I love it both ways...you are a beauty...but please leave blonde for now..beautiful on you!!

I think the first photo - hair colour is more flattering on your skin tone - but you're gorgeous and have a warm complexion so can play around lots with hair colour.

I like the darker colouring as it gives you more contrast and interest, your contrast lowers with the blonde.

I have to agree with Imogen. Something about the blonde doesn't work as well for me. The darker hair works better with your coloring and skin tone, but I wonder if the issue is just this particular shade/tone of blonde. What color was it when you were in HS? I just feel that the brown looks more natural on you while the blonde looks more like "she dyed her hair." I also just prefer the contrast.

I have to say, though, just to be fair, that I always seem to have a preference for dark hair if that is your natural color. When brunettes dye their hair blonde, it never seems to work for me. Natural blondes look great and I can usually tell who they are. The friend I posted in my other thread, for example, is a natural Scandinavian blonde. My best friend is German and she is also a natural blonde. They both look great to me because their hair color works with their skin tone naturally--nature does not make mistakes! I know this is not the popular consensus, which is why I'm making it clear, so you know I'm biased!

Also, one more clarification: You really have a gorgeous face and beautiful bone structure, so honestly, neither color could ever look bad. I just think the dark hair shows your pretty face off more.

I third the darker hair. You're cute as a blond, but I think the darker color is more flattering to your complexion--"contrast" being the key word.

I also like the first photo best. I was a little confused when I clicked on it, though- is this really the "dark" colour? Because to me, it still looks blonde! Granted, a much darker blonde than the other pics, verging on light brown, but I wouldn't call it dark. It looks lovely with your skin and eyes. Overall, I tend to agree with Maya: nature rarely makes mistakes!

Thank you so much for the opinions (and compliments), ladies. :)

My natural color has no highlights. It is a flat dark blonde/light brown. In the first photo, that is very close to my natural color, but my hairstylist put in a few subtle highlights for interest. There's no way I could go without coloring my hair at least a little bit. It just lacks interest.

In the second photo, I haven't done an all over color, just lots and lots of light highlights to get an "allover" effect, without as much upkeep.

Ana,

I love the darker hair color in your first photo. IMO, you exude warmth and sophistication with this look. Your eyes really stand out too. Just gorgeous.

The blond hair color in your second photo just doesn't "sing" on you the way the darker color does. IMO, it looks like you decided to dye it on a whim (bad break-up, feeling frisky/rebellious, etc.), and it is a younger look.

If you like it, then rock it for a while. You can always change it later. :-)

Well, I am not against people coloring their hair period. I just mean dramatic changes usually just don't work for me. If you're a natural brunette and add some highlights or definition, or maybe you go up or down a shade, or change the tone, I think that works. It's when you outright change the color that doesn't work for me. That doesn't make it wrong, but that is just how I form my opinions!

So, when you first dyed it darker, I was one who didn't like it as much as the blonde. However, the darker shade has really grown on me over time!!!!! And I've grown to *really* love it on you. So now, seeing the lighter photos... I have to say, I prefer the first too. (ducking)

However, I do think you can go either way... there's just something about this shade of blonde that's not quite ideal for you. I have no idea what it is- the shade or the tone or what - and it could even be as simple as the lighting in the photo, or that the dye job is so new. I would give it a few shampoos though before deciding one way or another - my color always looks a lot different after about a week. It tones down.

Ana, you have a beautiful face. I prefer the darker color for the same reasons already mentioned. I also think you can do both colors, and switch for different seasons and moods. Sorry, I'm of no help.

Oh I also had to ask: Is that "my" J Crew cardi in the first picture? hehe. The color is stunning on you.

Ana,

I'm holding my ground:)....blonde for summer:) Lucky girl you can wear both:)

Blonde is fun for summer -- I like it! But overall I have to agree with the group that the darker shade somehow suits you better.

I like it both ways, but I think I like it better darker. But maybe next time take out some of the highlights? I like the blonde as a highlight, but right now it looks more like an all-over color.

It's difficult to compare the two pictures because of the difference in lighting and the fact that you say you have lots of makeup on in the first picture.
The first picture has better lighting and so looks better, but you are beautiful in both.

Ana I love both looks for you. The first hair color provides greater contrast which is quite striking (in a very good way). The second is softer, more muted and your fab specs provide wonderful contrast. Lighter is a fab summer look! I envy how you lovely lasses can change hair colors with seasons.

Wow, Ana! I like both colours equally well. To me, Ana will always be blonde. And I guess to Ana, I’ll always be blonde too.

I actually think people are being swayed by the quality of the first photograph. The first photo is just a better picture of you and your hairstyle. We can’t see the contrasts in your hair colour in the blonde pictures. I’d like to see a picture of you side on with your whole head with the new do. Also, the eye is attracted to contrast so your gut instincts of adding super blonde highlights is a good one. Remember when you had your second short hair cut before you went brunette? We saw lots of colours running through your blonde hair. This equals CONTRAST which is what makes it flattering. I hope that makes sense.

