My New Darker Hair: Lots of Adjustments!

Earlier today in my Valentine's day look you may have caught a sneak peek at my new hair. I started thinking about going darker recently (hello, Mila Kunis obsession) and during my Live Styling Event, Joey thought that "darker and richer" would be better for me.

So, last week I went from (very grown out) highlighted light brown/blondish hair to...

This new darker auburn color. You may have seen some of my sneak peek pictures on my Instagram, and I think these 2 pics from there are probably the best representation of how my hair really looks. It is a bit darker and redder than I had thought I'd be going, but once my stylist, Heather, and I had the hair color book in front of us, we both picked the same little hair swatch. It's a bit redder now than it was on the swatch, but she said it would fade a little with the first few washings (this is a demi-permanent color). This color is also very similar to my mom's natural hair color (though, this is a bit darker) so that is likely why it works so well for me.

I'm finally starting to recognize myself when I look in the mirror (rather than still thinking "who is that??"). I'm just trying to figure out all of the other adjustments that such a drastic change in hair color results in.

First, while I have about 20 foundations, I've noticed that all but about 1 (which I'm wearing in that right instagram pic above) are about 1/2 shade too dark and a bit too yellow. While this wasn't really noticeable with good blending before, it's really obvious now with darker hair. I think that's the main reason I felt like I looked a bit plastic in the pics earlier today. My hair was curled a bit strange (it looks better as 2nd day hair with this cut/color), my foundation color was a bit too yellow... you get the idea.

I also have noticed that my eye makeup now seems to somehow disappear with this darker hair! I need to break out some new and darker colors, get a new foundation (I already ran to ULTA this morning to do that) and I need to be a bit heavier/darker in my shadow application.

I'm looking back at pics of a few of my favorite brunettes for makeup ideas.

Obviously Mila was the biggest inspiration for this look, so I'm going to be rocking a lot more and darker smoky eyes! I think I need to buy the LORAC Pro Palette now, it's perfect for a Mila eye.

@15minbeauty you should totally channel Emma Stone...she always has fantastic makeup!

— Kim Porter (@MakeupbyKimP) January 30, 2013

Kim Porter, one of my fave makeup artists (look for a great wedding makeup post from her very soon) thought I should look to Emma Stone for some inspiration. I don't have Emma's amazing light eyes, but her hair color is closer than Mila's to mine now, and Kim is right! Emma is always flawless. The key seems to be always having more color somewhere, a lippie or an eye... there can't be a bare eye and a nude lippie, I look blah that way.

Finally, the last of my favorite brunettes, Jen and Emily. Definitely time to start playing up my eyes a little darker!

Have you made any drastic changes in hair color? What tips do you have for me?