Help On Toning

We are extremely broke and I am forced to continue to color at home.

I bought Clairol's Ultress in Dark Red. In indoor light, it is the most beautiful color I have ever seen--rich, deep red with dark brown undertones. However, in bright light, it is plum or eggplant like, due probably to the double shot of red dye (it's 4RR). I get this result a lot and think it has something to do with the way my hair reacts, especially since I am on a lot of medications. Although my roots have a lot of gray, I don't think this is the reason because the dyed portion of my hair, even the ends, pick up this cherry-plum color.

Called Clairol and was told to mix 3/4 tube of dark red with 1/4 of medium golden brown to counteract the plum effect. Was just wondering before I attempt it--does this sound right?

I know a lot of folks don't like the Clairol line and find it drying, but in my experience any product I used from them leaves my hair shiny and soft as silk. Everyone is different, I suppose. Preference and Excellence dried my hair and their color molecules actually slid out of my hair with the first shampoo after coloring. So something in their formula doesn't work with my particular hair structure.

Thanks for any advice.

Bingo! Kuroneko. The G will help neutralize the plum....and if 1/4 G isn't enough...you could try more next time....Do your base with the formula they gave you and use straight 6g on your ends....

If the ends are already too plummy you don't need more plum on them. ??? This would depend on how much your ends have faded...and to what..? It's a judgement call.

The gold in the formula will help the grey hair look more normal..richer..more natural. The grey hair must have some natural brown in the formula because grey hair has no pigment.

The more grey you have... the more natural brown you need in your formula. ???