Going Darker should be the easiest thing you can do with Hair Colour at home. In theory, you grab your deeper Shade, apply it all over, and voilà—sophisticated, glossy depth. But in reality? It’s a game of chance. Will you get a rich, dimensional Brunette or a patchy, washed-out hue with an unexpected greenish tinge?
Let’s skip the Hair Colour roulette. Instead, we’re breaking down the do’s and don’ts of Colouring Lightened Hair Darker—so you can make the transition smoothly, seamlessly, and without disaster.
You Can Colour Your Hair Darker If
You’re deepening your Natural Hair Colour (or covering Grey) with a Darker Shade.
You’re going just 1–2 shades Darker than your current Colour. (Example: You’re a 7 Medium Blonde and want to be a 5 Light Brown.)
You’re only Darkening your roots or base while keeping lighter pieces through the lengths.
You’re layering a deeper Shade over your existing Colour to neutralise Warmth or add depth (e.g. you’ve been using 5.3 Golden Brown but want a Cooler, richer 3 Dark Brown).
You Can’t Just Jump To A Darker Shade If
Your Hair is pre-lightened, bleached, or all-over Blonde, and you want to go Brunette.
You have balayage or Highlights and want to turn them into a solid, all-over Dark Shade.
You’re going 3+ Shades Darker (Example: You’re a 9 Very Light Blonde and want to be a 6 Dark Blonde). In this case, you’ll need a Filler Colour first to avoid a dull, muddy result.
The key to glossy, vibrant Dark Hair? Knowing when you can simply apply your new Shade and when you need to prep your Lightened Hair first. Stay tuned—we’ll show you exactly how to do it right.
How To Go From A Lightened Blonde To A Darker Shade
Going Darker from pre-Lightened or bleached Hair 3 or more Shades to a deeper, richer Shade isn’t just a one-step process. Skip the prep, and you risk a patchy, washed-out, or even Greenish result. The secret? Filler Colour. This pigment-boosting step rebuilds Warmth and depth that gets removed while Lightening, creating the perfect foundation for a smooth, even, and seamlessly glossy Darker Shade.
How To Choose Your Filler Colour
A Filler Colour is a Warm, pigmented Shade applied before your goal Colour. It replaces the underlying pigments naturally found in Darker Hair—Golden, Chocolate, or Mahogany Tones—which prevent your Colour from looking flat or unnatural.
The Hair Colour Shade of your Filler Colour needs to sit between your current Hair Colour and the Hair Colour you want to be.
Example: If you’re a 9 Very Light Blonde and want a 5 Light Brown, use 7.53 Chocolate Blonde as your Filler Colour.
If you’re stuck choosing a Filler Colour, a safe bet is to go with the same Shade or one Shade Lighter than your goal Colour. This helps boost pigment and restore Warmth to your Hair.
Example: If you’re Platinum or Bleached Blonde and want to go 7.1 Ash Blonde, using 7.3 Golden Blonde as your Filler will create the perfect base for a balanced, natural result.
We use No Lift Developer with the Filler Colour to activate the pigment without lightening your Hair. This allows the Colour to gloss over Lightened Hair, creating a deeper, richer base for your Darker Shade.
No Lift
Developer
To make the process even easier, we’ve created a Colour Filler Bundle—a perfectly paired selection of Filler Shades with No Lift Developer. It takes the guesswork out—just choose your Shade, and you’re ready to go!
Colour
Filler
How To Apply Your Filler Colour
Mix your Filler Colour and No Lift Developer in a Tint Bowl or Applicator Bottle.
Start with 100% dry, combed Hair, sectioned into four parts for easy application.
Apply the Filler Colour evenly over all Lightened areas, avoiding any Natural Dark Regrowth.
Once all your Lightened Hair is covered, let it develop for 35 minutes before rinsing.
Once the development time has been reached, rinse Hair for 3 to 5 minutes in warm water until water runs clear. Shampoo and condition Hair as normal.
Now you’re ready to apply your Darker Shade. On dry hair, start at your Regrowth, then work your Darker Colour through to your ends for an even, seamless result.
