Hair Crisis! Please help!!!

Metamorphasis555
Metamorphasis555 Posts: 224
edited September 2024 in Chit-Chat
I'm SO stressed out right now!! My natural hair color is light brown but I've been dying it like a medium to dark blonde for the past few years. For some dumb reason, I decided I was bored of my hair color & wanted a change so I decided to go darker & dye it brown. So, last night I went to Target & bought a box of L'Oreal Superior Preference in 5A-Medium Ash Brown. I didn't notice/realize until AFTER I had already died my hair that it was a permanent rather than a semi-permanent hair color.

I was hoping for a nice, medium brown shade. Not as light as my natural light brown color but definitely didn't want it super dark brown/almost black either. Well, long story short, it somehow came out so dark that it was almost black!! I almost cried when I first saw it. It looked awful on me. I read online that dish soap (for washing dishes) works good to strip hair color. So, in the shower last night after I dyed my hair, I washed my hair with the dish soap like SIX times. It did help somewhat to strip the color but not very much as my hair is still quite dark & nowhere near the blonde is used to be.

I just looked online at salons in my area & it seems that the going rate for a corrective color is around $100.00 which I really can't afford right now. However, I absolutely can't stand my hair this color as it really looks awful & now I just want my pretty blonde color back. Any suggestions would be MUCH appreciated as I literally don't even want to leave the house with my hair color the way it is right now. :(
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Replies

  • sbwood888
    sbwood888 Posts: 953 Member
    Better to pay the hundred bucks than to try some other way to strip the color (and the health) out of your hair.
  • Mom2rh
    Mom2rh Posts: 612 Member
    I'm so sorry. But honestly, I would let a professional do it or live with it. Because you can make it look much worse and ruin it if you keep trying to adjust it on your own.
  • Teresa652
    Teresa652 Posts: 217 Member
    You can always buy a bleaching kit and then dye it back to the colour you would like.
  • jpeterburs88
    jpeterburs88 Posts: 201 Member
    look up salon professionals beauty school (there might be one in your area). My friend is in beauty school and their hair coloring is WAY cheaper because it is performed by students- with teacher supervision of course!
  • fsugirl26
    fsugirl26 Posts: 207
    Just keep washing...whatever you do, do NOT color it or put any other chemicals in your hair unless a professional does it. Do you have any purifying shampoos? They may strip the color a little bit faster than a regular shampoo....
  • lilybug13
    lilybug13 Posts: 154
    http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/developlus-color-oops-extra-strength-hair-color-remover/ID=prod2180463-product
  • lindalee0315
    lindalee0315 Posts: 527 Member
    Is there a cosmetology school near you? They likely can perform the same service for a lot less money, supervised by licensed cosmetologists and done by those in the last weeks/months of their training. I would not recommend trying a color correct on your own. I, too, colored my hair and had it turn jet black when it was supposed to be an auburn brown. Apparently, it's pretty common to have happen and it's called "grabbing." My staff called me Morticia, it was so black. I spent $150 and 3 hours getting it fixed at a good salon. They basically strip your hair of all pigment, and then reintroduce a color. Done correctly, it's a lifesaver. Done incorrectly, and you may lose your hair to breakage. Incidentally, I've never colored my own hair since!
  • ♥Faerie♥
    ♥Faerie♥ Posts: 14,053 Member
    The also make a product called Color oops, sold at most drugstores........relatively cheap...
  • 1234lbsgone
    1234lbsgone Posts: 296 Member
    It will fade over the next couple days. But don't wash your hair with dishsoap. The only way to strip the color is with a stripper, like bleach. Don't try it yourself, see a professional. I used to work in a salon with a lady who spcialized in corrective color. I've seen some pretty horendous at-home accidents. Be careful you don't over process it.
  • jinxywinx
    jinxywinx Posts: 38
    I was just going to suggest trying a beauty school. Much less expensive.