You have BEAUTIFUL eyes :0)

I second Angie and san. The lighting is too different to tell accurately. The first photo has much better lighting, but the blonde still seems really cute to me, especially with adding the super blonde tiny highlights. So...I vote blonde! :)

I don't know about the lighting part. Honestly, if Ana must be a blonde, I think it might be a different blonde. There is just something off about this shade to me. It just seems like it doesn't work as well with your skin tone. I also feel that the "dark" color (I put that in quotes because it's not really dark at all) has more dimension and variation in tone. I don't even really consider it "brunette," it just seems that way compared to the lighter color. I agree with Shiny completely. Maybe give it a few washes and see how it looks. Right now the tone just seems off. It seems like YOU prefer being blonde, so maybe it's just a question of finding the right blonde. I'm seeing more of an ash blonde, rather than a golden blonde.

Angie is right, blonde doesn't translate well in photos. Being able to see the dimension of the colors beyond this photo is what some of us are seeing.
As far as contrast, that can be altered by changing make up,as Ana has said she was wearing alot in the first photo.

This blonde does not look as pretty in the photo as in person I would imagine.
Yes, beautiful darker but, lovely lighter as well :)

I like the darker with the subtler highlights. It's SO flattering for your skin tone. (And my god, you are GORGEOUS.)

Hmm, Ana, will you be seeing Sarah and/or Patience any time soon? I guess if the blonde isn't going to translate well in photography, asking us doesn't really help. Maybe if they see you in person they can make a better assessment.

Maya,
I used to work with Henna's 20 yrs. or so ago. They are a great way to add color and shine to the hair. I haven't seen them around in ages , and I can't for the life of me figure out why...they were very popular for those who couldn't , or didn't want to go lighter...and they fade so nice. I will have to do some homework on this one...I am glad I read that you have done this. I will see if I can find Henna somewhere again.

Hmmm, Ana, I have to say I like it darker rather than lighter. I really liked the color shown in your cargo clams thread. Your stylist does a great job, but I just think your face is highlighted more with darker hair.

I agree with Maya -- it's the particular shade of light blonde that is troubling. I'd like to see it less ashy, more warm.

Oooh, henna. I've always wanted to try it, but my Asian hair is resistant to coloring without bleach. LUSH does a nice henna of different shades (the name is funny!):
http://www.lushusa.com/shop/pr.....-hair-dyes

Wow, thank you so much for the opinions, everyone! And the compliments, I'm really blushing. :)

The first photo is definitely better. I didn't have any other close up picture from when my hair was "darker," only that one, or else I would have used a different one. I don't usually wear that much makeup, I just came back from a makeup counter at a department store and they had put all sorts of it on me, I would never wear that much normally. Actually, the blonde photos are with me wearing makeup the way I normally do it. I just grabbed my camera and took some quick photos in natural light so you could get a better idea of the color. I think you guys are spot on about the tone. Since I've only washed it three times since I got it done, it's still quite vibrant and VERY warm. In my experience, that fades out after a week or two. Maya, I think you're onto something with the ash/platinum blonde. I think if I do highlights again, I will have him do closer to that color, rather than the golden blonde.

Angie, Brendan said I was back to being your twin, heh. I do remember that haircolor before I dyed it brown. Brendan likes it best that shade too, he was uncertain about this one. I just now realized after reading everyone's comments, and yours in particular Angie when you brought that up, that it's a bit of a multi-appointment process to get it to be like that. At that point, I had already been dying my hair blonde for a long time, and he added more highlights on top of it, so it was very multi-dimensional and had lots of different tones and texture to it. Since he just made it lighter this time, it only has one basic tone so far. But next time I go in, if I get it done again, then it will start to look more like it used to. I might not be able to do seasonal hair color, but commit to blonde for a while since it takes 3 or 4 appointments to really achieve what I'm after. I probably could have Bobby do it in 2 appointments, but that would probably entail double processing, and I like to give my hair a chance to recover if I'm bleaching it so it doesn't end up looking fried.

Hmm...I'm so wishy-washy, which is why you guys are a big help! :D Maybe I might give it a couple more appointments, since it's easy to dye it darker. Brendan likes the blonde best, and I feel kind of like it fits my personality best, which is why I lean towards coloring it like that. But I think the slightly darker shade is a bit more flattering with my skin tone, you all are right about that. That's why it's hard for me to make up my mind. Thank you again everyone! You all are so sweet! :)

Maya, I'm seeing Patience and Sarah on Thursday, so I will definitely get their opinions!

Brendan and I are on the same page, Ana! This has happened many times before if I recall correctly :0). I mentioned right in the beginning of your brunette days that you would always be a blonde to me because it suits who you are as a person – but that you wear both colours well. Does that ring a bell?

I’m ash and highlight the top platinum. You can see the back of my hair in this picture if you look in the mirror (yellow cardi):

http://youlookfab.com/2008/06/07/paris-adieu/

I like ALL the colours running through my hair because that creates depth and contrast (I tried dying it all one colour once and did not like it as much). You will get there again when your real hair colour starts coming through the roots and you chop other bits off, AND highlight the top part lighter. Know what I mean, jellybean? That’s the blonde and overall Ana hair colour hubby and I like best :0)

Make no mistake, Ana - you still look beautiful this colour blonde.

Oh thank you Angie, for the lovely compliment! :) I do remember what you said--I think you are right about blonde suiting my personality better.

The back of my hair looks a lot like yours--Bobby keeps it darker so when it grows out, I won't end up with the dreaded "root stripe," hee. I have another appointment in four weeks, so maybe I will get it highlighted again. I know Brendan really wants me to try it blonde again for a while. I think you and he have a similar aesthetic and outlook on things, it's true. :)

Maybe I will just need to wear a bit more makeup or something to make up for the contrast.