I should spend my time alone figuring out how to post a pic! I have dark brown hair-I dye it because I have A LOT of grey. I have had grey since 21! I use med golden brown but it turns out dark on me and has a lot of red in the sun. My hair is getting long and the ends are a lot darker than the tops even though I just put the dye on my roots and just comb it through quickly then rinse it. I will be having some of the ends cut off anyway. I am very fair and my dark hair makes me look washed out. I am thinking of highlights but I don't know what kind. I also probably won't be able to keep up on going to the salon to keep getting them done because it would get very expensive. I could do it now and just enjoy it for a little while. I feel so frumpy that I think I need a change like this.
So, I will keep my hair dark brown but what color should the highlights be? I naturally have some auburn in my hair so should I go with red tones, or try to get the red out of my hair and go with amber or chestnut? I don't want the "frosted" look so I am thinking chunkier highlights. Then part of me is thinking like a cool fire engine red.
Help! I made an appointment for tomorrow afternoon.
So what do all you beauty experts have to say. I am willing to try anything. It's only hair ;)
Jen
I'll take a before and after pic, maybe DH can figure out how to post them.

I get block coloring, but you'll really want to find an actual colorist if you're getting highlights done...some are better than others!

What is block coloring? I'll call them tommorow and ask if the person doing my hair is a colorist. I live in a small town and I don't really have too many options. I do notice a lot of women with cool hair coloring/ highlighting here though. Maybe I should just stop one of them and ask them where they got their hair done.
But, no, I am too shy.
Tell me more about block coloring. I can enquire about it then. Oh, the person I have the appointment with is Serenity. With a name like that she has to be cool, right?
or in recovery...

It's tri-level coloring. Usually the back underneath is quite a bit darker. I have caramel, blonde and a darker color underlying. It's kind of the "in" color job right now, you see a lot of short 'dos" with it. Your stylist will know and can show you samples.

Ok, now I want to see a pic of you! Or at least your hair ;)
That sounds neat. Is it something that you can do once or twice or something that needs expensive maintenance?
Thanks
Jen

Hi...I'm a hair stylist and first off....the reason your ends are darker is because they are more porous and everytime you pull the color through...you are adding more color to already colored hair. And because your roots are so close to your scalp (lots of body heat) this will cause "brighter" results. It's best not to run the color all the way through every time. Maybe like every other time at the most. And only if your ends have been trimmed up. Make sure to tell your stylist that you color your hair and write down what you use...this is very important information when you want hightlights or color...they use different products then you use at home...this makes a HUGE difference in how your hair will turn out. She should tell you that the only way to get hightlights on colored hair is with high lift (or bleach)....color WILL NOT lift color. You cannot get a really bright contrast with color on color. If you get chunky highlights...the maintenance will be greater. More natural highlights is a lot easier to maintain if cost is a concern. And I would request a partial foil...you don't need a full foil...if you wear your hair up a lot..then just ask her how much more it would be for a few foils underneath....this will save you BIG BUCKS usually. At the Salon I worked at the price diff between a partial and full was at least $30. Sorry this is so long...just wanted to give you some pointers and hope it helps...if you lived near me I would do your hair for really cheap just cuz I love doing hair!!!!

Thank you for all that info. I never wear my hair up. I don't really care if it looks all that natural so long as it brightens things up a bit. I use loreal hair color, preference or excellence. I should have stuck with one but sometimes one is on sale. Those are the only ones that will cover my gray. I need my hair colored as well as highlighted tomorrow. I have a lot of gray happening. My hair grows so fast. I wish you lived near!
Thanks
Jen

Originally posted by Vanity Fair
It's tri-level coloring. Usually the back underneath is quite a bit darker. I have caramel, blonde and a darker color underlying. It's kind of the "in" color job right now, you see a lot of short 'dos" with it. Your stylist will know and can show you samples.

I have this done as well...gives your hair nice dimension. I am actually going to go and have my hair totally changed tomorrow...if I don't chicken out. I've worn my hair with the "blocking" style for some time now...I need to find something else I guess.

Oh and some stylists call it "highlights and lowlights" and you can ask them to make them chunkier or finer...then you have the back at the bottom done one solid color.

Originally posted by Evan&Annekasmom
Thank you for all that info. I never wear my hair up. I don't really care if it looks all that natural so long as it brightens things up a bit. I use loreal hair color, preference or excellence. I should have stuck with one but sometimes one is on sale. Those are the only ones that will cover my gray. I need my hair colored as well as highlighted tomorrow. I have a lot of gray happening. My hair grows so fast. I wish you lived near!
Thanks
Jen

I really like these products by L'Oreal...Colour Experte - http://www.couleurexperte.com/ - I used to use this all of the time...and then they have a new product that looks great...Hi Light Styliste - http://www.lorealparisusa.com/haircolor/products/hilightstyliste/index.asp

you could do something along the lines of what Erin suggested if you have do highlights with bleach (like Shilowe said, you can only go lighter if bleach is used because you have colored hair) and have them add a few low-lights with a color slightly darker than the color your hair is now. If very thin pieces are woven out to low-light and the darker color is only painted on to the point where your ends are darker it can even really help blend the darker ends in. And it will add dimension to the color...give the lighter pieces something more to stand out against.

