Advice on going red, nervous. - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Urgent

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Advice on going red, nervous.

Cococat

Veteran

Firstly, I must apologise for being AWOL a lot. My work is crazy busy at the moment, and probably will be until at least November. I don't mind because I love my work, but I don't get much down time. When I do get the chance to catch up on yfl, I tend to read everything I can but not post so much.

I hope you don't mind, but I would really appreciate your advice. I've booked an appointment for a drastic hair colour change this coming Tuesday and I'm getting cold feet. For a long time now I've had caramel foils in my dark brown hair which gives me a light brown look as you can see in my pic from yesterday (out for mum's birthday.).

Last week I decided I would like to go bright red as in the second pic. This is very scary for me as I've had bad hair experiences in the past. I've never been red like this. I really want it to look modern, not dated, and I don't want it to scream 'look at me, I may be 57 but I'm still cool!' (not about the colour but the drastic change for me).....ugh.....I'm having even more doubts as I type.

What do you think? Please be honest. Should I cancel the appointment?

Ps. I'll be staying with my concave bob, just having colour.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Urgent

31 replies

Latest reply was from Kimberley

Aida

Veteran

Coco I think the red will be dynamite on you! Especially with the type of color depth in your inspiration photo. I think that type of variagated color will go a long way to looking as modern as you're hoping for. I hear red is tough to maintain though, is that something you can manage while your work load is heavy?

Cococat

Veteran

Thank you Aida. My hair is pretty high maintenance at the moment (both cut and colour) so it should be ok from that perspective.

I'm so pleased that you like it!

Greenjeans

Veteran

Stunning. My only feedback is that red fades quickly on many hair types so don't expect it to last very long.

Sally

Veteran

I think it will really suit you. I used to have red hair and found it faded quickly too...especially in summer and if you wash your hair alot.

Jane

Veteran

Gorgeous! Rich, warm, energising and fun!

I would hold back on washing your hair for a couple of days after it has been coloured. For me, may be for you? it has helped the colour really saturate the hair and last longer. The other thing that took me time to get used to, was looking at myself without makeup on, as I needed eye makeup to make hair and face look balanced!

rachylou

Veteran

You'll look great. And I think bold colour is a natural for you, that you'll wear it easily.

Cococat

Veteran

Thank you Greenjeans, Sally, Jane and Rachyl. Great advice Jane. I do tend to wash my hair every second night so that's good to know.

If it does tend to fade, perhaps it will be easier to go back if I don't like it.

Bijou

Veteran

Coco I have dark blonde hair but love red and have dyed my hair red a few times (but alas, it does not suit me). If you get it done and you don't like the intensity - medicated shampoo strips the colour out quite quickly - this was how I converted a red to a strawberry blonde in my own hair unintentionally. If you want to retain the colour and prevent fading, you can get coloured shampoos and conditioners from your stylist. I like the Revlon Professional Nutri Colour cream 3 minute deep conditioner treatment to maintain my colour between visits to my stylist.

I love this colour and think it will look great on you and totally suit your look (definitely not to young, you will look amazing!). However I honestly love the colour you have now, so no radical changes are required. The great thing about colour changes they can be easily fixed if you don't love it - it is not like having to grow out a detested hair cut and is probably why I am far more adventurous in colouring my hair than in getting radical cuts.

Summer

Veteran

I think red will suit you beautifully. Go through any concerns with your colourist, and I'm sure he/she will come up with the best option for you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think the red will look beautiful and only caution as others do that red can be difficult to maintain as it fades. I was red for a while in my 30s and really enjoyed it apart from that aspect.

I did find that different colours in my range tended to suit me better. I liked myself more in chocolate browns (which I otherwise never really wore), purples and plums, greens. I liked myself much less in black, which had worked pretty well when I was blonde (and again now with grey) but never worked on me with the red. (I do think it works on some redheads, just not on me with red hair.)

Andrea H

I think the red will look lovely on you. That's a gorgeous color and it looks like it will suit your complexion very well.

Mochi

Veteran

I just have to say that I adore your current hair color so much. Maybe the red will look equally nice.

Cococat

Veteran

Thank you Bijou, Summer, Suz, Andrea and Mochi.

Great advice about the shampoo Bijou and you're right, it's not like growing out a bad haircut. I have options if I don't like it.

Interesting about colours Suz. I hope I can still wear black, as it dominates my wardrobe. I'm wondering if I'll need new lipstick. I mostly wear pinky browns but they may not work with the red.

Anna

I agree with what others have said, my stylist always says to not wash for at least 24 hours. The color is beautiful and will be great with your skin tone. You have a redheads coloring! I was red for a long time and had a mostly black wardrobe. It was very flattering and dramatic. Hope you will post pictures when you are transformed!

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I did this as a reaction to my mother's passing a few years ago and loved it tremendously.. My mother was a red head and like you, I go for carmel in my brown hair. I say, go for it and have fun with it!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I think it will look beautiful, Natalie. This shade of red though, does fade. As long as you know that in advance - why not! Have fun and do it.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I went red several years ago (from a strawberry golden blonde - not my own) - and I've never looked back!

I'm glad you're doing this at the salon for your first attempt! If you find you don't like the shade, let the stylist know. You might need to play around with it the first few times to get a shade you love.

