Highlights w/bleach & toner or color???

 

Just to give you a little background info, I have been blonde for most of my life & recently went to the "dark" side about 5 months ago.  When I was blonde my stylist would foil my highlights & low lights...so I know one color was bleach & the other was like a 7/8 WG.

 

Now that I am brunette & have a new hair stylist(due to my other girl relocating) I am having some issues w/my color.

 

The first time she did my hair w/permanent color (4/5N) & did carmel highlights it turned out beautifully!!!  When I have gone back to see her the last 2 times we used a semi perm. color for my base & she uses a light bleach for my highlights but puts a toner on the highlights to get them the carmel color.  I have been noticing that my root area is lighter than the rest of the hair shaft & just doesn't seem to be holding the toner?!  The semi perm base color also seems to be washing out at the root area & looks kinda reddish.  At my "part" it almost looks like my base was lifted??

 

If I am having my color & highlights done at the same time isn't it feasible to use a "color" say like an 8 to do my highlights with instead of going the bleach/toner route???  My natural base color is only like a 6 so it's not that dark.  I am going back to her tomorrow to see if she can touch up the top of my head where it's pretty noticeable, but just wanted to get some expert opinions.

 

Any input is appreciated!

Tracy