And I totally agree with going for a partial highlight. Unless you have short hair or very layered hair it won't make much difference and it can save a ton of money. It's been almost 10yrs since I've worked as a hairdresser but back then, at the salon I worked at, a full highlight started at $85 and a partial was $35.

I had it done today. I am kinda dissapointed. Here is the whole long story that I PMed Shilowe (mrs.inchworm) for her hair stylist advise.
Sorry it is long and full of typos! Maybe someone else could give me advise on how to handle it. It was a HUGE treat to myself, I never spend that kind of money but DH and I each got to pick a slurge with out tax refund.

Here goes-

I hope you don't mind me bugging you about my hair/highlights but I need some advise.
I had a cut/color and highlight done today. I really liked the stylist and the color and cut look good. It is really rare that I get a decent haircut.
We did a darker brown ans evened out the tone an got rid of the brassiness. I am surprized it actually looks better on me and doesn't wash me out.
She has ben doing hair for 18 years and really seems to know her stuff. She is also from my hometown and she named the salon she worked at there, it is the top salon in that area. Just to find someone that understood my problem hair (very thick, odd callicks (sp) frizzy texture in the front. Most systlist diffuse dry my hair to "bring out the curl" That just bring out the frizz! I have fine hair but just lots of it! It seems like that would work but I need my hair to be dried with tension to tame it then I can us a product to "scrunch" wave in it. She understood that and did a good job and my hair looks great, she was very skilled at thinning hair also and it is a lot more manageable and not frumpy anymore. I was there from 11-4! She had to use twice the amount of highlight and color because my hair is so thick and it took so long to do all the foil and I kinda felt bad. I was surprized that the total cost for this was only $70 (I am in CA mind you) I was expecting over $100, I thought like $120. It is the top salon in the area. I did tip her well.
Ok, after all that here is my problem. I showed her a pic of the highlights I wanted. I was going for a fun look, a burgundy violetish color, one that would really stand out. I can't see my highlights. I couldn't really while I was there but the stylist next to her said how she liked the highlights and that it looked nice on me. She didn't lift the color enough. I mentioned the hair colors I had been using and I was concerned that because the color I picked out was dark as was the main hair color. She said something about adding something to it that would make it show up more.
What do I do? The pic I showed her had a woman with really cute obvious highlights in the color I choose. Maybe she didn't understand me. I called back to talk to her about this and what we could do but she is gone until Monday. She did foil all over, all I really would want would be if she could lift some color and I could get some moe dramatic ones on top and around my face. Can something like this be done (lifting color) so soon afer having it dyed?
I don't expect he to do it for free. It really doesn't look like the photo I showed her at all though. It gives a slight cast to my hair in really bright light. Near my roots were I had the most gray I can see some of the color best, if I look hard.
I am bummed because I wanted to surprize DH with my funky hair. She also used a dye that is for gray, that might be harder to lift.
Sorry, this is so long but I just don't know how to approach it.
My neighbor saw me when I was walking in from getting it done and said "I like your hair, so you decided against getting highlights?"
She cuts hair well and I don't want to burn bridges or make her feel bad. I didn't say anything before I left. I thought I would get outside and notice them or something. I am so uncomfortable in these kind of situations.
So, what should I tell her when she calls me? What would be resonable to expect? I can't afford much but I would not let her correct it without paying her. I really just think it was a missunderstanding.
Sorry about the novel!
I nned to send you a little something for your help!
Do you like Tami's soap?
Thanks again
jen

Danielle-she did a full highlight, as well as coloring the rest of my hair and cut and style for $70, and I don't live in a cheap area (there is no cheap area in CA!) I saw something in the window that said 20% off services but she didn't mention that it was a special.
The amount of time she spent alone! Maybe they should charge extra for thick hair. That is why I would want to pay her something for fixing it if she can. I definately needed a bleach lift, I have really dark hair. I don't care about a full highlight, just around the face would be cool if they were dramatic.
Jen

I definately needed a bleach lift, I have really dark hair. I don't care about a full highlight, just around the face would be cool if they were dramatic.

Don't feel bad calling her. I'm sure she'd be happy to add a bit more drama around the face. Personally, when I was dealing with someone I didn't know I tended to be more cautious than daring. It's so so much easier to add a few lighter/brighter/chunkier foils in key spots than to un-do something that someone feels it too dramatic for them. It's the nature of the business...I doubt it will phase her at all. I'm sure she'd rather tweak it and have you love your hair :)

Dannielle, thank you for your response!
I couldn't have seen it from that perspective and does make a lot of sense.
She seemed like a real sweetheart so I am sure she will be willing to help me get the look I want.
The person that answers the phone when I called mentioned she was new there (not sure why she said that). She also said "I am sure she will take care of that for you".
Maybe her prices were low so she could attact reqular clients?
She told me that she waitresses at a local restaurant and had to call them while I was waiting before rinsing my hair out to see if they were open. With me being there that many hours we had a lot of time to talk! They are doing construction and are over a week behind when they said they would re-open. When we got to talking about waitressing and it became really clear to me that she needs to get back to work there after missing over 4 weeks pay. She didn't say as much but it was clear.
That is another reason I wouldn't let her fix the highlights for free. If she does do that I will tip a lot
anyway!
Thank you for your insight from a hair stylist's point of view.
Jen