Solving Your Hair Dilemma: How Do I Fix My Hair Color Gone Wrong?

Changing your hair color is fun. Sometimes, it becomes so much fun that we get carried away. Whether it’s an idea that doesn’t work out as great as it sounded, a miscommunication, or simply plain old bad work, bad hair color is a stressful experience. The first thing that would come to mind would surely be, “How do I fix my hair color gone wrong?!”

Luckily, most hair color problems can be rectified by the right colorist. Just as long as the hair is in reasonable shape, we can normally get you to a beautiful color in as fast as one visit, thanks to corrective color.

What is Corrective Color and Do You Need It?

The best way to know it is by asking yourself, “Am I trying to fix anything?”. If your answer is yes, it is probably a corrective color situation. Even if it’s not about fixing color gone bad. Ultimately, corrective color is based on each situation, but the following are great identifiers:

• Do you want to go back to your natural color?
• Are you taking dramatically lightened areas that are much darker?
• Do you want to remove color or make color-darkened areas lighter?
• Do you have uneven or patchy areas of color you want to change?

All mentioned above are specialty color circumstances and might require a consultation and multiple processes. But do not let the word ‘corrective’ scare you; you can still make the changes to your hair that you’re looking to make; you want to be patient with your hair so that the stylist can get you exactly where you wish to go while maintaining your hair’s health and strength as much as possible.

Lastly, if you are a chronic dyer and have breakage from color-treated hair, corrective color is what you’ll need. And to mend your broken strands, you’ll want some serious help from bond-building treatments and maybe even time off.

How Do I Fix My Hair Color Gone Wrong: The Color Correction Process

Based on your situation, color correction can take multiple appointments over several weeks. This gives your hair time to recover between applications, as many chemicals are drying or damaging. Your stylist will indicate precisely how long it takes to achieve your desired color. Even if you only require one salon visit, be prepared for a few hours in the chair. Applying the chemicals, waiting for them to be processed, and washing them out can take six hours.

Hair color challenges fall into four major categories, each with a specific remedy. Here’s an overview to help take the mystery out of color correction.

The Color Is Too Dark

It happens often, particularly with the “box” color at home or once you ask your stylist for “a little darker.” Once letting it lighten up on its own is not an option, there are several methods of getting back into the light.

Our favorite choice is a color reducer. Not all salons do them, but they are the best choice to prevent further damage and maintenance problems. Color reducers break down fake colors without lifting natural color, making them the perfect choice for a slight correction or removing ashy tints or low lights, all without damage.

If it’s too dark for a color reducer, the hair can be lifted with a lightener or highlighted.

The Color Is Too Light

This one sounds deceptively easy. Sometimes, it is as easy as putting a darker shade over it. Nevertheless, it must be filled if it’s lifted past a certain point or if the hair is very porous. Think of filling like a primer- it preps the hair for your desired color by replacing the missing hue and equalizing the porosity. It takes a seasoned colorist to choose the proper filler, but the final result will be more durable and prettier.

Another option is adding low lights. Darker tones are foiled or painted into the hair to create depth and dimension. This produces a more interesting and natural feel to the color.

The Color Is Too Red

For shades that are not too blonde, this one is easy. We apply a cooler tone over the hair. As much as you might freak out about undesired red, this is a quick remedy.

With blondes, it becomes tricky. If the hair is orange or red from not being lightened enough, it must be lifted more to get to blonde. Remember, you cannot tone orange to blond. It’ll either still be orange, or it will end up dark. We’ll lift it with highlights or sometimes all over to get past the gold and then work to the desired color.

Color Is Ashy

It’s also fairly simple. It is a little ashy; we would add warm tones to fix it. Ashy color is created by an excess of blue in the formula, so it is just a matter of balance.

You can prevent hair color problems by making sure you’re working with an experienced colorist. Feel free to ask questions and be specific about the result you are looking for. Remember, hair can only take so many chemical treatments, so you should think carefully about going back and forth between light and dark too often.

Who Gets Color Corrections?

When your hair is in the wrong hands (which could sometimes be your own), it can be unpredictable. Those of you who do it at home may not realize that at-home hair color causes the hair to dry out and will absorb more color than the average person, resulting in an uneven look.

Before jumping right into getting your hair back to the desired color, we find it important that you are aware of what we consider beforehand. The condition of your hair is very important to us. Corrective color services can be an extensive process in worst-case scenarios to avoid further damage to your hair. Therefore, an in-person consultation is highly recommended for the best results.

How Can You Prepare for Color Correction?

If your hair is very damaged or dry, you’ll want to spend a little time taking care of it. That suggests giving it a couple of weeks to recover from the initial coloring process and nourishing it with a hair mask and moisturizing conditioners weekly. However, the day before your color correction appointment, you’ll want to change your routine with a clarifying shampoo.

Those with colored hair are advised not to use a clarifying shampoo, which can remove pigment. However, if you are going in for corrective color services, this is precisely what you want. Clarifying shampoo would not remove all the pigment, but it would remove much product buildup and leave the strands ready to absorb new colors.

If you have a hair color dilemma, give us a call to set an appointment. We can have you looking great again in no time.