If you’re new to the do-it-yourself Hair Colouring game, Brunette’s are a pretty good place to start. Although they require more attention than pulling any box off the supermarket shelf, the art of perfecting your Brunette and going Dark smart is an easy process once you choose the right Hair Colour.
So before you start, ask yourself these 3 things:
1. How Dark do you really want to go? Are you looking for an extreme change, one to two shades Darker or are you looking to boost your Natural shade.
2. What Colour are you starting with? Are you Colouring over Colour? Are you Colouring over Blonde or transforming your Natural shade? Knowing this answer is key to your Developer choice.
3. What kind of Hair do you have? For example: Does your Hair Natural have a Warm or Cool pigment? Let's say you have Warmer pigments in your Hair and you choose a Warm Brunette, your Hair might be way too Warm for your liking.
Once you’ve answered them, move onto choosing which of the 3 types of Brunette shades you want to be: Natural, Warm or Cool.
Natural Brunette
These are simple, Natural Colours with no extra Colour pigments or reflects. They are smooth, classic Colours that give you a solid, glossy Hair Colour.
Suits
All Skin Undertones.
Features
Low maintenance Hair Colour.
Use if you Naturally carry a lot of Warmth and want to boost your Colour, while keeping your Natural Warmth.
Great grey coverage.
Favourites
3 Dark Brown our darkest, glossy Dark Brown hue.
The Natural Brunette is the Colour mix we created when 3 is too Dark and 5 isn’t Dark enough.
5 Light Brown aka your classic Brunette. It’s Dark enough without being too Dark.
6 Dark Blonde is perfect when you want a Colour where Brunette’s finish and Blondes begin.
Warm Brunettes
Warm Brunettes have added Chocolate, Golden, Copper or Red pigments for a Warmer, richer Colour. We refer to them a lot as sun kissed because of their Bronzed glow. These rich pigments reflect Light, making your Hair look thicker, shiny and full of energy.
Suits
Warm Skin Undertones.
Features
Warms up and adds life to a dull or Cool Hair Colour.
A cheats way to adding thickness and dimension to your Hair Colour in one process (by that we mean, without having to do Highlights).
Brings the spirit back into the Hair and complexion.
Great grey coverage.
Favourites
5.3 Golden Brown is the endless summer Brunette. It’s drenched in Golden hues and vitality.
5.53 Chocolate Brown has rich, Golden Tones that bring enormous depth and Light into the Colour making the Hair looking thick and voluminous.
The Chestnut Brunette packs Warmth and Vibrancy into your Colour, with Golden toasty Chestnut hues and a Copper hit.
Cool Brunettes
Cool Brunettes are Natural based Colours mixed with Cool Ash or Beige pigments to create a silky, softer Toned Colour.
Suits
Cool Skin Undertones.
Features
Cool Tones counteract Warmth.
Low key Colour.
Get a Toned, sleek Colour without Warmth.
Favourites
6.2 Dark Beige Blonde will give you a Cool, crisp Light Brown shade.
5 Light Brown mixed with 7.1 Ash Blonde Colour mixture gives a blend of Natural Brown hues and Ash pigments, for a silky, polished Ash Brunette.
Choosing your Developer
If you are going from Light to Dark use a No Lift Developer because you don’t require any lift. If you have pesky Grey’s use 20 Volume Developer for 100% Grey coverage and a long lasting Colour. For those of you who have very Lightened Blonde Hair and you want to Colour your Hair at least 3 shades Darker read our Guide to going Dark you may need a filler Colour to build your Brunette.
Applying the Colour
Warning. Colouring with Brunette’s is messy. The darker Colour stains a lot easier so keep it off the scalp and watch how you paint around the Hairline and ears.
Start Colouring in the back, as your finer Hairs around your face need less time to process otherwise they will look a lot Darker.
If this is a big transition for you, don’t freak out when you see your new head of Hair in the mirror. Your Darker shade may take some getting used to and after a few days and washes will start to settle in.
