I have naturally dark brown hair and over the years I have dyed it a very dark brown colour myself at home. This past year I have been very lazy with it and have left it so now it has returned to its natural colour with some slight copper tones on the ends because of heat damage with my straighteners. I now hardly straighten my hair so the colour alteration due to heat damage shouldn’t be a problem, but I want to dye it a slightly lighter shade of brown. I’m aware that you can’t go from brown to blonde doing it yourself but I just want to go a shade lighter than my natural colour - but how can I know that it won’t go auburn/ginger? I’m so scared of this and don’t want to mess my hair up. If I did dye it I would stay with the same brand and specific type but just one shade lighter, is this possible? I’m reluctant to visit the salon because it costs so much, being a student, but do you think it’s worth it?

Yes if the hair is virgin it is possible to go one shade lighter, at the very ends of your hair I would suggest using the same colour with a lower activator or oxidant. To be honest I would recommend leaving it to the professional when it comes to colour as doing it your self can be very messy, plus any mistakes and it will cost u more money in colour correction.