Going from blonde to brunette may seem to some like a trivial decision, but when you really think about it, it’s a lengthy process that comes with a lot of questions: Do you really want to do such a drastic change? Will it have any impact on how you feel about your physical appearance? Will it affect the health of your hair? Should you do it gradually or all at once?
As with all major makeovers, it’s important to take the time to think things through and consider all elements involved, so that you can make a fully informed decision. At the end of the day, you want to feel confident and happy about your decision; not stressed out over dealing with surprise issues.
How to Transition from Blonde to Brunette Hair
1. Try it Out First
There are several applications that allow you to upload a picture of yourself so that you can “try on” different hair colors before you actually visit a colorist. If you’re not the tech type, you can also try on wigs in different shades of brown to see how dark you want to go (auburn, bronze, caramel, black-brown, etc…)
2. Hire a Professional
Once you know which hue you want, this is not the time to have your best friend come over and color your hair while you listen to music at home. Trying to go the cheap route when doing such a drastic change may leave your hair looking so damaged, you’ll either have to fork over additional cash to get someone to fix it, and if the damage is extensive, you may end up with much shorter hair than you may currently want.
3. Bring Pictures
What makes a great hairstyle or hair color can be highly subjective. What one person loves may make another one cringe. In addition, skin tone, facial features, and hair texture all make a difference in how a change in hair color will look once the makeover has been completed. So telling your hairstylist: “I want brown hair” doesn’t really say much. Browse through Instagram, Pinterest, or magazines, looking for people with similar features as you to show your hairstylist the look you’re going for.
4. Transition Slowly
Since going from blonde to brunette is from being on one end of the spectrum all the way to the other end, the change may initially come as a shock. Transitioning slowly (or getting lowlights first) gives you the chance to see how you look with lighter shades of brown before you commit to fully dark hair. In the long-run, you’ll end up with a hue you love and save the money it would cost to lighten it up again later on.
5. Be mindful of Aftercare
Once your colorists gives you your makeover, they will have suggestions about which hair products to use, how often to wash your hair, whether you need to use hot oil treatments or deep conditioners, or whether to avoid certain ingredients in hair products. Pay close attention to them and make sure to follow instructions. If you fail to do so, you may end up with a different hue or dry, damaged hair.
6. Be Prepared to Go to the Salon more Often
This one only applies if your hair is naturally blonde or a significantly lighter shade than the brown color you choose. You’ll notice how fast hair grows when you start seeing your roots peek out faster than you think it’d be possible. Whenever you want to go from one extreme to the other, be prepared to visit the salon on a regular basis.
7. Stay Out of the Sun
While some fading is unavoidable, too much sunlight can lighten your hair color faster or make some brown hues look brassy. This happens because UV rays strips melanin from the strands. Since it’s impossible to fully avoid sun exposure, use color protecting shampoo and conditioner, use UV protection spray, and wear a hat.
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