Going red?

[kina]

I've been toying with the idea of chaning my hair color. I'm olive skinned, with dark hair and eyes. I like vibrant colors in my costumes, so i don't think it would make too much of a difference in what colors I could wear.

I was thinking about a dark red, but short of auburn. Not fire engine, or carrot.

A couple of questions:

1. do you think stylists would do a better job of getting the shade that I want, or is there a product that you prefer to dye your own?

2. what are the possible drawbacks, other than botching it , of hair color change?

The first thing I thought of is that all my marketing features me as a brunnette, d'ya think I would have to change all that?

3. how badly do you think it would clash with my skin tone (if at all)? if you do think it clashes, what are your suggestions for shades?

tia

[azahara]

Red fades fast always use cold water and a good color shampoo .

[Souzan]

Why try a henna rinse first. That might be best with your olive skin.

Souzan

[crimson vision]

Heya!

Having been through lots of years of red I hope I can offer some advice! :) First off; I would go to a GOOD wig store and try on some of their red wigs. It will be MUCh easier for you to figure out what color works for you and your skin tone when it's actually on your head rather than just holding up a swatch or a box. Also, it will give you the advantage of getting an exact color to try and match rather than 'a dark red but short of auburn'.

I would definately suggest going to a stylist for the first time. Since you are going to need to lighten the brunette for the red to really come through I would really want an expert to do that part. Ask them what products they use and see if maybe you can get those same products at the local beauty supply.

Red *IS* really hard to keep up; I use a color depositing shampoo and conditioner as well as use 'celophanes' to brighten the color in between dyes. I also have to be really careful with how often I dye; my hair is pretty long and therefore old and fragile. :p BUt really; its in pretty good shape for it's color! ;)

Hope that helped!

[Nepenthe]

Originally Posted by kina

I've been toying with the idea of chaning my hair color. I'm olive skinned, with dark hair and eyes. I like vibrant colors in my costumes, so i don't think it would make too much of a difference in what colors I could wear.

I was thinking about a dark red, but short of auburn. Not fire engine, or carrot.

A couple of questions:

1. do you think stylists would do a better job of getting the shade that I want, or is there a product that you prefer to dye your own?

2. what are the possible drawbacks, other than botching it , of hair color change?

The first thing I thought of is that all my marketing features me as a brunnette, d'ya think I would have to change all that?

3. how badly do you think it would clash with my skin tone (if at all)? if you do think it clashes, what are your suggestions for shades?

tia

I used to go red a lot.
1.) Stylists can usually do a better job of dying your hair without as much damage. The drugstore hairdye isn't all that healthy for your hair.

That is unless you want to go all natural with henna (making it darker using walnut or indigo) - then hairdressers won't do it and you have to do it yourself. It makes hair a bit thicker and shinier and I think it's pretty healthy for the hair.

2.) Drawbacks - might not look good on your skin, changes your natural hair texture a bit, when you want to dye it back there can be differences between your natural hair and your dyed hair in terms of tone, roots & upkeep.

If the hair color isn't that drastic - I.e. stil in the general "dark hair" range, I don't think it's a big deal. If I were you, with your skin color, I would go for a dark auburn or dark burgundy instead of a lighter red. For me, the burgundy always looks a little off but I can do a darker true red. So, it's still dark but now it's a little more reddish than brownish. People may notice but they aren't going to call you on it.

I guess I just answered #3 as well. I have just found out through years of wanting to be a redhead (and finally giving it up) that olive skin and reds look odd together, because you don't normally see them paired in the natural world. Also, eyebrows don't match.

Typically your moles/freckles show you what color your hair looks best with. Redheads tend to have light brown or reddish freckles. Brunettes (like me anyway) tend to have black and brown freckles/moles. People say you should stick within a few shades of your natural color.

[ssipes]

Red dyes fade so fast that permanent color really offers no advantage over semipermanent if you are only wanting red tone without lightening your hair.

My advice would be to try a temporary or semipermanent color first. For your complexion I think a more burgundy tone might look good.

Sedonia

[Souzan]

My hair is dark auburn and I am more than 50% grey. That means frequent touchups of roots. The red fades a lot faster around my face, but that is also wear the most grey is.

I like the idea of trying a wig first to see what you would look like with that color. Red hair is very popular right now so you have no problem finding wig shop with several red shades to pick from.

Souzan

[badriya_al_ahmar]

Everyone has had good ideas here--the one thing I would add is that when you have long thick hair, you'll get a more even dye job if you have somebody else do it for you. Plus your bathroom will be a lot cleaner ;)

[JeanneLF]

I second the recommendation of henna. I've been henna-ing for about three years, and I love it (and it's eco-friendly, and cheaper than getting it done in a salon).

Since you have dark hair, henna will give a reddish tint to the dark color instead of really changing you to a redhead, but since you're considering a dark red anyway, it might be good to see if you like the effect.

