Aveda color

Does anyone have any experience with Aveda's color? I've just made an appt at a new salon, which happens to be an Aveda salon, and the stylist will be using Aveda color to lift my roots while toning down the rest of my blonde hair. Currently, my light blonde hair has a lot of gold in it, and she said she will be using either 9 1/2N or 10N to tone it down, but these colors in the swatches seemed so ashy(she assured me that my hair would not at all be ashy). I don't know what the numbers mean, so if you can help clarify, I'd really appreciate it.Thanks!Kara