From salon colored hair to doing it myself?

Hi there, I'm new here & hoping someone can help me! I've had my hair professionally colored for years and my colorist uses Aveda Dawn. I was wondering if there is any hair color that I could buy that would be comparible to the Aveda color? Also, is it ok to go from having your hair colored by a pro to doing it yourself? I guess I'm wondering, will there be damage, funky colors, etc? I've never colored my hair myself, so any info would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Thanks for the response! My hair is colored all over blonde right now, no highlights. I want to stay the same color, but the coloring that my stylist uses can't be bought in stores....

Edited by lovebeingblonde - November 16 2006 at 7:44am

My roots are pretty dark, and my (colored) hair is pretty light blonde, not platinum, but still pretty light..........

Can you ask your hairdresser what volume of developer she uses? And if she will give you that info, maybe she'll share what level of color she uses ......go to salleys and compare your present blonde shade to the hair samples and then go down to your roots and determine your natual shade.....take a friend to help you. I like Ion from salleys. I like the creme. But it goes on like one shade darker than what you want, so I would go one shade lighter than what you would normally use. I think being a non-professional, you can not get any developer stronger than a 30 volume....which gives 3 levels of lift. Anyone out there more knowledgable than me, please correct me if I am wrong? So, determine where your roots are and where you want to be.  Give us some numbers/levels/shades and tones to work with.....such as I am naturally a light ash brown level 5A on the ion scale......I touched up my roots with half 5RC Light copper brown and half Light brown 5N (neutral), but used 20 volume developer due to my grays....seems I read grays need 20 vol. bc of their stubbornness ...they need the extra softening, but when I highlight my hair I will use bleach and finish off with a toner. (Always welcoming suggestions from the more knowledgable)