10 Things to Know Before You Become a Bottle Brunette

It’s true that most people think “blonde” or going lighter when they think about summer hair ideas, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Why not shake things up a bit and go darker? Dark hair is a gorgeous, dramatic statement to make for summer.

But becoming a bottle brunette is not without its challenges. Here are 10 things you need to know before you step over to the dark side.

MORE: The 15 Best Products for Maintaining Your Hair Color

1. Think About Your Brows

If you’re making a significant color change (going from blonde to black, for example), you’ll either need to dye your brows to go along with your new hair or find a fabulous new product to fill them in with. Brow-dyeing should never be attempted at home (all those chemicals so close to your eyes!), so make sure you see a professional if you go the permanent route.

If you decide to fill them in, picking a product that matches your new color is imperative. As a general rule, you’ll always want your brows to be one to two shades lighter than your hair for the most natural look. Anastasia’s Brow Wiz ($21 at Anastasia) and Brow Powder Duo ($23 at Anastasia) are both brilliant options that come in a wide range of amazing colors and are practically mistake-proof.

2. You’ll Discover That “Dark” Is Never Just “Dark”

Ask any colorist or bottle brunette what shade she uses and you’ll probably get a confusing answer: Most dark shades are a mixture of multiple colors that address different color concerns. For example, someone whose hair gets brassy may want a base color that’s more ashy or violet-based to counter the unwanted gold tones, while someone with a lot of grays may need a splash of gold to effectively cover up their silver strands. You’ll need to do some research before deciding on a color: Make sure you talk to your colorist or do your online homework before you take the plunge!

3. The Dye Can Be Rough on Your Skin

Dark dyes contain a molecule called p-phenylenediamine (PPDA or pPD). Despite being found in most dark-colored cosmetics and tattoo inks, it can cause a nasty skin reaction: swelling, itching, burning, and redness. Though full-on allergic reactions are rare, they do happen—and when the cause is permanent dark dye, they happen dramatically.

There’s no way to know in advance if PPDA is going to irritate you, and allergies can develop over time. The smartest thing to do is to make sure that you (or your colorist) always does a patch test before covering your head in dye. If you feel any undue burning or itching, or if your face swells or gets red, rinse your head immediately and contact a doctor. Allergic reactions are nothing to sneeze at!

4. You’ll Learn the Pains of Upkeep

If you’re going just slightly darker than your natural color, maintenance will likely be really easy. If it’s a more dramatic change, prepare yourself for visible roots. You’ll need to re-up your color every three to four weeks to keep your color fresh and your roots concealed; in between, you can add some color with a gorgeous glaze.

5. Going Light Again Isn’t Impossible, But It’s Unlikely

Dark dye is a commitment, if not for life, then at least for the forseeable future. Going from dyed dark to light again is very hard. Not only is it technically difficult (skipping over the dreaded brassy stage is nigh impossible), it’s incredibly rough on your hair. If you’re someone who likes to change up their hair color a lot, consider a small change: Add some lowlights two to three shades deeper than your hair, rather than going for one solid dark color.

MORE: 20 Female Celebrities Who Have Slayed with Both Blonde and Brunette Hair

6. You’ll Find That Box Dye Might Be Out

As wonderful as home hair colors have become, they do have certain limitations. If your dream brunette shade is one to two shades darker than your natural color, pick up a box and go for it. But if you’re going darker than that, you’ll need to see a professional.

Why? Home hair color kits come with a 20 volume developer, which means that its only strong enough to change the hair two shades darker or lighter than it is naturally. If you want to go very dark, you’ll need to mess with different strengths of developer, which is very difficult and best left to professionals. A good colorist is a dyed brunette’s best friend.

7. You’ll Need to Change Your Makeup Routine

The makeup that looked good with lighter hair may look too severe (or not severe enough) with darker dyed locks. If your pink blush is making you look a little too much like Snow White, trade it in for a subtle bronzer instead. Be open to experimentation, and remember: When in doubt, a sharp cat-eye always looks good.

8. You’ll Need a Minute to Adjust

Any major hair change triggers what we here at StyleCaster like to call “Brain Problems”: When your mind is so used to seeing you one way that any major deviation brings on a “oh my God, I look so different, this is terrible” hysterical reaction. There’s nothing wrong with the actual look, it’s your brain that has the problem.

9. Prepare to Buy New Basics

Hair basics, that is. Think bobby pins, hair ties, combs, clips, and headbands—they should all be in a shade that matches your hair. And that means you’ll need to go shopping for your new hair shade. The things we do for beauty!

10. It’s the Best Thing You’ll Ever Do

Seriously. Dark hair makes your eyes pop, your skin look more luminous and creates a beautifully dramatic frame for your face. Once you’ve gone over to the dark side, you’ll never want to come back.

A version of this article was originally published in May 2015.