I May Very Well Regret This...
Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 1:07AM I don't know if any of you who don't actually know me care. Actually I don't know how many of you who DO know me care... but I'm coloring my hair in a few days. True to my nature, I'm going for something different. Even the "lost in translation" fear (how do you say "No cool tones!" in German?), and an unknown hairdressers skills, don't seem to be able to sway me from a Big Hair Change. I'm going chocolate brown. Deep, dark, (hopefully glossy) chocolate brown. I imagine that this is a bit tricky to do. My hair is naturally blond, and I hi-light it blonder. Will the brown stick? Will it be dull and icky? Will I look like a vampire?
I tried to find a picture of the brown I want, so you could see what I have in mind. Why aren't there pics on the web of "women with fair skin and brown hair" who are in their 40's, with slightly ruddy skin and crows feet, and maybe who are also a bit sleep-deprived??? All that I could find was Zooey Deschanel and Natalie Portman, and frankly - that just didn't help my optimism level much at all.
In spite of all of this, on Wednesday at 9:00am I have an appointment at the salon across the street. Ill let you know how it goes...
Here's me Before. Hell - if it doesn't work I can always just cut it all off and wear hats. Winter is on it's way...
Reader Comments (25)
Please, Please don't do it. You are not a brown hair person.............get some blonde highlights or something. Your hair looks fantastic as it is. Youe sister has brown hair but she also has a dark complexion like your dad. Your blond kids will look weird with a brown headed mom. It will make you look older...........go strawberry blond. You will have to change all your makeup.....
Please at least wait till I get there or go try on wigs or something. Brenna with brown hair?NO...NO...NO
Your frantic Mom
So thumbs up from you then, Mom? See you in a week!
I used to be blond, then white blonde, then red then dark chocolate brown. That one (looking back) wasn't so good on me (especially pregnant with Finnease when it turned into a Giant Black helmet) but I enjoyed trying them all. Heck I would color it purple if I weren't still pretending I might have an ER audition at any moment....oh I forgot no more ER - well whatever medical show has replaced it.
Now I am so grey I have to use whatever color will stick which turns out to be this reddish brown.
Hair grows back, hair can be cut, hair is just a toy! Go for it Maggie
I can't believe I mispelled my own son's name on that post! Maggie
Anxious to see the results. You can pull off anything, if you ask me!
Your Mom is right, your hair does rock! But I say go for it! Better brown than bright red or blue!!! No green or purple!!! It will always grow and yes, you can always wear hats! You ARE where people will not see you- well, at least the people who you know, love and care about.....except of course, your Mom. :-)
pssttt.... I love you no matter what color your hair is!
At first I thought this was Bobs post. It all made sense once I got to the picture.
I decided to go grey. It's cheaper.
Well, the way I see it is this... go for anything that sounds like fun and is a change from the norm. Isn't that what you're there for? However, that being said, because you are going the complete opposite of your natural color, you're going to have to face the roots within a few weeks of doing this. So unless you have a bottle of color you have translated and can use on yourself, you better find deep within yourself a sense of trust that all the places you are going to be visiting have a good colorist to manage your roots every 2-3 months. Otherwise be ready for the pepe le pieu look (I have no idea how to spell that but I'm sure you get it). Heck, that could be fun too. Can't wait for the pics.
I just got part of mine dark brown with chunks of blond in it. Thanks again Helen! I told her I wanted it just like hers cause it's so cool. Nobody has really noticed, but people do keep saying that I lost weight, so shoot girl give it a try! You never know what great thing might happen....
Your mom makes me laugh. I have your complexion. I have crows feet. I'm staring hard at 50. I LOVE my shiny brown hair. I can only imagine how much prettier it is going to be on you with your sunflower-edged blue eyes.
Aside: Went to Warren Hamilton's memorial service this afternoon. He died unexpectedly a couple weeks back. Standing room only, the room was filled with love. He was an award winning sound editor and loving mentor to many many an aspiring editor. Did Bob know him? He and Blanche had enjoyed a "romantic friendship" for a full year before his death. She is taking it pretty hard.
FRED this Thursday.
That's all.
Love, wh
Be very careful. The Germans like to experiment with crazy colors, so be very clear about what you want. Too bad you aren't in Switzerland. The family I used to live with are hairdressers.
Can't wait to see pictures. I finally broke down and colored my hair this summer and went brown. 'Course my hair has gotten darker over the years, so the actual color now lightened when I added auburn and brown lowlights.
There was a time when I had just put blue-black in...which nobody noticed, since my hair is naturally black. The next week, my friend Adrienne (who is now a famous hairdresser) offered to color my hair. I decided on platinum blonde, failing to mention the blue-black to Adrienne. She started peroxiding my hair. Well, it took 8 cycles of peroxide to get the blue-black out. My scalp was so burned that it was just one big scab. I was platinum for a couple of glorious weeks, after which all of my hair basically broke off near the root. Not an attractive look.
Since then, I've had every color under the sun.
I say, go for it. But don't go too dramatic, unless you are willing to get your roots done every other week.
Keine kuehle Farbe (or even better:) Toenung = no cool tones.
I don't know if that helps since you never know what comes out of a dye, depends always on the color you have beforehand as Rosalind mentioned so dramatically.
I don't care for dyes - did a while henna because I didn't like that grey /brown transition. I don't go to a hairdresser either, takes me 10 min. to cut my hair at home. Your mom is right regarding your complexion and that the blond goes really well with it, but if you've never tried it, go for it. Wigs are fun as well, good way to try a color I find, and a complete different style.
Good luck,
Barbara
Noona,
I think you look great - just as you are - or with the change. Your hair is actually getting long - and looks good.
This Just In: A team of reputable scientists have discovered recently that the need for constantly changing ones hair color has been found, for the most part, to be genetically based!
Much, Much Love,
Dad
BRENNA! WAIT FOR EDINBURGH!!! PLLLLEEEEEEEEEAAASE!
I've already had to talk Daisy down off the ledge after a German hair-raising hair dressing MISTAKE!!!! Please! Contact Daisy first! PLEASE!!! (Hate to make sweeping generalizations, but, in this area, it's fair game!).
Seriously-- Daisy is going to have to live with the consequences of "German hair experimentation" for a few years to come. You don't have to. Besides-- those Scots are really great at hair, and they even sort of speak your language!!
My two cents!!
Miss you guys!
Love to the family!!!
oxo
Erin
How about a temporary dye? Less expensive, less damaging, and the color will *gradually* fade, so you have options. Re: the dark hair + blue eyes + light complexion, just look at the "Black Irish" -- stunning! Re: looking like a vampire, well, Romania is just next door.
Loving your blog! Just a footnote to Lima's comment - you will need touch ups every 4-6 weeks not 2-3 months unless you like the look of 1-1.5 " of regrowth showing. But I'm hoping you won't too. Sorry!
17 comments! What strong feelings the topic of hair color stirs! I remember having the “hair talk” with you before you guys left. I’ve seen you in various shades of brown, red, blonde, strawberry blonde, with highlights, without highlights…. I’m sure I’m missing a few. Can’t wait to see the pics of what you decide to do!
Lol, I'm amazed at so many comments too. And then I add my own as well!!
I loved reading your mom & dad's input, your fam has always made me laugh-- love it!
All I was going to say was that the dark colours are really popular here in SA now. Everybody is dying their hair dark and I think it's cool. When in Rome do as the Romans do. . .
I've never seen so many passionate posts! Your mom rules. Don't forget the new lipstick before you leave the salon.