Highlights? Lowlights? All over color? Help!

[HaleyB]

Help, I am so lost. I have never colored my hair in any way. I hardly ever even get a 'good' cut. I don't wear make-up. I never fuss over my hair at all...

But you see, I can't keep pulling out the gray hairs forever. So I made an appointment at a real salon. And I said I wanted to have my hair colored... and then Daren started fireing off the questions. Highlights? Lowlights? All over color?

So, not wanting to admit to a man that even though I am old enough to have gray hair, I have no idea what he was talking about, I said 'highlights'.

Did I do good? Is that what I want? Here is the thing, it has to be something that will not be horrible if I let it grow out too long. Because I am terrible about stuff like that.

Help!

 

[HaleyB]

Hey, check it out, I have a new tag!

Man, I hope I don't get another one from this thread, lol.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

I never put anything on my hair until last year.I am blonde and as I am getting older my blonde is turning to a not so pretty blonde.
So I went and had highlights done.I think you are better doing that if you dont like to have your hair done alot.I can go about 12 weeks before having to have mine done again.
Having it highlighted makes you look so much better and it makes hair very shiny.I love it when I first get mine done

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

What color is your natural?

I have high and lowlights. Lowlights become necessary when you have your hair highlighted.

I say go for a whole look--get a new hairstyle, dab on a little makeup, and live it up! I think you'll realize how much fun it can be.

 

[beckmrk04]

If you're not used todoing anything with your hair, do highlights. They'll dye sections of your hair to frame your face, it freshens up your whole look, and if it starts growing out, you don't have horrible roots.

When you get there- BE HONEST with the people at the salon- tell them you want something fresh and to cover grays, but it MUST below maintenance. No since in kidding yourself or them that you're going to spend major amounts of time on your hair when you're not. (I'm the same way. My hairdresser was SO proud when I finally got a hair straightener... But, she knows me and knows that I'm not willing to spend a lot of time on my hair, so she gives me good cuts and color that make my life easier).

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Make sure you get the cost ahead of time. I have been getting highlights for a few years--I get grays, but I can still manage them by pulling them out. Now she also does something called "breaking the base" (I think) which must be like lowlights--it's like evening it out since my real hair color is getting progressively darker (yuk). It costs $99! I haven't gone since August because I don't like coughing up the cash. I may start getting all-over color soon, because it's cheaper and I can do it more often.
Right now I have a box of clairol colorsilk I bought--but I'm too chicken too do it--I may ask our cosmetology teacher to do it during my free period.
Robin M.

 

[momsgonwild]

I use to pull the gray hairs out too. When I started finding 4 or 5 gray hairs at a time, I decided on highlights. There is not much to do for maintenance.
I figured better to have highlights than to go bald from plucking.

 

[HaleyB]

Thanks!
Ok, sounds like highlights it is. My appointment is for next Tuesday, I'll keep you posted.

 

[Antonia]

My hair is naturally very dark. For several years I struggled with keeping it colored to hide the gray. I, too, am not the type to spend a bundle of money or time on hair that has to be redone frequently. About 6 months ago I decided not to color it anymore. I am 45 years old and my gray is coming out. I have some nice silver streaks among the black and now I often get compliments on it. I decided to love it and not fight it. I do try to keep it conditioned and well cut and I do always wear makeup and lipstick so that my complexion is not drab. I also always wear great silver earrings that go well with my silvery streaks. So far I am happy with it, but I do think you have to keep graying hair conditioned well and always clean and well cut or it will start to really drag you down. These are just my current thoughts on hair.

 

[cats mom]

Thanks!
Ok, sounds like highlights it is. My appointment is for next Tuesday, I'll keep you posted.

Yep - sounds like you did good.

I only started with a little color when the grays got a bit much.

I do both highlights and lowlights.
My highlights are a few shades lighter than my natural color then I get a kind of auburn shade for the lowlights.
I think it just adds a bit more depth and helps blend the highlights more.

I don't get the lowlights touched up every time - maybe every other or every third time of highlights.

I do tend to drag my appointments out a lot further than suggested.

I hope you love your new look!

 

[beckmrk04]

My hair is naturally very dark. For several years I struggled with keeping it colored to hide the gray. I, too, am not the type to spend a bundle of money or time on hair that has to be redone frequently. About 6 months ago I decided not to color it anymore. I am 45 years old and my gray is coming out. I have some nice silver streaks among the black and now I often get compliments on it. I decided to love it and not fight it. I do try to keep it conditioned and well cut and I do always wear makeup and lipstick so that my complexion is not drab. I also always wear great silver earrings that go well with my silvery streaks. So far I am happy with it, but I do think you have to keep graying hair conditioned well and always clean and well cut or it will start to really drag you down. These are just my current thoughts on hair.

I think that is great!! I had a teacher in HS and I lovedher salt'n'pepper hair, and she had one really white streak in front. I always said that if I go gray like that, I'm staying natural.

AND- Paula Deen (my favorite Food Network chef) is all gray and she looks great. I think she and her husband look like Santa and Mrs. Claus!!! They are SO cute!!!