How can I go back brunette?

My hair is naturally a light golden brown, about a level 6. I have been bleaching it and want to go back to my natural color. Right now it is about a level 9, maybe even 10 on the ends. I know I need to do it gradually. Should I just darken 1 shade every 6 weeks until I get to a 6, or can I do two shades at a time? Also, if I do it gradually, can I use a neutral or should I stick with a golden undertone?

I always advise to go to a professional with hair color issues. Mainly because none of us here can see your natural haircolor (even pictures don't to much good) and it's nearly impossible to tell you what you'd need to do to get perfect results. I'd have to see your complexities of color, your base color, your texture to decide the best route to take.

Here's a little rundown on the basics of going back dark from light. Just things to keep in mind.

Remember when going dark, it almost always comes out waaaay darker than you wanted it to come out intially, taking a couple of few weeks to level out lighter. So if during this process you end up darker, just calm down and give it a couple weeks. You have somewhat of the right idea by darkening one level at a time. Good for you for even knowing what levels are!

As a hairstylist, I'd have you pick out a shade in the samples book that exactly matches your previous shade. Whatever level that is, I'd go in first with one or sometimes two levels lighter. Say if you're naturally a level 4 brunette, I'd start you at a level 6 brunette and yes, possibly mix in half a level 5--I'd have to see your hair to be sure though. We'd see how you liked that and if it was too light, then we'd go on down to the level four, maybe four parts level four and one part level 5. I don't recommend mixing unless you're a stylist, though. Also, I see no reason to wait to do this every 6 weeks. After two weeks I'd recolor it. But again, it depends on your hair. Which I haven't seen. So it's hard to advise you proper here.

You can use neutral or stick with blonde undertone depending on whatever your natural color was. If you were a level 4 golden brown brunette, stick with blonde. If you were a level 4 chocolate mocha true brunette, I'd go neutral. Just keep reds out of it.

Please go to a professional.