Hi,

I have natually dark blonde, probably light brown really, hair, but I haven't had my all over natural color in years.  I was medium blonde as a child, I have pale skin and blue eyes, but I do use self tanner a little, so I am not totally washed out.  For about 10 years, I was getting some form or fashion of highlights in my hair, which kept it lighter like when I was a kid.

Anyway, right after I had my daughter, I had my highlights done (they were bleach highlights) and my hair in the front by the bangs got fried and broke off in places.  I let it grow back and my stylist (who is also a friend - bad idea) convinced me that is was just from pregnancy/nursing, not from the bleach and I had them done again - same thing, more breakage, right where the roots had been touched up.

So I decided I couldn't have my hair breaking off all over, so I went all over light brown to try to get back to my natural color and have something more gentle.  Ever since then (over a year ago) I have been trying to find a brown that doesn't fade to red so easily.  My home haircolor looks better than anything my stylist used in the salon, and she tried different combos with me (but never ash).

I have been using Natural Instincts Medium Brown (Hazelnut) and I like it, but it's a tad bit darker than I'd like.  So once the last one had faded (after 7 weeks or so, and I used the Clariol root touch up once to get by) I used Light Brown, I think it was Suede.  Well, now it's been 3 1/2 weeks and it is fading very reddish, which I don't like.  I also put in a few (about 6 or 7) highlights with a Loreal wand highlighting kit, but they look even more red and I don't really like them too much.

So, finally, what I want is a cooler brown that is not too dark, somewhere between light & medium - any suggestions?  Should I use semi perm or perm?  How about those color glosser things from the beauty supply store, that are dep only?  Would those work?

Any advice would be so appreciated!!!!

What about a neutral brown or a mixture between  a nuetral brown and an ash?  I would suggest trying a semi or demi permanent first.  Clairol Complements colors are cooler than other brands.  You can purchase the dye and developer at Sally's.

If you like the color then you can always use the permanent the next time.  But if the semi does the job, then I would stick with it, since it's less damaging.

here is a link to a complements color chart

http://beautycentury.com/mall/resultcolor.asp?sku=3058 - http://beautycentury.com/mall/resultcolor.asp?sku=3058

Yes, at Sally and on professional colors you can READ what the base colors are. OTC colors never tell you what the base is. If you use the color wheel as a base, use blue/violet's they will counteract the warm colors.

As an example, I bought Redken EQ on e-bay (my professional used it on me) and it was brown + blue/violet. It still is a tad too warm for me. Next I intend to use Clairol Complements in their ash tone.....which lists blue/violet.

Of course.....always test strand first!

Your best chance to prevent fading of the brown you want is to go with a permanant color.  Definately talk to the folks at Sally Beauty Supply and they can help you with any protein fillers, etc. 

I was using the drug store permanant color and it kept on fading to a lighter, brassier color, then I decided to go back to semi-permanant with Clairol Natural Instincts to get my hair more ashy to match my naturally ashy/yucky medium brown (why?) and to cover gray roots. Well, the previously dyed hair turned ORANGE while the roots were unaffected!  The folks at Sally helped me with a gentle, deposit only semi-permanant color and a packet to cover the hideous orange color and get me through for 2 weeks until I could color again with a permanant color.  When I was ready for the permanant color again, I used a clear filler to equalize the roots and ends, and added a gold/red color corrector to the permanant color and for the first time in years...no fading between touch-ups and actually ended up with the color I intended my hair to be.