If you don't want to use chalks, a dark wash will do wonders for it, and darken the red and it will look fine. I use about an ounce (maybe 2-3 tablesspoons) of cheap black latex paint from a craft store, to a pint or two of water in a spray bottle. After it's mixed up, add 3 or 5 drops of dish soap and mix it in real well. Then you spray it on. Don't be shy, go at it like mad. You can't get too much, because it will run off. Then let it run off and dry naturally. Looks turrible, just turrrrrrable, but once it runs and dries, it will look great. And if for some reason you don't like it, just wash it off with water. If you want it darker, "fix" it with a spray of dullcoat, and do it again. A final coat of dullcoat will make it (or chalks) more durable and has a subtle "muting" effect on either.
You may or may not want to use distilled water, depending what's in your tap water. I get a white residue with my tap water, that gives it a dusty look.