STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

If I were you I'd schedule a color consultation with a good colorist. Let them know that you want to go red but would like to do some of the maintenance yourself for cost. I worked at an Aveda salon and everyone always said red was the hardest color to maintain and to get right.
I think most stylists would tell you that for your long term benefit and for the color to stay right, that you can't use the boxes you get at the store (it's just not the same quality as what they use in salons, and will not give you the same results.) but you may find one who can recommend a professional product you can buy at a beauty supply for maintenance yourself if you promise to come in occasionally for a salon touchup. You can get red highlights, but they'd probably be called lowlights - I know as a person with similar hair color to yours (and also an affinity and seemingly permanent desire to go red) that it's hard to keep any color other than blonde intense - blonde hair is naturally missing a shaft that brunette and darker hair colors have, and so it can't hold as much color, and fades fast.
You'll definitely need to cut down on washing, and using a color shampoo - Aveda makes some very good ones.

The damage you're talking about is typical for someone who uses drugstore type color and usually always ends up in spending a bunch of money for color correction. Just figure out a plan with a colorist, and like I said, be completely honest about how much money you're willing to spend and ask how you can make that work. Red is one of the hardest colors to go to and maintain, so it's an investment and a commitment.

Is that a picture of you? That color is GORGEOUS. I jut don't have the skin coloring to be able to pull of red, which makes me sad. I still think I might be able to pull off a cool red, but every stylist has said no (I have too much pink in my face)
Anyway, I hope you do it, and post pictures - maybe you'll inspire me!

Thank you Hermione - this all makes sense. I actually use Aveda's color enhancing shampoo for blondes (its a huge bottle and has lasted me almost a year), I love the almond smell as well.
 
I think my main issue is that I don't have a "regular stylist" I more so hop around, whenever I impulsively need something done and don't usually fall in love with the service so I don't go back. 

I think I will go red in the fall/winter when I won't be shampooing as much. I also have a retro photo shoot coming up and I want to be baby blonde for it (although red would be cute..) The pic isn't me, but it is basically the color I would die to have. 

What sort of coloring do you have? I believe they say "everyone can go red" but there are certain tones that work better on pink skin (I would think a more strawberry blonde would work on you). 

 me in my red stages
me as a blonde (gotta love the silly pic)

-- Edited by XtinaStyles at 10:49, 2008-07-29

I've always found red to fade super fast as well. I've been red for awhile, doing it every month or so myself. I'm tired of doing it on my own though so I'm going to my stylist on Thursday. I'm going to ask her about maintaining color, so I'll let you know what she says, and I'll let you know if the results I get from her are way better than what I get on my own.

I'm blonde now and I've been every color under the sun (minus manic panic colors). I was read for a good 6 months to a year (I can't remember exactly how long) and I've done different versions of red off and on throughout the years.

I went to a colorist every other month to get the red touched up. I washed my hair 2-3 times a week only and used a color-depositing shampoo about once a week. The color-depositing shampoo is really the best at recapturing the color. Every time I used it people asked if I'd had my hair redone, which probably doesn't bode well for the naturalness of my color but whatever.

I used Artec, although now it looks like it's called L'Oreal Artec.