Goose, I think it's important not to confuse color intensity or saturation (all that SRM tells you) with hue. I think 8.6 is fine to suggest bright red hair lit by the sun (sorry to get poetic.) The thing to research is which malts fall where on the color spectrum in their contributions. Some malts the same color L or SRM will lend a more yellow, or red, or brown hue. Different manufacturers of the same type will vary. I think anything too roasted is to be avoided, but then a tiny bit might give just the right touch. I don't have specific recommendations, just this approach. Richard, if any reviews of various malt reference specific color contributions in terms of hue, that's what I'd focus on, and just dial in the depth as SRM as a last fine adjustment. And malt teas just might be the most illuminating thing. And you know you sound completely crazy, right? I like it.