I did this again last night.
It has been about five months since I last dyed my hair, which I think may be the longest I have ever gone. My roots look awful, but most of the black has faded to a dark brown that I quite like.
Can anyone recommend a dark brown dye that doesn’t have red undertones? Preferably one that doesn’t fade instantly.
45 Comments
haha! naughty naughty, anna! last time i went and chopped my bangs, my hairstylist yelled at me. i remember we used to have to talk eachother down from doing this 😉 you did a damn fine job, though.
xo
Wow, you are way braver (and more skilled) than me. Every time I chop at my own bangs, I start to look more and more hayseed-with-scissors. Not my best look…cute job, though!
Ah, my life-long study– brown hair dye with no red tones. I currently use this: http://www.amazon.com/Naturtint-Permanent-Light-Chestnut-Ounces/dp/B0001TQCSO/ref=pd_sbs_bt_2 because my natural hair color is dark brown and I’m trying to cover grey, so I go a shade or two lighter than I think I want my hair to be and it works out perfectly. I switched to this brand in order to avoid ammonia & parabens. Otherwise I found that with most commercial hair colors I just had to avoid the words “golden” or “warm” and that eliminated the red tones.
I love those photos of you !!! SO CUTE !!!!
Long-live girls with bangs !!!!
hee hee! nose stubble!
ooh, that makes me start to feel itchy!
I’ve been using the Loreal Natural Match in Natural Black. It looks pretty brown/black for the first few days, and then is the best super-dark brown w/NO RED that I’ve found over the counter. It doesn’t fade super quickly, but it’s also semi-permanent, so eventually (after a few months) the roots blend right in!
Redken Color Fusion has an ash-green line that is great at correcting/preventing red undertones, as is the Schwarzkopf “matt” line (but I don’t know how dark it goes).
ah way toooo scary!
I hate to be a downer, but a number of studies have shown a correlation between prolonged permanent hair dye use and fatal cancers. Women who used darker hair dyes over long periods,showed an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma. But for all I know, that could be a bunch of crock. It’s gotta be safer than cigarettes, right?
That photo is so funny, don’t show it to fritz or he’ll be terribly confused!
I would recommend l’oreal..(because your worth it)
the symbio range, a direct semi-permanent and the colour I use is arabica rum toffee .
How was mr.morrissey ?
I have the same problem. Both of them! I’ve tried both Revlon and Loreal’s dark ash brown… but they both get brassy too quickly. And I just trimmed my bangs again yesterday. haha
wow, that cut looks professional! And great eyes.
RE: cancer risk — The only parts of the body where dye can possibly be absorbed are the lips, palms, and bottoms of the feet. Otherwise, dye away. There is no risk.
I recommend a pro dye job to match roots.
don’t know the answer to your question but i do know that you have very pretty skin!
I like it! I know Natural Instincts dark brown has no red undertones, but it is semi permanent. Don’t leave it on longer than 10 min, or it can go black.
Ha hilarious! I only just cut my fringe too and made the same mess 🙂 But my problem is always that I decide to start cutting just before I need to leave for work and am all dressed and ready. So I spend all day finding teeny hair bits allllll over myself!
I use Feria natural black. I used to rock the blue-black, but I’ve grown out of it in my older age. I love it because it’s a brown/black result and it doesn’t fade profusely or turn me red/brown. You and I have the same skin tone/eye color, so I think it’d look good on you.
Natural Instincts #28 Nutmeg. It is not permanent but I have been using it for a few years now that I don’t dye my hair black anymore. It is a nice chocolate brown.
i have been using fructis sweet cola and i love it!
I used Revlon Black-Brown for years and liked it. It was whatever was like $3.99 at the store. I was really skeptical at first, since it was so cheap, but a friend recommended it when I said that I didn’t want any blue or red undertones and didn’t want ink black any more. It worked! Didn’t wash out too much either.
Good luck!
Sorry I don’t have a dye recommendation, but OMG I just need to vent that growing out super short spiky hair is a FREAKING NIGHTMARE. My last cut (and dye) was October and after seeing this photo I want to grab some clippers so badly it’s giving me the shakes. (Better down the beer next to me…fast).
how about henna based? i dont know the name. but if you go to chinatown, there is this really amazing henna based hair dye. my mom has been using it forever. it’s natural and it’s totally black, dark brown and all that. when my mom comes next time, i’ll ask for the empty box so you see how it looks.
