Hi all. *waves*

I'm new here. Well, I've been here before but can not remember my old user name.

Good to be back though.

So here's what I need your help with is the following. I have black hair with my brown roots showing. I want to go orange but since I've colored my hair so much in the past that bleaching it to orange might mean I need to cut several inches off. I'd rather not since I'm saving for longer hair. So talking with my stylist we thought I'd go darker red. However, looking at different reds I see so many shades I don't like. I really don't want to end up with a shade I won't like. So, what to do? Should I go a totally different color? Or just bleach the black a little to get something different.

I don't know what to do.

Thanks.

Welcome (back)
I think you should try a strand test to see how much of the black you can remove without wrecking your hair. You might be able to lift the colour enough for orange but dark red should definitely be doable. Have you found any examples that you like or don't like? You could take a look through the gallery if you haven't already and that might help with ideas.

I think a pink-toned red is going to look best. If you bleach your hair lightly it should lift to a dark orange-red colour. If you use a pink-toned red on that it will look more like a neutral "red red". I hope I'm making sense.

I think the only thing to look out for other than breakage is that you don't over-bleach the roots - otherwise you could have bright pink roots and dark red ends.

Pink toned red. Had not even thought of that as an option.

Yep, you are making perfectly sense.

Thanks so much.

Edit to say: Tried finding the pic with orange hair I like. So linking to a pic is ok, if I find it?
Edit 2: Found another pic of a color I really like.
http://www.hji.co.uk/image/2006-redhead-curls-qhs2191.html

I absolutley LOVE that colour red/copper in the second edit link! Thats my dream colour! Never really seen any hairdye like it though! :(

I know, it's stunning. Love that colour also.

My hair is done and it's not bad. It didn't take that well all over but going back in about two weeks. I do hope it get's more orange with time as she said it would.