First time hair-dyer - need to cover the grey - any advice please?

[funwithfondue]

Almost a year after the birth of my dd, and my 30th, I've finally conceded I need to dye my hair.

It's long (to my bra strap), layered, and very dark brown - with increasing amounts of grey. I've never dyed it in my life (and it's always been long).

Question is, do I just buy an off-the-shelf dye and match it my colour, or should I invest in a hairdresser to do it for me the first time? I could afford a professional job once or twice, but will have to go down the DIY route eventually.

Also, my mum says that if I use an off-the-shelf hair dye it'll make my hair colour look 'flat', as it's only one shade. Is this right?

Thank you from a very scruffy, very tired, run-down Mummy who needs her once crowning glory restored for vital self-esteem reasons!

Don't buy a dark brown dye, they're too dark, if you get one slightly lighter than your natural colour the grey strands will be lighter and look like lowlights . The 10 minute ones are great. Remember to put vaseline around your hairline first, then you won't dye your face.

Use a semi-permanent first. Prolonged use of semis does make them become a little permanent but they do fade more naturally than permanents and avoid teh flat colour look (a bit)