need advice right hair color

About two weeks ago I had some major damage done when I went to a salon to try to get back to my natural hair color (light ash brown) from the black I have been dyeing it for two years. My just past the shoulders hair is now short and I have to start all over again.

The worst of it I hate the color!!!! granted it`s a little redder than my natural color, but I feel wrong.

I had it dark all the time I was growing it out, and it seemed it grew faster when I dyed it dark, is that possible?
I`m not really sure what tone my complexion is, but I look awful in yellow, good in red and great in lavender, eh in pink, I`m not sure about orange because I hate it.
I have freckles on my face, nose, but not that may except in summer, and i don`t freckle anywhere else. My eyes are medium to dark brown.

I`m thinking of matching my haircolor to my eyes, and going with a natural dark brown, what do you all think and what`s a really gentle hair color that will take on the really damaged ends?

thanks
mephcat

Maybe you could start with a semi-permanent or even temporary dark brown color with an ashen cast. That would counteract the warm brassy red tones, which probably don`t look so good with your cool complexion. There are some good, less harsh dyes at Sally`s and some in your drugstore but remember that virtually any semi-perm color will cause some damage--it`s unavoidable. For haircolor to work it must expand the hair shaft with a basic substance, such as ammonia, lifting the original color and allowing the new shade to get in. If it didn`t do this, the color would only coat the shaft, and the results would just be temporary (as with temporary colors.) This process can harm your hair, so it`s important not to do it if your hair is getting toasty fried.

Also remember that haircolor will actually "take" better on damaged ends because the hair is more porous, thus grabbing the color more easily. You should take special care that the ends don`t go darker than the rest of your hair, possibly by coloring them last for the least amount of time. Whatever you do, be sure to not overdo and deep condition a LOT, because damaged hair really bites. Just be careful, so you can keep your beautiful hair :-) Good luck!