Should I use a lighter color if I want to dye black hair medium/dark brown?

Like if I buy a box of hair color that is literally medium or dark brown I know that it will turn out darker, because my hair is so dark. I was wondering if I should buy a hair color that is a few shades lighter than what I want, so it can lighten my hair enough. So if I wanted dark brown hair, I'd use a light brown hair color? Or if I wanted light brown, I'd use a dark blonde color?

Should I use a lighter color if I want to dye black hair medium/dark brown?
The drugstore type hair dyes will only change your hair color by up to 2 shades. Even if you used a blonde color it's not going to change it much, they don't have enough of the lighteners in them to make alot of change. (But be warned, depending on your hairs pigment you can end up with the color going more orange than brown no matter which one you choose.)


If your hair is naturally black and you want to go to a medium brown you are going to have to have your hair processed more radically. It involves stripping some color and adding back, a process to leave to professionals.


If you haven't dyed your hair before go with a semi-permanent product, they will wash out after about 20 shampoos so you are not stuck with a color you hate and give you an idea of what at home color can do for you.
Reply:if it's that dark, i don't know if you'd be able to just dye it, it of course depends on the product some of them do lighten at the same time, they tend to be professional ones.. most of the time if you want your hair lighter than it currently is it requires bleach first.. most of the time
Reply:I use light brown hair dye since my hair is naturally black and I wanted to lighten it. I wanted to only lighten just a tad bit and not too much or dramatic like all of a sudden going blonde. So, if you wanna go lighter just a tad bit and not too much, I suggest you either use light or medium brown. If you use light brown, only leave the dye on your hair for about 25-30 minutes. If you use medium brown, leave it a little longer for maybe about 30-40 minutes. The longer you leave it, the lighter it will get. But don't leave it too long either. Time yourself. My hair looks kinda medium brown at night. In the sun light, it looks kinda light brownish, orangish, reddish, etc. don't really know how to describe it. I like the golden tones in it too, it complements my warm skin tone. Well, hope this helps at least a little. Good luck!
Reply:yes use a lighter color


i wanted red hair on my dark brown hair


i got more of an auburn color


so the next time i went with a strawberry blonde and got the results i wanted


so i would say go for a blonde color but it wont be as blonde as it shows on the box and if it does get that blonde you could wait a few weeks then dye it the color you want
Reply:on the back of each box there are color charts. look for product to use for medium dark or light brown by going to black on the chart, then keep reading the different packages. you will eventually find the color on the back chart that you want. use that color to dye black to brown. example look through all the blond colors, find the color result that you want..
Reply:lighter color.