Okay, so I finally bit the bullet and tried to get that “caramel golden brown caramel light brown hair” thing going on. I’ve been seeing it everywhere and honestly, my old color was just BLAH.

First, I did a bunch of research. Like, HOURS of scrolling through Pinterest and YouTube, trying to figure out the difference between “caramel,” “golden brown,” and “light brown.” It’s all brown, right? Apparently not! I wanted something warm, but not orange-y, and definitely not brassy. Found a few pics I liked and saved them to my phone.
Next, I went to the drugstore. This is where the fun began (and almost ended!). I decided to try and do it myself. Probably a mistake, but hey, I’m on a budget! I ended up grabbing a box of “light golden brown” and a box of “caramel brown.” The plan? Mix ’em! I know, I’m living on the edge.
Back at home, I laid down some old towels (crucial!), put on a ratty t-shirt, and got to mixing. I mixed the two hair colors in a bowl like I knew what I was doing. Read the instructions like five times to make sure I wasn’t going to accidentally melt my hair off. Gloves on! This is important don’t skip this guys!
Started applying the mixture at the roots, since those are the darkest. Man, that stuff smells strong! Then I worked my way down the lengths, making sure everything was covered. It was kinda messy, but nothing I couldn’t handle. After about 30 minutes I looked like I had a mud pack on my head. Set the timer for the recommended time on the box, plus like, five extra minutes just to be sure.
Rinsing it out was a PAIN. So much dye! But finally, the water ran clear-ish. I used the conditioner that came with the dye, and my hair felt surprisingly soft.

Dried it with my hairdryer, and… OH. MY. GOD. It was actually… good! The color was a really nice blend of the golden and caramel tones. Not too dark, not too light, and NO ORANGE! I was actually shocked. Did I actually do it?
After a week, it faded a little bit, but still looks pretty good. So, yeah, I’m calling this a win. Maybe I’ll even try another crazy hair color next time. Who knows!
- Prep is key: Do your research and protect your space.
- Don’t be afraid to mix: I did it, and it worked! (But maybe don’t blame me if yours turns green.)
- Conditioner is your friend: It’ll help keep your hair healthy after all that dye.
Things I Learned:
- Next time, I might buy two boxes of each color. I almost ran out!
- Wear gloves that actually fit. Mine were huge!
- Maybe have a friend help. It’s hard to get the back of your head by yourself.
Would I do it again? Absolutely! It saved me a ton of money, and I actually kinda enjoyed the process. Plus, I now have “caramel golden brown caramel light brown hair,” just like I wanted!