Dying Hair Question

I would go to Sallys or some other type of supply house. They usually have well trained people that can help you choose the right products. If you want to go the grocery store route, get a brown one or 2 shades lighter than you think you want to be. do the all over brown first. wash, and dry. then do the highlights on dry hair. do babythin ones though or you will have roots next week!

I'm a stylist, I ONLY recommend doing the box color b/c you don't have any previous color on your hair. So, you get a color that is no more than 3 shades lighter than your natural color. If you highlight, you have to do pull it through at the same time, bc those highlight kits won't lighten hair that is previously lightened... at least not will a good effect anyways.

I'm not sure what kind of box kits are out there right now, but what a lot of my clients do to save money, is they color their own hair at home and then they come in to get a few highlights at the salon.

Really, people who end up trying highlights at home, usually have to go to the salon anyways to get it fixed, I've seen so many people with hair that looks like it beings on a tiger or calico cat from those kits.

if you want lighter hair.. please go to the salon! you are asking for trouble using box hair color. i am a stylist and have seen so many people come in after trying to dye their hair themselves and end up paying so much more money to fix it! please please please leave it to the professionals!! boxed hair color is so terrible and going lighter is a tricky process!!!
Look and see if there are any AVEDA salons in your area! Amazing hair color!! 97% natural! and worth EVERY penny!!!

Years ago I wanted to change hair color and I went to the store, shopped all the hair swatches and found one I loved. I wouldn't recommend using two different shades and coloring your hair sooner than normal. You risk damaging your hair by drying it out. Get a phone number off the box and call Loreal or Clairol (whoever). I did this one and told them what my natural hair color was and what I wanted to be. She told me to mix box number 11? and 14? together to come up with my custom-color. I was like REALLY? Did it and loved it too. After doing mine at home and it looking really good, several of my family members now skip the salon and do home coloring. Home highlights are a little trickier. Hopefully you get some suggestions and I'll like seeing those too. My daughter would LOVE to have a few summer highlights all year long.

I have found that any of the dyes that are a creme work soooo much better. Only should have to do it once. Just get ones that have the true color you want. No 3 name ones... Those tend to have a red highlight.

If you want to save money that's fine but if you've never worked with your own hair like that before I think you are asking for trouble!!!!!
If you can't afford a salon because of the $$ look at checking out the local beauty school. You can go there for the fraction of the cost...While there are some risks as they are students they sure have more practice than you do :)

I would result to a professional color. Box colors have too much amonia in them, not to mention they are rarely accurate with dark hair going lighter. I would just highlight.. under the top of your hair grap literally slices but then and highlight that.. it gives a lighter hair color look. You can color your hair lighter... do not do a blonde color! a lighter brown and it will lighten it a little.. but not much. Then you can highlight that.. BUT there is a chance that your hair will have a brassy(orange) color to it. ALL dark brown natural hair has red in it.. and when you go lighter the first color that pops up is orange.. honestly just do the highlights.. on the bottom do thicker H/L and go thinner as you get to the top. Hope this helps!!!!

if you want highlights it is VERY tricky to do at home on your own. My suggestion is to do your main color at home and then just get highlights done professionally unless you have a friend who actually KNOWS what they are doing. If you are that in need of getting your hair done for less then I suggest going to a beauty school to have it done but those are best for basic do's nothing too complicated.

I would just do the highlights. I wouldn't mess with coloring your whole head and then doing highlights on top of that. It's going to really damage your hair.

I color my hair at home all the time. I really like the Feria line of colors. They're not flat like other colors are. You could maybe pick a shade that's a few shades lighter than your own.

If you really want an all over color and highlights, I'd go to a salon.

The best chance of getting your desired hair color would be to see a professional stylist. I would never recommend coloring and especially hightlighting your hair at home. There is a reason it is more expensive to go to a salon and a reason the stylists go through traning before they are licensed. A professional will also be able to look at your skin color, hair color, texture, etc and tell you how to achieve and if you can ahieve what you want.

If you color and highlight at home, I would have a backup appointment at a salon set up for a day or two later just in case, and cancel it if your hair turns out the way you want it to. That way you don't have to wait to get into the salon if it doesn't turn out well. Good luck to you!

(and no, I am not a hair stylist trying to send business my way - just a girl with hair!)