TRY NOT TO WASH YOUR HAIR FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER YOU COLOR. Get yourself a boar-bristle brush (Sonia Kashuk at Target makes some great ones), and brush brush brush to re-distribute the oil in your hair.

I read somewhere that you start losing the red color when you step out the door of the salon. Very true. I found it was very pricey to keep coloring at the salon, so I started coloring at home. I do my color about every 2.5 weeks (when my roots start to show). L'Oreal Feria has been my favorite to date, I use a copper color, because about 7-10 days in, the real red fades, and I still have a coppery red brown that people think is my real color.

I went to my locally-owned beauty supply store, and bought a set of hair-color brushes, which I use to get the color into the roots. I think I pay around $6.99 for these, and I replace them probably once a year. These stores usually sell inexpensive smocks, but I normally just wear dark 'junk' clothes.

(If you do eventually color at home, Head and Shoulders shampoo removes dye from most surfaces, if you clean it up immediately and don't let the dye dry. Don't use it on your hair, it will strip the color right out!)

Some things I should note: I shampoo every 2-3 days, depending on the humidity, and physical activity. I don't use any conditioners or products with silicone or dimethicone, and this makes my hair stay cleaner. I brush brush brush every day with a bristle brush, 100 strokes. If my hair is looking fuzzy, I wet it, condition the ends, rinse, and style, and it usually comes out soft, but not greasy.

Sulfates are a NO-GO for red. Don't let the salon sell you the $20 bottle of "Oh this is perfect for your red hair!" shampoo, because chances are, it will wash the rich red out. I found that any Aveda product (shampoo AND conditioner) either changed the red to pink, or stripped the red right out. Same with John Frieda.

The Giovanni line (they sell it at Target) seems to keep the color in really well, and it doesn't have silicone-based ingredients.

Anonymous

Don't worry a bit, it will look amazing and fantastic. Do heed the advice on sulfates, though, and protect it from the sun. Post pix when you can! I'm excited for you.

Sal

Veteran

I think it will look gorgeous on you. Fun to experiment. No particular advice as I have only been shades of blonde and brown:)

catgirl

Veteran

I did a version of red (mine was a more magenta shade of this color) and I adored it but it turned brassy and faded quickly. If you are up for the maintenance then it is stunning. It will get attention, though - not necessarily the "LOOK AT ME!" but more of a "I'm fearless and confident" vibe.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Love the color you picked and will love it on you. Red is fabulous, and if you are up to the upkeep go for it!

Cococat

Veteran

Thank you SO much everyone for your feedback and great advice. You have really helped me feel more relaxed and happy with my decision. I seem to be super sensitive to any change at the moment, possibly because of the changes that I can't seem to control (with aging).

I've loved hearing your experiences with red Anna, TracyLiz and Una (yep, fearless and confident sounds good!), and La Belle thank you so much for your fantastic advice and recommendations. I will be looking for a good hair brush like you suggested and I currently use a great sulfate free shampoo called Alchemy. I think it will be OK to use with colour.

Angie, Xtabay, Sally and shevia, many thanks for your feedback on the colour choice.

OK, I'm in!

Helen11

Veteran

Looking forward to seeing the results! The inspiration colour is gorgeous!

Anonymous

It's a gorgeous colour. I love it and think it will look great on you!
This will be a very polished, lovely and vibrant look for a 57 year old!

viva

Veteran

Like others, I love your current color, but this new one is amazing! I also love your cut, and I think this vibrant shade will be fab. You've gotten great advice about maintenance. Good luck and post pictures!!!

RobinF

Veteran

I can really picture this with your coloring. Love it.

RedLola

Member

Go for it. I went red so long ago my husband has never seen my natural hair color.

Red does wash out more quickly than other colors (has to do with the size of the dye molecules). I second the advice to hold off on washing it as long as you can, and reduce the number of washes if at all possible. Essentially, baby it a little to prolong the life of the color. For me, the less I handle it, the longer I can go between washes. I've been doing the washing with conditioner thing for 2 of every 3 washes and it seems to be preserving the color a little better.

I do my own color, so I don't know if this is also true for salon red, but mine bleeds a little the first couple of washes. I have gray towels for my hair for this purpose, and I use a dark pilllowcase right after I've dyed it. I usually sleep with wet hair.

I'm a fan of the Olia, but it's getting hard to find in Red.

chadya

Veteran

Try it
looks like a great color

and hair color is not
forever

mtnsofthemoon

Veteran

Red head here, so my prejudice is disclosed up front. Of course I love the color you have selected. I ditto the advice so many have already given, but have something else to add.

If you end up not liking the color I recommend AGAINST the use of strong or harsh shampoos to lift the color out. Instead I have learned from my fabulous hairdresser you can ask for a neutral brown semi-permanent to be placed over the color. It is much better for your hair to do it that way and is quite successful in toning it down a few notches if you think the red is too much. Also, as one who had colored my hair at home for 20 years (but now have my guy do it for me) when the color fades again a great solution is to add a semi-permanent red over the color. It is less damaging and will "refresh" your color. Of course its always good to run these suggestions by your colorist and get a professional's input. Best wishes to you in your hair color adventures!!

12