair at the front but I kind of like it and don’t really want to dye over it. Has anyone ever used one of those semi-permanent hair glosses before? I feel like I just need a bit of oomph!!

Your hair isn’t boring brown, it looks a shiny and glossy deep brown. I wouldn’t put a box dye on it. You’ll just get a flat solid colour. If you really want a change get a hairdresser to do some low lights.

I think you'd regret using box dye on it. It looks in lovely condition. Maybe one of those glaze colour conditioners?

Your hair is gorgeous, why on earth would you want to dye it I would love to have hair that colour.

Nothing boring about your hair colour OP, it's lovely and chocolatey.

I personally wouldn't mess about with it. No matter how good the box dye and your application, it's damaging to your hair, you'll have roots to deal with every few weeks, and the colour will fade and turn brassy at the ends.

A semi gloss sounds like a better idea.

Leave it, it's a gorgeous colour and in great condition. Use a gloss or colour conditioner. Hair that is too dark and flat is very aging.

I think your hair is absolutely beautiful!

I’m looking for a dye your hair colour! It’s lovely! Don’t dye it OP it will go almost black (most really dark chocolate browns do) and you’ll hate it

Another one who thinks you’re hair colour is lovely just as it is.

A word of warning. I have a hair colour similar to yours (length was just past shoulders) and thought it would look better a few shades darker. I ploughed on ahead and one box dye later it didn't - way too dark, lost all tone and looked terrible. The hairdresser could not fix it, apparently box dyes are notoriously hard to fix when the result is not what was expected.

I came way with a fairly short pixie cut (which looked far better than I thought it would) and some highlights to break up the solid dark colour.

I honestly wouldn’t touch your hair with a box dye. I’m dark like you and a box dye just risks you ending up darker with Lego style hair!
why don’t you get a hair mask or conditioning treatment? Or alternatively save up to go see the hairdresser and maybe get some lowlights/highlights put in?
Your hair at the moment looks gorgeous and really healthy, I defo wouldn’t mess about with it.

I have box dyed for years. Semi permanents when I was younger and L'Oréal preference or excellence now. But I agree your hair is beautifully rich now with Auburn highlights any darker will lose that and become very dull. You can try a glaze but I think very glossy already - more lowlights could be an option but that is a hairdresser job.

I’d keep the colour as it’s nice, I’d just do a gloss over the top which you can buy, they are like a dye but colourless.

I’ve used box dye for years and my hairs still in great condition. What colour are you wanting? Black/ chocolate brown/ mahogany? All those colours would be easy to achieve with a box dye. My fav is Live.

You hair is an absolutely beautiful colour. I would leave it as it is. Dark dye might be too harsh and make it look flat.

I would leave it - it looks shiny and a lovely colour , maybe change the cut if you fancy a change ?

No, don't mess with it, it's in lovely condition and not grey yet. Just use a wash-in colourant if you want a bit of a change.

Save the dyeing malarky and roots coming through every couple weeks for when it starts going grey, unless you're one of those lucky people who suits grey hair 😃

Personally i think it's nice and would leave it.

If you must I'd really recommend starting with a gloss it's semi permanent

I use wella shinefinity
You buy the colour and the glaze activator
(This is a good price)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wella-Shinefinityinity-Glaze-Activator-Bottle/dp/B0B18R8NHZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=QHNOVSMZLOL3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.x4QsgRSk8KVuncA8N1W4arHrIWBR84TVAlPKXOeKkeyPN88Q85a7Ye-2e6hjPxDnqNGHpHrbQ7TJQXuBPqBcKZlPO-oCLBD4wfgmGlPAwSyIRle1z-BzVLfcTityXZHZwVCcEKTuvV58eHf2zCgT_SfphWqH7KatIuChAbu7HHTIk8qdd2icXD7FRl25JNkmjCP-EyQnQxzH4E9pbsAAZw.bUe10EiMt6B8-OB8qRd_J0FZY2-uhsofkJoBjDHHgh0&dib_tag=se&keywords=shinefinity+activator&qid=1765267963&sprefix=shinefini%2Caps%2C202&sr=8-1

My original hair colour was a bit lighter than yours and I used L'Oreal Casting Creme Gloss semi-permanent for over 20 years. Very happy with the result and it left my hair in great condition.

But...I only did that to cover grey hair. I started going grey at 16 and had significant grey at the front by my early 20s. Otherwise I'd have left it.

I think your hair is a lovely colour and, judging from your skin tone, I think going darker could look quite harsh. Personally I wouldn't change it.