New hairstyle/colour

[moonsi til]

I have had brown hair that I dye darker into 'chocolate truffle' brown etc over a few years now. It was long, then shorter, then with a fringe, then a short bob with fringe. This year I decided I wanted it long again so have only had a proper haircut once and just had fringe cut. I also put my last brown hair dye on at start of summer. My plan is to go to hairdressers and have my hair dyed red and cut..but I'm scared!! Lol..I once went from bleach blonde to black in a weekend and have been every colour but in this past decade bar red tips at the end its been brown. I get butterflies when I think of it..lol. Reassure me, tell me to get a grip etc, share similar tales please.

 

[Greebo]

If you really are this nervous about it, take a fortnight to think it over; no decent hairdresser wants you leaving the salon with something you instantly regret. IMHO if they've got any sense, they'd insist on a consultation before you commit to having a cut and colour. Having both at the same time is quite a big change, which could require a change of wardrobe and makeup.

No need to answer any of the following questions here, just think about them if you haven't already: Is it red that you're dreading, or the cut? If two noticeable changes (or the reaction of others to those changes) at the same time are a bit much, could you get the cut first (to at least get rid of any damage trimmed off the longer bits) and get it dyed once you've got used to the new cut? Would you find streaks or highlights/lowlights (maybe in more than one shade) easier to get used to than a complete colour change? Could you take somebody with you for moral support? Have you a clear idea of which cut and shade(s) you want and how it'll fit with your current life?

Best of luck with your makeover (if you go for it) and here's hoping that you end up happy with the result.

 

[kittyP]

Be aware that red is the hardest pigment for the hair cuticle to hold.
When I had mine down properly at the hairdressers, with in two washes it had faded quite a bit. Although this was quite a few years ago now. But having considered it again, hairdressers have said that the technology hasn't really come on much in terms of the dyes themselves and the shampoos and stuff for dyed red hair.

You really need to be putting it on lightened/treated hair and topping up really regularly and if your roots are naturally dark, obviously having those doe too.

I bloody loved having scarlet hair though

 

[wayward bob]

i'd go for a cut only and colour it at home. red's the easiest i did my own for years - you don't need it lightened to a nearly-white base like i do for blue or pink which means i have to get it done at the hairdressers. i always used the brightest commercial red and then directions over the top, it'd take beautifully. and there are more "crazy" colours in home brands these days if you don't get the strength of result you're after from a "standard" strong red.

going back to brown if you decide you don't like it is straightforward too :thumbs :

 

[panpete]

I had red bits in my hair once but it didn't last five minutes.
i wonder, is purple dye the same in that it doesn't last?
I've got a purple dye thats been sat here a few weeks waiting for me to put it on.

 

[kittyP]

I had red bits in my hair once but it didn't last five minutes.
i wonder, is purple dye the same in that it doesn't last?
I've got a purple dye thats been sat here a few weeks waiting for me to put it on.

When my hair was scarlet I had a purple chunk underneath on one side.
It faded less quickly than the red but still pretty quickly.

If it's sitting there doing nothing though, give it a go

 

[panpete]

When my hair was scarlet I had a purple chunk underneath on one side.
It faded less quickly than the red but still pretty quickly.

If it's sitting there doing nothing though, give it a go

I was meant to do it the day I got it cut.
I bought a lightner as it's naturally very dark brown with red cast on when the sun hits it.
The plan was to lighten it, then put the purple dye on, but I ended up only leaving on the lightner about 5mins. It was just enough to take off the dark and leave the naturally occuring reddish colour underneath so I've been ginger for the last couple of weeks, but it looks natural and not brassy.

Sorry for thread hijack.

 

[moonsi til]

Thanks for replies. I'm thinking to have a treat and have first one done at hairdressers then do it myself. I had red hair for many years as well as most other colours but then decided to grow out the red which took ages with lots of haircuts and now this fear set in but I have been thinking about this since December 2013....it's more the dramatic change that I'm thinking about which has both the push/pull factor and now I'm thinking I just bought a yello coat for winter so I'm going to be lookinbg quite bright..