I’m guessing/assuming that most of us here have naturally black or dark brown hair- those of you that have dyed and/or highlighted your hair, can you give your experience with that?
What is your natural color and what color did you have done?
What technique was used?
What was the starting condition of your hair (as in: healthy, dry, damaged, etc) and how did the color affect the condition of your hair?
How long did the color last and did it fade well?
Anything else you want to share!
I wanted to go ash brown and minimally damaging was the condition. So she did all over permanent color that had a violet toner and still my hair was disgustingly orange. My hair just pulls orange. I went home unhappy but I didn't want to look like I had dumped mehndi on my head so went back and she ran a gold toner to tone down the red. Almost 2 months later, the red is back and I'm pretty unhappy. I don't want to lift the hair color and then recolor my hair so by fall I'm just gonna go a shade or two dark with violet toner. That tends to work on me.
Re: your hair color experiences
My natural hair colour is light brown, rather like this:
In the past, I’ve dyed my hair dark chocolate brown, coppery red and caramel/ash blonde. My current hair colour (as of a couple of weeks) is much lighter and is this rather white blonde, like this:
I usually get my hair coloured at the salon as I’m not really a hair person (and I don’t trust myself to do it! Lol), so I’m not terribly certain what technique was used. My hair is more or less healthy. Colouring it hasn’t damaged it terribly. When I coloured my hair red/copper, it was a bit damaged though. I found that the colour is difficult to maintain (it gets dull rather quickly) and requires touch ups quite frequently, which dried out my hair a bit.
Re: your hair color experiences
^Mine's that colour now :D
Re: your hair color experiences
after 6 years of coloring, experimenting, highlighting, my hair now is so damaged. i wouldn't recommend anyone coloring their hair unless they have alot of greys.
the first few times, your hair wont be damaged but repeated coloring is very damaging. my hair was very shiny and silky, and now it has lost that shine. i haven't colored in over a year so the new hair is getting better and hopefully it will return to its original state once all the colored hair grows out.
Re: your hair color experiences
Biotin is brilliant for strengthening and and thickening hair..
Mine would probably have all broken off by now if it wasn't for that lol.. and regular deep conditioning treatments/masks (Phyto does an AMAZING one)..
At one point I was having my roots bleached every 2 weeks.. Can't put your hair under much more stress than that..
Okay I’m gonna put myself out there and take a risk but now I really wanna see MEGz. Seriously your hair is GORG!!! That natural hair color of yours is what I want but I would settle for ashy darker brown. Lucky girl!!!
Deebs.. you too?!? Check out the blondies!!! And don’t tell me you have more fun!!! 
Re: your hair color experiences
My natural color is black. I've dyed it various shades of red several times, especially burgundy. I used the Feria Power Reds line.
Recently got my hair permed and saw a stylist with purplish-burgundyish-brown hair that I really liked. If I feel up for a color change in the future, might go for that and I think such a color would look better on shorter to medium hairstyles. But for now I like my natural color. I have used Lush's henna brick in noir to intensify my natural color and I really like it. The product lasted me a long time and added more shine to my hair. I will buy again, iA.
Re: your hair color experiences
I’m too much of a chicken to try any change of hair color. I’ve never done any highlights or coloring, and have only tried mehndi once (didn’t do anything). I even made appointments for highlights/color and canceled them last minute because I’m a scaredy cat when it comes to color 
Re: your hair color experiences
I recently went for a little lighter base color with highlights because of lots and lots of grey hair .
I had jet black hair so the grey hair were more visible and obvious among black . Now I have coffee brown .
But I am not happy with the results . The highlights have started to fade and they look like dry grass. And the roots are back again after like two months or so . Hair is also not as shiny and soft as they were . = (
Everyone says mehndi is a better option .
Re: your hair color experiences
DO IT!!! DO IT!!! DO IT!!!
Especially if you’re trying highlights…if you’re scared of drastic and sudden change then go with peek-a-boo highlights…they’re amazing!!!
Ask the stylist to go only a few shades lighter than your natural colour and you’re love it. I promise!
Here’s a sample:
Do it for Eid!!!
And remember…if you don’t like it then you can just colour it back to your natural tone. No long-term commitment required.
Re: your hair color experiences
hahaha- this is exactly why I started this thread 
I really want a change but really worried about the damage from lightening up such dark hair!
Re: your hair color experiences
hey- nice pic! thanks for posting 
btw what is your personal experience with color?
Re: your hair color experiences
My natural color is black. I've dyed it various shades of red several times, especially burgundy. I used the Feria Power Reds line.
Recently got my hair permed and saw a stylist with purplish-burgundyish-brown hair that I really liked. If I feel up for a color change in the future, might go for that and I think such a color would look better on shorter to medium hairstyles. But for now I like my natural color. I have used Lush's henna brick in noir to intensify my natural color and I really like it. The product lasted me a long time and added more shine to my hair. I will buy again, iA.
I'm surprised the boxed reds worked on black hair..doesn't dark hair need to be lifted first to achieve any kind of lighter color?
how is the condition of your hair now?
thanks :)
Re: your hair color experiences
Muzna I love that..it’s what I’m secretly dying to do…I just need that push…and a prayer that my husband doesn’t kill me 
Re: your hair color experiences
don’t worry…he won’t kill you if it’s subtle…and this is very, very subtle…
he’ll love it.
about 10 years ago I did the same thing.
coloured my hair red…just by applying the boxed colour.
no lifting was needed.
the only problem with reds is that they fade very quickly…
Re: your hair color experiences
I'm surprised the boxed reds worked on black hair..doesn't dark hair need to be lifted first to achieve any kind of lighter color?
how is the condition of your hair now?
thanks :)
I thought that too and was very pleasantly surprised. No, it didn't need to be lifted. I admit that I kept the dye on longer than it said in the instructions, maybe 30-35 mins longer. But the red and burgundy shaded definitely showed up even under the dim lighting at work, lol.
Re: your hair color experiences
don't worry...he won't kill you if it's subtle.......and this is very, very subtle.... he'll love it.
about 10 years ago I did the same thing. coloured my hair red......just by applying the boxed colour. no lifting was needed.
the only problem with reds is that they fade very quickly.....
Reds do bleed quickly. It's best to avoid really warm water when washing hair, it makes reds bleed more. And you can try shampoos that lock-in the red.
If you want a subtle look or change but without the chemicals of dye, then look into Lush's henna blocks. They come in various shades, black, brown, flaming red. I haven't tried the brown and red cuz I wanted to intensify my hair color so I went for the noir, and it dud make my hair darker as well as shinier. So, I'm curious how the others blocks turn out. It's 25 bucks, all natural, an interesting brick shape divided in squares, that you chop off and let dissolve in warm water.
I am so scared to do anything to my hair. I almost got red highlights a year back but then I didn't do it.
I have dark brown hair naturally. Really wanna experiment with the color one day. Love the peek a boo highlights idea by Muzna.
Re: your hair color experiences
I've been wanting to go red for ages but haven't had the guts..
It's the only sort of colour which scares me..