Bored with brown hair - are lowlights/highlights a good idea?

[missbumpy]

I've got dark brown hair and pale skin/blue eyes and I've always kept my hair natural or used semi-permanent to take it a shade darker (usually with ideas of looking like Liv Tyler but end up looking like a goth!). Recently I've been hankering after more golden locks but all the examples of nice golden brown hair that I can think of are on nice golden brown skin-toned people (Cheryl Cole, Rachel Stevens, J-Lo etc).

Is it just a bad idea for pale people? Should I just stick to the dark brunette look? Help! Usually quite good on this kind of thing but just don't know anything about hair colour.

depends on your skin tone- suggest you see a really good hairdresser to discuss with. Going a lot lighter might look a bit tarty, unless you get t he shades right- maybe you need a mix of lowlights bringing out some coppery/red tones instead of all gold?

Can you try changing your shampoo and conditioner to get your hair glossier?

My DD has quite pale hair, but the colour varies hugely depending on the shampoo/conditioner (and also on the water, when we travel).

It's fairly shiny already Anna and I've tried some of those brunette shampoos but they don't seem to change the colour at all (cos it's pretty dark to start with). Coppery/red sounds scarily like ginger to me GND! No offence if you're ginger....I like red hair on other people but don't htink it would suit me!
Does anyone watch Strictly Come Dancing? I'm liking how Erin (one of professional dancers) went from goth black last year to golden highlights this year. I suppose I've got similar colouring to her (quite pinky/pale cool colouring). Wonder how she did it? Maybe the key is lots of fake tan to offset the golden hair tones?!

dark normally makes pales look washed out

think a few blonde/low lights of copper would be nice

Thanks Blondeshavemorefun...your MN name is inspiring me!
How do I avoid looking stripy? I hate highlights that look really obvious and stripy.

if you can afford it- get all of this done by your hairdresser not at home.

I have 3 colours put in as highlights.

I didn't intend you to turn out ginger! Coppery tones are not ginger.

A good colourist is really the best person to ask- there is a lot more than just choosing the colours- there is how much hair you tint, and whether you slice the colour through or do bolder chunks, and what suits the cut- get to your best salon and ask!

Thanks. Maybe I'll be brave and go for a consultation. Can anyone recommend a really brilliant colourist in London?
PS. I've changed my name since starting this thread!

I am dark brunette but occasionally go for an all over slightly golden tint, then highlights and lowlights in shades quite close to my natural colour.

You can start with this then go lighter if you wish.

A good hairdresser will never make you look stripy.

Tony Zreik on finchley road is very good.

Oooh I'm so tempted. I'm a bit worried it's a high maintenance/expensive route to go down though. Will I be committed to getting roots re-done every few months for the rest of my life?!

Not at all, if you ask for them to put them all under your hairline (iyswim) you would never see the regrowth.

Plus when I got bored of mine I just got an al over back to my natural colour.

If you want cheap, then the tony and guy or wella academys are a good bet, it's about £5 for cut and colour, but it does take ages.

as long as you dont get that stripy hair

NP - a complete tosser has knocked the hell out of my car on thursday, it might be written off .

omg
were you in the car?
are you ok?

maybe he thought it was a skip (JOKE!!!)

I was driving past at about 2miles an hour busy histreet and he opened his door into the wing.

DDs screaming in the back. I had just cleaned it all and had booked a valet too . £2600 of damage.
at skip!

poor dds

i hope you got his insurance details etc

TWAT

oh yeah he was screaming down the street as I pulled over "i,m sorry it was my fault"

It is such a hassle, we need two cars really.

DH forgot to tick the hire car box of course.

oh well at least he didnt argue

i hope you get another soon

i have to go to matalan and toys r us soon - maybe we could meet up? im just as quick going to your bit

That would be great! Text me!

Which part of London?

Can recommend Glass Hair Salon in Carthusian Street, Clerkenwell- www.glass.com (??)-ask for Fernando or Pete.

www.glasshairsalon.com

Ooh, thanks for that. I'm in East London so fairly easy to get to Clerkenwell.

Blimey, not cheap is it?!

How about more of a chestnut brown - still dark, but with richer, warmer tones? Much glossier, too.

FWIW, I have exactly the same hair / skin as you describe and am going to go a bit lighter next time I go the hairdressers, too.

p.s. A few years ago I got compared to Liv Tyler loads .

Now I seem to get that dark haired bird who runs the factory in Corrie or, more recently, 'Whitney from Eastenders - older version'. Definitely time for an image change!

Sadly no one has actually compared me to Liv Tyler Lucky you! I think I know who you mean in Corrie...she's gorgeous isn't she? And Whitney's pretty too so you're doing alright.

Chestnut sounds good. Are you going to get a permanent all-over colour or are you going to get chestnut high/low lights?