I use henna – there is almost always a reddish undertone. It can be toned down with black coffee and other things but mixing it is not an exact science. Last time I used a chesnut color with coffee and apple cider vinegar and it didn’t come out with red – but I don’t know if it was just by chance!
love clairol perfect10 medium ash brown swift chocolate
– and it takes only 10 minutes!
I did this too last night and the fringe (which of course any good hairdresser will always tell you is sinful, yet I can’t resist)
This is too weird, I don’t really know you but sometimes I feel our lives are a little parallel, but mostly I just really want your house.
Anyway, I also use Clairol, I use the dark brown, no red in it, looks sharp.
I’m always hacking my bangs too…usually wind up with at least one of those little hairs in my eye…ouch.
ahhhhh! that is my hell. All those little hairs. I would die!
I love your bangs, Anna… 🙂
This looks familiar – I just cut my hair and am still finding hair all over the place. Lately, the best haircuts are the ones I do myself.
I *just* re-dyed my hair dark brown– and it looks black. No highlights at all (unfortunately, this was not what I wanted!). But sounds right up your alley.
Clairol Nice ‘n Easy 121A, Natural Darkest Brown.
I’ll send you some links to ‘before’ and ‘after’ pics on my Flickr page.
I’ve always wondered why Americans call them bangs? It cracks me up! Then again, in Australia we call it a fringe, maybe that is just as weird to you guys.
I wish I could wear bangs but I have been told that my forehead is too small and now I can never overcome that. :p Looks great on you though!
Redken!
I just did it today. Go for cold tones they are without red reflex.
Looks super*
A_
I just got bangs cut after not having them for almost 11 years. I, in no way, could ever cut straight bangs like you just did. It’d probably look like my 2 year old niece was playing beauty shop 🙂
I agree with Alexandra that Redken is the way to go.
I use this very basic, probably-not-good-for-me dye:
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp165987_333181_sespider/clairol_nicen_easy/hair_color_natural_dark_brown_120.htm
I also use the Natural DarkEST brown, but that makes everyone say “when did you dye your hair black?” so make sure you know which you prefer!
I involuntarily rubbed my nose when I saw that picture. 🙂
I second Jennifer’s recommendation! It took me forever to find a rich, dark brown with NO red tones, and it’s L’Oreal’s Natural Match (permanent) in color 4C.
I use Clairol Perfect 10 in Shade 4 Dark Brown/Expresso on the Double.
It’d a nice dark DARK rich brown. It looks pretty black at first, then lightens up after the first few shampoos to a dark neutral brown. I used to use Garnier Nutrisse’s 30 (Ebony) which started out lovely, but faded to red rather quickly.
I like almost nothing about the Perfect 10: it stinks, it makes my scalp burn, it’s a gross display of excess packaging; the colour, unfortunately, is really gorgeous.
I go to Bumble + Bumble.
There is no comparison to having the dye mixed just right and done professionally by an hair colorist artist.
Fantastic photo!
Very nice – now onto the bathroom.
I use Frederic Fekkai Salon Color in 4N – Jennifer. It’s really the best hair dye. It comes with a little bowl and brush for even application.
I use Loreal Barely Black on my daughter’s hair. Her natural color is darkish brown with red undertones, and this color gives her that more dramatic look, with no red.
The Naturtint is a great brand they sell it at whole foods as well. Your hair will feel better than it did before the coloring. Also Fredreric Fekkai makes a pro line you can find it at better stores like bloomies or nordstroms. The Natural Instincts at stores like cvs or target also work get the golden tone line. its semi permeant but I find the permeant damaging and it fades as fast anyway. The Naturtint line is the best permeant/non damaging I have tried without going to my salon. You can also get pro coloring at a beauty store the same one your colorist uses just get the #s from them if they are cool they will give you the info. Good luck, love your blog.
All dark permanent dyes will leave red undertones, that’s why you HAVE to use semi-permanent, and simply dye your hair more often. I’d suggest Natural Instincts.