I've gone brunette after being blondish for 10 years. Was worried I was looking a bit too Judy Finnegan but now am scared I look too Arlene Phillips

[Oovavu]

Don't know what made me do it really... just kept catching sight of myself in shop mirrors and looking/feeling a bit non-descript and bland. I'm quite pale and my colouring should be blonde really (I have fair eyelashes and eyebrows) but hair is naturally brown.

My eyes look nicer I think and it suits the colours I've been wearing recently (teals & purples) but am suddenly frightened I look a bit baggish and haggard. Not that I think Arlene looks bad - for her age - but she's got 25 years on me...

Going back to work on Monday and people will comment. Dh and friends who came round last night said they like it (but they would say that wouldn't they?). Have the urge to put some streaks in and lighten it up again but will this be too chicken?

Aandy Tostik? Yeah that's quite bad. And this 'truth' from the woman who has walked out of hairdressers looking like Jonathan Creek.

Buy the lightners you brush on (Poly tints??) Get them in Boots for less than a fiver. You an get them for various shades of brown. I usually brush it in around my face. They work really well and when you dye over them the next time it still will be lighter. I use them a lot.

You might need to go darker on your foundation.

Poor Judy that pic is just awful.

Poor Judy - well she does NOT look like that!

I had my highlights done in early december and yesterday used 'les blondisimme' packet £6 ish i think and a toothbrush and some foil and it looks fine

my advice is just do a couple - less is more ( well by a couple i mean 5/6) isolate them well with toothbrush and foil

hth

ooo i am the opposite to OP - i am dark brown (like Nigella really) but want to go blond as my grey hair is making me look more like a witchy witch and i think as i'm getting older the dark is too harsh.

I dyed it gradually blond a couple of years ago and DH said he hated it.

As i go greyer i know you are supposed to go lighter - is that right? (as my mum has done). DH is not into blond tho and loves Nigella, Catherine Zeta Jones look but its not gonna work on me...its a toughie

fwiw i loved being blonde and can't wait to do it again!

I have problems with this "we're meant to go lighter as we age" thing as well. My hair is dark (has been darker) and I am now trying to use light brown colours on it - which still mean it is darker brown than light brown (if that makes sense). But we're not all meant to end up various shades of blonde are we? I just would NOT suit blonde hair. I think pale skin looks better with darker hair - contrast is good.

I spose it's not a one-size-fits-all anyway is it? you need to find out what suits you. Some people really suit grey as they have the right colouring for it. My boss has recently taken the plunge and grown out her dyed hair and it suits her way better grey, but there again it's quite short and she's quite regal looking. Longish grey looks sooooo Jilly Cooper.

Ash blonde can blend well with grey.

Anyway, I've out a few highlights in it using a £5 kit from boots and it looks ok actually - has broken up the Arlenesque curtain of brown.

Must say it looks good when wearing purple. But the photo-taking is a good point; I will test it out and see if I look like a ghoul.

Highlights are more flattering than a flat one shade.

You need to find a colour that flatters your skin tone - why not go for a free colour consultation at Toni and Guy or similar and see what colours they choose for you?

I have been looking for some way to convince my 52 year old mind that yes, I could go all the way blonde. Since I had different shades of blonde from frosting my own every 3-4 months for the last 25 years, this new Blondissimes colour brought the roots up to the rest of the colors and it is now all different shade of lightened blonde. And yes, i do think the older I get, the blonder I should get. But my skin is olive and eyes hazel/green. I doubt I will go totally gray before I hit 80 so I will stay blonde. But if I was all gray, I think I would love it.