Can you mix light brown and dark Brown hair dye

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Dear My Hairdresser,

Currently I am Colouring my Hair with a 5 Light Brown. I love the Colour, but its not dark enough. When I look at the next darkest Colour, 3 Dark Brown, its too dark. Is it possible to get a Colour in between these two Colours, like a 4? Can I mix the 5 Light Brown and 3 Dark Brown together to get my Colour?
Thanks,
April.

My Hairdresser

Hi April,

YES YES YES! We love mixing Colour and the freedom it gives you. Sometimes you can’t get everything you want out of one tube and mixing gives you the best of each Colour to combine into a beautiful shade. Mixing 3 and 5 is a great combination! It gives you a delicious Brunette, we use it quite a lot. We even like mixing a 3 and 5.3 to add a little bronzed hue.

There are no strict rules to mixing, just stick with these tips.

Keep one Colour a Natural. e.g. 5 Light Brown, 7 Medium Blonde
Mix a Natural with a Golden, Chocolate, Copper or Red Colour to add some warmth.
Mix a Natural with an Ash or Beige Colour, to cool your Colour down.
You can mix warm and warm Colours and cool and cool Colours.
Its pointless to mix a warm Colour with a cool Colour, they will counteract each other.
Don’t feel bound to only two Colours to mix.
Make sure you write down the Colour formula.

Shop some of our favourite Colour mixers!

Have you ever browsed through Hair Colour swatches thinking I love that Colour, but it’s too dark and I love that Colour but it’s too Red — I wish I could have a bit of that Red, just a little lighter.

Plot twist. You can.

We intentionally created a Hair Colour formula that enables two Hair Colour Shades to be mixed together, because we are like you — insatiable, like to have the choice, enjoy being in control. We also understand and think it vitally important, that you call the shots and fine-tune your Hair Colour if it needs a few tweaks along the way.

Now, I understand this whole mixing Hair Colour thing could be overwhelming and full of questions, so allow us to explain all the nitty-gritty details. Below you’ll find all the important pieces of information so you too can start mixing Hair Colours.

What does mixing Hair Colours mean?

Choosing 2 Hair Colour Shades to blend together, with Developer, to create a new Hair Colour.

Why should I mix 2 Hair Colours?

Mixing 2 Hair Colours gives you incredible freedom and the ability to dictate your Hair Colours Lightness/Darkness, hue and amount of vibrancy.

Mixing Hair Colours gives you the ability to:
Create a custom Hair Colour that fits your taste.
Achieve that in-between Hair Colour. For example: The Colour between 3 Dark Brown and 5 Light Brown.
Add a little oomph of Warmth or vibrancy to your Hair Colour.
Slightly Cool or neutralise your Hair Colour.

How do you choose the Hair Colours to mix together?

Start by choosing your primary Hair Colour.

Your primary Colour is the Shade you like the most that will create your Colour base.
For example: If you like 8.44 Intense Copper Blonde but you want to Tone down its intensity, 8.44 Intense Copper Blonde will still be your primary Colour.

Then choose your secondary Hair Colour.

Your secondary Colour should dictate which direction you want your Hair Colour to go.

Your secondary Colour can:
Darken your Hair Colour by mixing in a Darker Shade.
Lighten your Hair Colour by mixing in a Lighter Shade.
Cool your Hair Colour by mixing in an Ash or Beige Shade.
Warm-up your Hair Colour by mixing in a Golden, Chocolate or Copper Shade.
Subdue the Warmth, Coolness or vibrancy in your primary Colour by mixing with a Natural Shade.

How do you know how much of each Colour to mix together?

If you want your primary Colour to dominate use a 3/4 primary Hair Colour with 1/4 secondary Colour ratio.

If you want an even contribution of each Colour, a 1/2 primary Hair Colour and 1/2 secondary Hair Colour ratio will give you the perfect balance.

Remember these Colour rules

Keep your primary and secondary Colours like-minded — Cool and Cool or Warm and Warm.
Do not mix Warm and Cool Colours together, as they will counteract each other.
Mix a Cool or Warm Colour with a Natural Colour to add a slight Cool or Warm reflect.
Use a Natural Shade as your primary Colour to determine the Lightness of your Hair Colour.

How to mix your Hair Colours

To properly combine your two Hair Colours squeeze each Shade (in the appropriate ratios) in your Tint Bowl. Using your Tint Brush mix the Hair Colours together, until they form a smooth consistency.

Pour in your Developer and, using your Tint Brush, stir until your mixture is thicker and creamier.

Try these popular Colour mix examples.

Colour Goal: A Cool, Light Brown / Dark Blonde with Ashy reflects.
Colour Ratio: 1/2 + 1/2
Colour Mixture:

Colour Goal: A Golden Blonde with Auburn hues to brighten the Hair Colour.
Colour Ratio: 3/4 + 1/4
Colour Mixture:

Colour Goal: A Chocolate Brown that keeps the depth with a touch less Warmth without loosing the Warmth completely.
Colour Ratio: 1/2 + 1/2
Colour Mixture:

Colour Goal: Typically after Lightening, the Hair has too much Warmth. An Ash Shade is too much, so just a touch of a Cool, Ash pigment will keep the Blonde fresh and brass free.
Colour Ratio: 3/4 + 1/4
Colour Mixture: