wrong combo for caramel hair colour?

by Anja
(Canada)

Tomorrow is my appointment with the salon where I've been a happy customer for about 5 years. I love my stylist and she's been quite good with her suggestions and ideas in the past.

So... I wonder what she'll say when I tell her I want to go 'caramel?'

I have pictures of caramel beauties saved onto my laptop, which I'll drag with me to my anxiety-ridden appointment after work. I've been reading that you have to have more of the olive complexion to pull this hair colour off and well, I'm more of the English rose type- but fair to the point of being darn right ghostly.

My natural colour is dark brown, which I did away with in my teenaged years and I've been (heavily) blonde-highlighted ever since. Most everyone says they can't picture me in any other colour and that blond really suits me. For the record my eyes are green, but vary from grey/green to blue green... depending on the day.

I'm not as (cough) young as I used to be. Okay, I'm 45 this year and the grey hairs are growing in at an alarming rate. So when I'm due for a colour, the roots are dark mixed with grey. Lovely... Not. I do like the blond, but the process of having it bleached takes it's toll and most times my hair is left looking dried-out and lifeless. I also have very wavy/curly hair which I like to straighten with the flat-iron from time to time, but because it's been bleached I run the risk of frying it.

So, my question is can a fair-skinned, 45 year old woman pull off this hair colour or is it way off base?

I have also been reading that many older women think that by going very light, it will be make them look younger when in fact it can age them more by making them appear washed out and pale.

So what's the consensus? Is this colour a wise choice or would I be better off with something else? Like red? I went dark two years ago and it was not flattering at all. I've tried low-lights too, but I didn't like the 'stripey' effect in my hair. I appreciate all suggestions! Thanks... that's all folks!