Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or professional treatment. Always consult a healthcare provider for scalp/hair conditions and perform a patch test before using any chemical products.
Hair color disasters can happen to anyone. Sometimes the color you chose just isn’t right for your complexion. In other cases, your stylist may have messed up the job.
Either way, there’s no need to suffer for weeks with a hair color you don’t like.
How to React If You Don’t Like Your New Hair Color
There are things you can do to fix a hair color you hate, but the sooner you take action, the better. Here’s a guide on what you can do if your colorist messed up and you don’t like the newly done hair color.
#1. Tell Your Stylist
If you can tell the color isn’t right when you’re still sitting in the stylist’s chair, speak up immediately. They can often adjust the tone or darken the color before you leave the salon. Note that making it lighter will require a separate, more intensive color correction process. Telling them there’s something wrong won’t offend them because they want you to be happy with your hair. Just be polite about it, and they’ll fix it.
Also, you can look for a new stylist. By choosing a new hairstylist, you can get the mistake appropriately fixed. Another option is choosing a different stylist at the same salon.
#2. Wait It Out
Your hair color may change subtly over the first couple of days after your appointment as the color settles into the hair strand. If you’re willing to be patient, you may find that the color is more to your liking after a day or two, once it’s fully processed and you’ve had a chance to get used to the change.
#3. Wash It Out
Freshly colored hair is still settling into the hair strand. Washing it with strong cleansers right away can strip the newly deposited pigment. Generally, stylists recommend that you avoid washing your hair during this window, especially with strong cleansers, because it’s much more likely to fade if you do.
You can use this advice to your advantage by doing the opposite – wash your hair ASAP with warm water and a clarifying shampoo to kickstart the fading process. You may like the color more once it’s faded a little. If not, at least the color will be easier to correct.
#4. Fade It Fast
If you absolutely hate your new color and want to have it corrected, using a clarifying shampoo or a detergent-heavy shampoo can help gently accelerate the fading process. You can also use a targeted hydrating mask for 20 minutes, or apply a deep conditioner and leave it on for the maximum time stated on the manufacturer’s label (usually 15 to 30 minutes) before rinsing. Prolonged wetness from sleeping in conditioner can severely damage the hair cuticle. Even if you still hate it, the extra hydration can help reduce dryness ahead of a correction.
#5. Tweak Your Style
New hair color can change the way your skin tone looks, especially if you’ve had your old style for a long time. If you’ve gone darker, your usual makeup may look a little washed out, so you may need to go bolder with the lipstick or blush. On the other hand, if your new shade is lighter than the old one, a subtler makeup look can make a huge difference.
You may also want to consider a new hairstyle altogether. Your hair color and style have a dramatic effect on the apparent shape of your face. A new haircut may be enough to change the way you feel about your dye job by pulling the whole look together.
#6. Try a Hair Glaze
A hair glaze or gloss gives your hair color its lost brilliance. At times, it can also add a new hint of color. For example, a hair gloss can help make your red, brunette, or blonde look richer.
A hair glaze will work if you’re going for only a small change. However, you should know that a professional stylist will achieve better results than a DIY.
#7. Next Time
To avoid hair coloring disasters in the future, make sure you and your stylist are on the same page regarding your expectations. Bring lots of pictures of the color you want, follow their recommendations, and be honest when they ask what you think. Your stylist wants you to leave the salon happy, so be clear about what you want, and don’t be afraid to speak up.
#8. Correct It
When all else fails, correction is your only option if you can’t stand your hair color. But whatever you do, don’t do it yourself! Mixing chemical hair processes can cause severe damage to your hair if you don’t know what you’re doing.
A professional stylist will know the best way to correct the existing color based on your hair type and the process your stylist used to begin with.
Be aware that professional color correction is a specialized, time-intensive service that is usually billed by the hour and can be very expensive. Always ask for a consultation and a price estimate first.
Not every hair color appointment has the desired result, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with a botched dye job forever. Sometimes all it takes is a little time and patience to come around to your new color, but other times, you need a color correction.
Either way, remember that it’s only temporary. The color will fade, your hair will grow out, and soon, this terrible experience will be nothing but a vague memory.
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