u/Sensitive_Carrot5444

I hate my hair.

I've had a long journey with my hair. From sun-in to box dye to highlights.

Photo 1 is how my first highlights looked grown out a bit. Photo 2 is a few months later (I hate that growth separation. It's too light at the mid/lengths).

Last November I box dyed it (Photo 3) and I loved how it looked, except less than 2 or 3 weeks later it was all gone (Photo 4).

I asked for a few highlights in my roots this week and I came out blonde (Photo 5). I'm so incredibly sad I don't know what to do.

Do I have to dye it every other week to grow my natural hair out? I don't have the money. I read about color fillers (to deposit warmth so the brown grips better, but aren't I already warm?)

Please help. anything.

Don't know how to start a post so here goes nothing.

I (20F) have had a long journey with my hair. I made the mistake of starting to use a sun-in esque spray in 2021, and given my hair has natural golden undertones, it lightened nicely at first (a light brown/dark blonde color). My roots started to grow in after a while and I continued to spray my hair, making it an orange-ish color (I genuinely didn't know what I was in for. In my defense, I was only 14 when I did it).

Then, I dyed it dark at the salon, which was so dark I felt so ugly (lol I'm very pale plus cutting it short I looked like an onion in a wig), then it was starting to fade and looking okay. When I made the horrible decision of starting the spray again.

Fast forward, I started to get light highlights around a year ago (1st photo), that plus my hair had grown out quite a bit from the spray. This was when I think my hair looked the best.

A couple of months later, my mid-ends (that had had the spray) continued to get lighter (photo 2). I don't know if it's because my hair somewhat lightens naturally (plus the artificially lightened bits) and I disliked it quite a lot. I went to the hairdresser and continued to ask for just a few highlights, but they started to give me more of them and layering them on top of one another (instead of just the new growth, I suppose).

I got tired and box dyed it at home (photo 3), and though it looked better in the picture than irl, I didn't mind (missed the light hair though).

Problem was, in less than 2 or 3 weeks I was back to this ugly light color (picture 4).

Fast forward to now (8 months after the last picture / box dye situation), I tried going back to the hairdresser and saying I wanted just a few lights in the root area, and she agreed, but when I looked in the mirror, I was basically blonde (and a bad one at that) (picture 5). I vowed never to return.

I don't know what to do. I want to box dye it, but I know the dye won't last. People assume I'm a blonde/light haired person but I don't know how to go back (does that even make sense?).

I'm asking for genuine help. I read about the filler color (going from blonde/beach, before dying darker, I need warm undertones?! But my hair is already warm toned)

Please!!! Help!!!! I start classes in September and want uniform hair. My hair is in relatively good shape (a bit dry, but I can always make it healthier). I'm ready to grow this mess out (and have long hair...)