    If it's any consolation, the color will fade over time. Just keep washing - try a clarifying shampoo. But in the long run, professional is the best way to return your color to what you're used to.
  • jrueckert
    jrueckert Posts: 355 Member
    I think whatever you do, professional or not, your hair is really going to suffer. I went dark once and hated it but waited a while and then progressively went back to blonde so I didn't ruin my hair.
  • JDMPWR
    JDMPWR Posts: 1,863 Member
    I have 1 answer-SHAVE YOUR HEAD.....afterall it is Cancer Awareness week!. Donate your hair.
  • susiewusie
    susiewusie Posts: 432 Member
    Try Head & Shoulders shampoo that used to strip the colour from my hair ,hope you get sorted soon .
  • AngieM76
    AngieM76 Posts: 622 Member
    Unless you have a professional do it, DO NOT put any more dye in your hair. Trying to lighten it now, can cause it to get stuck in the orange phase which is way worse than anything that is there now. I am sure its just the shock of the extreme difference. Even permanent hair color fades with washing so wash the heck out of it.
  • arosegeo
    arosegeo Posts: 254 Member
    i would also say go to a professional, but if that really isnt an option at the moment o to walmart and get some sun-in and put it in wet hair and blow dry it will not be an immediate fix and will take time, but it is to help the sun bring in the natural highlights so it will help a little
  • Cmccracken1
    Cmccracken1 Posts: 326 Member
    go get it fixed right so you dont damage your hair, you start putting too much cheap color on your hair it will dry out and get brittle then you wont be able to get the correction done.
  • La_Amazona
    La_Amazona Posts: 4,855 Member
    Head and Shoulders!! I once called a help line for some hair coloring product and that's what they advised me. It worked. I did it like a hundred times (my scalp HURT) but it lightened it. I was able to go to my best friend's wedding w/o purple hair! Yes, purple..
  • peacestar84
    peacestar84 Posts: 100
    Unfortunately to save your hair from permanent damage you really need to seek out professional salon help. Especially if you want to go from dark to blonde. Home stripping products can cause dry brittle hair and don't actually work that well, when I was a teenager I tried to switch up from dark to light and had to cut almost all my hair off from the harsh processes. Save up for salon and try to learn to like the dark look or go buy some bandana's and sport a new look.
  • electricnarwhal
    electricnarwhal Posts: 95
    What about getting highlights? A lot of people I know do that, when they want to go blonde... It's a gradual process, though. The color you have will fade and lighten eventually, too.
  • _GingerSnap_
    _GingerSnap_ Posts: 339 Member
    As a former hair stylist, you'd be better off going to see a professional. It may cost the $100, but if it's one color now you have a couple of options, if you try and color again, you will have darker/ lighter areas and possibly an orange tint.
    You can either have the color stripped from your hair using bleach, or start again with a heavy highlite to get back to some of the blonde. Pelase keep in mind that color will not remove another color, only bleach can! Good luck!
  • traceybarbour
    traceybarbour Posts: 226 Member
    you need to find a color specialist/ master hair stylist.. They will strip you hair color you have in now and start over..Don't stress to much it can be fixed... Good luck!!!
  • jennahiggins
    jennahiggins Posts: 56 Member
    I did the same thing a couple months ago, and I could NOT afford to go get it fixed professionally... I went to Walmart and got a color stripping kit....and then bought my regular dye.... and on top of that bought some deep conditioner from Sally's Beauty Supply that I left on overnight after all of this..... It is cheaper, but it will dry out your hair, and in some instances it will make it break off....to me the risk was worth it to ditch the color. Now I only use what I know I like, and if I want to go drastic I go to a professional. You have to make the decision for you...it's your hair... The color stripping kit is a pain, and I panicked I don't know how many times (every time I looked in the mirror lol)..it will take the color out of your hair....and I will never use it again, but it depends on how bad you want the color out of your hair.

    With all of that being said, use DAWN dishsoap, it will fade the color out, and if you can find something to do for a week or two with it, it will fade slowly..but it won't fade out to your natural color, it will grow out.... Good Luck hon, I know it's devastating when you get something done to your hair and you don't like it. Feel free to add me if you want to talk.
  • Kristhin
    Kristhin Posts: 442 Member
    All they do in a color correction is bleach it, then dye it. Might as well do that yourself, its going to be damaging either way.

    I like Manic Panic 30 volume bleaching kit.

    Then get a dye in the color that you want.

