Beauty

[erichu]

I have brown hair that is now about 50% gray. By the temples, all gray. Its dull and I want to describe to my colorist that I want it brighter. I really don't want to do base color and highlights, just base color. I'm afraid to mention the words copper or auburn because I'll walk out with red hair lol. Any suggestions?

[I am still oxox]

Tell her you want to match the base and "brighten" but not change the color at all, she will most likely color the roots and the temples and use a clear glaze to brighten the color

[makena]

Just tell him/her what you want as you stated here and emphasize no red or auburn.  Just a cool brown or ash brown if you don't want red undertones. 

[2blonde]

@erichu  Look at it this way.  Since your hair is already fading (even the part that's not gray does that when we get older), any color you put on it is going to have a brightening affect.  Just be careful that it's not too dark, as gray roots look awful with darker hair.  As you hair gets grayer, you may find that coloring it lighter than your natural color is more attractive and easier to maintain.

[moejoe]

Sounds like my hair, I go to Sally Beauty Supply, spend about 4 bucks on a bottle of dye, add it to 2 oz of developer and it is a whole lot cheaper than getting it done, plus you are in the comfort of your own home, it is easy........I use light golden brown and it is a nice color that hides the gray better than a darker color would......

[2blonde]

@moejoe  Me too.  I've been a Revlon Colorsilk user for probably 45 years.  Costs about $3.00, and I use it every 4 weeks on my roots.

[Janey2]

Tell your professional to do hair painting. Get your base color done and then they take very thin strands and paint a color onto those strands. By doing this you won't have a flat hair color and it looks very natural.