Getting Hair Color Back to Natural?

Years ago I had a lovely light brown colour, but got so bored of it and went black. In one year I think I dyed it about 3-4 times. It's been a good year and a bit since I put black in my hair and no matter how much my hair has grown it has stayed dark. I'm upset my natural colours not coming back out, but I want to go for a chocolate brunette.

I've been given advice to put in a lighter brown than I want for it to go to a normal brown and then been told to put in the exact colour I want and it will appear. I don't know what to do should I go for a lighter or the exact colour?

By Ayesha A from East London