    May also want to get a red/gold corrector and/or a purple toner or shampoo to tone out brassiness--when you go from dark to light it always ends up too golden and/or brassy. So also be sure the color you get is ash.
  • mommared53
    mommared53 Posts: 9,543 Member
    Don't feel too bad. One time when I colored my hair, I didn't leave the color formula on long enough and my hair came out pink. I'm talking crayon Carnation Pink kind of pink. I was absolutely horrified!!! I had to wait for it to fade enough so I could color it again. Never made that mistake again.
  • _CowgirlUp_
    _CowgirlUp_ Posts: 585 Member
    I have 1 answer-SHAVE YOUR HEAD.....afterall it is Cancer Awareness week!. Donate your hair.

    Great idea! In honor of cancer awareness week, how about you cut your **** off?! Telling a girl to shave her head is ridiculous. Our hair is a huge part of our identity. If she's stressed over a bad color, you think shaving her head is going to help?! What an insensitive thing to say. Besides that, hair has to be a certain length in order to donate to Locks of Love or any of the other donation organizations (at LEAST 8 inches) so unless she has long hair, your cockamamie idea isn't going to help. Have a heart.

    You've gotten a lot of good suggestions, and I'm with most everyone else...let a professional do it (I would opt for the school if I were you.) Good luck, I know it can be fixed.
  • LizC26
    LizC26 Posts: 319 Member
    Whatever you do, DO NOT try to bleach your whole hair.... You could lighten it up with some highlights around your face for cheaper than the $100...They sell kits to do that with...That would be OK, because you are only bleaching a few strands....and keep washing it with a clarifying shampoo....If you can find VO5, it's like a really cheap shampoo from a dollar store...It will strip the color out about as fast as anything.

    Until then, add some bronzer to your cheeks to balance out the dark color and get to work on your tan if you don't already have one....It makes the dark hair look less harsh..
  • hollyb9871
    hollyb9871 Posts: 401 Member
    I am a licensed cosmetologist. Do NOT bleach it or try to correct the color yourself and put down the dish soap! Breath..okay here's the issue-you've been lightening your hair then put on a darker shade so your hair is really holding onto the dark pigment (you've been removing color to go lighter than your natural so far). It will fade and keep fading as you wash it but using dish soap or anything with extra chemicals in it will dry out your hair and if gets too bad then shaving it will be a good option. Start with some deep conditioner put a plastic bag on your hair and wrap it in a towel let it sit for 30 min. then rinse it out. Do this every 3-4 days to get more moisture into your hair. The best option is to bite the bullet and go to a professional if it absolutely has to be stripped. A color stripper has to be applied and monitored carefully or you could make the situation much worse and end up with orange striped hair. Give it time, treat it gently and it will fade on it's own then in about 3-5 weeks you can think about adding some highlights to lighten it up. If it doesn't fade much on it's own then you need to see a pro for highlights or you run the risk of it only lightening to the orange stage and no further.

    Make the best of it, switch up your make up and make it work for you instead of against you.
  • Metamorphasis555
    Metamorphasis555 Posts: 224
    Thanks so much for all of your suggestions everyone! I really appreciate it! I called the local beauty school in my area & they definitely charge way, way less than a regular salon for color correction. They told me that I'll have to come in the day before I want it done to get an allergy/patch test done on my arm & then come back in tomorrow to get the color correction done if there's no problems. Is the allergy test thing typical? I've never had an all over color (or color correction) done at a salon but several years ago I used to get highlights at the salon & they never had me do an allergy/patch test. No big deal really. Just hope that after they put the stuff on my arm today that I'm not going to break out in some crazy/painful rash or something.

    Also, I've never gotten anything done at a beauty school before. Do you guys think I can trust them to do a good job?
  • writtenINthestars
    writtenINthestars Posts: 1,933 Member
    The only suggestion I have is what I did when I was young and did something similiar. I have med brown hair, bought a shade a bit darker and my hair came out JET BLACK.

    My hairdresser didn't want to process my hair again in any way to help keep it nice (it's so thin and fine to begin with) so she had me put conditioner in my hair every day for 45-60 mins. Within 3-5 days it was definately lighter, and within 2 weeks it was back a livable color. I've had to do this a few times in my hair dying career and it's worked every time for me so it's worth a shot...and I never buy expensive conditioner...just some cheapo basic conditioner.
  • shannonpatton
    shannonpatton Posts: 299 Member
    I use hair color removal from walmart. Works pretty good! It may not go back to your old color, but it takes alot of the dark out. Also, if you do decide to try it out, make sure to have your next color ready bc youll need it after using it. Good luck!!!
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