Here's a good source of information on henna (the same people have good info on doing henna tattoos, also):
Henna for Hair ~ The art, science, history and traditions of dyeing your hair with henna, indigo and other herbs

[aazura]

Your hair is so dark, Kina. I'd be afraid of how much they'd have to lighten it for the red to even be noticable. You could end up with very damaged hair! Go to a good colorist and ask before you make any decisions. Oh, and I second Crimson's suggestion of trying out color in a wig store first.

[najla86]

Hi--I've been doing the store-bought red for almost three years now and love it.

1. I've always colored my hair myself, even when it was really long; make sure to have someone do a spot check to make sure you haven't missed a spot.

2. My hair got a little dry, but nothing a little leave-in conditioner couldn't help

3. The way I chose my shade is that my hair would get reddish highlights in the summer--I picked a shade or two lighter than that. The wig comparison is a good idea too. My natural color is a darker brown, and I didn't have to use any chemical bleach to lighten it

I used to use Herbal Essences, which was fine, but after not having it available in France this summer I started using Garnier Nutrisse, which is SO much better. No chemical smell (actually, fairly yummy), stays in much longer (approximately 4-5 without really obvious routes) and a really good conditioner.

Other products I've used and like are John Frieda color glaze/shine, and Matrix Biolage shampoo/conditioner, especially in the first 2 weeks after I color

PS. I really love my red hair, I've gotten some amazing comments about my hair since being a redhead...I think you'll love it too!

[Nat242]

Another vote for henna. Henna is permanent - it won't fade like red chemical dyes do. I've been a bottle red head for years, now I'm on henna and I won't turn back. It's messier than regular dyes, it's important to buy pure henna with no mineral salts, as they can react poorly with any chemical dyes in your hair already.

Henna is actually good for your hair; it can make it stronger and feel fuller. Check out the Henna for Hair website that Jeanne LF posted, it's a great resource.

[sabrinabellydancer]

i also have dark hair and the henna red worked for me [tried it many years ago with box from healthfood store]

conventional hair dye at home has always been a disaster for me so all i can say is to be very careful and maybe have someone help you make sure it is evenly applied [one summer i accidentally turned into a calico cat!] and corrective color is much more expensive than going to a salon and having it done the right way once...and much better for your hair of course.

hope it comes out the way you like. and of course, trying wigs 1st is a great idea

[shimarella]

I'd go to a hairdresser you trust the first time. Red can be a tricky colour on your skin-tone, but there are definitely some good shades to try. Think about some highlight pieces around your face, and not just a straight-up all-over tone and you'll be aiight.

[bintbeled]

I used to love to use henna on my hair, but once I discovered how cool highlights could look, I switched to having a great stylist color my hair. I agree that reds fade more quickly than other colors; I have mine touched up every 3 weeks, with highlights and lowlights added in a few times a year. As far as damaging the hair, I haven't noticed a thing. My hair has been much healthier and thicker since I switched to Bumble & Bumble hair products a couple of years ago.

Redheads *do* have more fun, BTW...

[laura 2]

I use Garnier 100% color in Dark Auburn on my dark brown hair, and it works great. Although reds to tend to fade faster than other colors, I can get at least 8 weeks and sometimes as long as 10 weeks out of a single application with it. It also seems to pick up the natural highlights in my hair as opposed to looking like one all over color, especially after the first few days.

[Michelle75]

Hi Kina,

I have a natural brown color mostly dark and I decided to dye it a shade of red and now I will never be able to have my natural color. Even when I have my roots touched up they never match the rest of my hair b/c it has a red tent in the natural light and florescent light. If you were to meet me you'd probally never know but I DO and I HATE IT!!! For some reason red tends to stick around FOREVER with my hair.

[JeanneLF]

[quote=bintbeled;76975]I used to love to use henna on my hair, but once I discovered how cool highlights could look, I switched to having a great stylist color my hair.QUOTE]

I've got natural (sort of) highlights in mine! My natural color is dark brown, but I've got some prominent gray streaks. With the henna, the dark parts look sort of auburny, but the gray areas are vibrant, brilliant red. I like the bright red so much that I'm in the odd position of wanting to go more gray . . .

[Souzan]

I mostly do root touchups and touchups of the grey areas around my face. The rest of my hair gets redone about every 2 months or so. I have to do root touchups every 2-3 weeks. But my hair grows fast and I have a significant amount of grey on some parts of my head.

I also dye my eyebrows at the same time since they are very pale otherwise.

Souzan

[zumarrad]

I would say, try some slices in the hair first and see if that gives you the feel you want. Red is a great colour but it can be hard to wear and as everyone has said, the upkeep is tough because it does fade.

I was red as a teen, and when I tried to go back to a really deep red in my early 20s I had a terrible time of it because the colourist, for reasons known only to herself, decided to bleach my (black tint) colour right out and then tint back to red. It was awful. If they are going to lighten your hair, don't let them lighten it much! Dark hair will throw a deep red all by itself with bleach.

A semipermanent will give you a coppery or burgundy glow in the light - you could try that first. It won't harm your hair and will be easy to do yourself.