Hair Colour - Opinions!!

okay so this is me (the blonde one)

for years I've been blonde, but my natural colour is a dirty fair/light brown/dark blonde (you may see my roots)

I really really like this burgundy colour but now I have it, I am 100% not sure if I'll actually go for it or not - red/burgundies are hard to bleach out and I think it might be too dark for me.

I did consider lilac however my hair has finally started to grow and whilst I've been lightening it I haven't been full on bleaching it and haven't in years, and the idea of bleaching it and having to do it so often doesn't necessarily appeal.

soooo, any ideas? 

I do want a change, I'm just not sure what change!

Maintenance is a huge thing to consider.

If you want to keep your hair on the longer side, I'd go with a richer, darker (not necessarily REALLY DARK) color. It's easier to maintain and won't destroy your hair as much as bleaching does. Bleaching for longer hair is usually a short-term thing, since it will just destroy the quality of the hair. The only reason I've been able to bleach my hair for over ten years is because I've always kept it short, so all the hair that would end up being totally destroyed by multiple chemicals just gets lopped off whenever I go in for a trim and touch up.

In another lane, box dyes vs going to a salon. Darker colors are generally fine in boxed dyes. I'v never had a problem. But from experience and many, many stories from friends and acquaintances, boxed bleaches are really sub-par compared to getting it done in a salon. I've always had to go to a salon anyway after doing my own bleaching because it was just horrible.

I always find I like darker colors with longer hair and lighter colors for short hair; something with how it goes along with face shape.

I have light brown hair and the bottom is purple. I had to bleach it to get it light enough the first time but mine is only a semi permanent so it will slowly wash out. Once it washes out it goes back to the blonde color I had before the purple was put on. I like the semi permanent because if I decide I don’t like it, it will wash out. You may want to try a semi in the same (or close) color and see how you like it. Mine usually last a couple months.

I really like that burgundy color. I’m assuming that’s a permanent color not a semi like mine. It may take a few times of bleaching if you want blonde back after. I go to a salon and have mine done and the first time they had to lighten (bleach) it twice to get it light enough.

I’m a natural brownyred haired person. I’ve been the purpley burgundy many times. It fades super quick I find.

really good advice guys, thank you!

I actually have been doing my own hair for years - my hair is ombréd atm and I've been doing it myself which is how I think it's grown so long in what seems to be a short time as I don't often bleach my roots and the ombré look makes it look naturally light, rather than obviously bleached. It definitely only works with my hair as I'm naturally light brown/dark blonde rather than someone who has darker hair.

I did have it mousey brown/close to my natural colour about 2 years ago and it didn't last, but I think I need a slightly deeper tone of brown. I also went for a dirty blonde/tried the blondette craze which I did really like at one point too, but I always end up back at some sort of blonde. 

My one concern with the burgundy is if it looks too purple/red or it's too dark for me, especially as my hair seems to have some red undertones as it takes and holds on to red pigment very well. I've been ginger before but it was years ago and I'm not sure I'd go back. I did pink and then purple at one point which I actually got loads of compliments on, but I'd rather have a more natural looking colour I think.

I'm having to use my FB profile pictures as I know they're not private and I don't have many sorry, but this is me when I had pink hair if it helps - I know I do want to back to close or darker than my natural colour just to try and get it all a bit healthier and let it grow out a bit but I also have been warned by my mum about going too dark as it washes me out. 

Friends are no good as they all seem to have different opinions!