Stuck in a paint muddle with my acrylic pour art

I've been working on acrylic pour paintings for a while now. Each time I try, the colors mix into a ugly brown mess. I've asked for tips online, but people give mixed up advice. One person told me to use silicone oil, another said to avoid it. I've wasted so much paint and canvas on failed attempts. My workspace is a chaos of dried paint and frustration. I just want to create something beautiful, but it's not happening. Can anyone share what actually works for them?