No matter how careful we may be, DIY hair color errors still happen from time to time. Be it brassy highlights, an incorrect spelling word or an overdone ombre effect – when these mistakes do arise corrective color services offer invaluable assistance for correcting these unfortunate mishaps.
Expert colorists shared their best advice for correcting DIY hair color projects. Read on to discover what can be done if your shade ends up looking orange or red and more!
1. Remove the Bleach
It is critical that you do not over-bleach your hair as this could result in dry, brittle and easily breakable locks. Furthermore, over-exposing yourself to bleach may turn orange or even red hues into your locks if left in too long; should this happen it would be wiser to seek professional assistance to restore its health back into its normal state.
One way to avoid over-bleaching your hair is to use a toning shampoo after every wash. Toning shampoos are designed specifically to neutralize any unfavorable orange, yellow, or green tints left by bleach. They may be more expensive than standard shampoo but will certainly save the day in an emergency! Also conduct regular strand tests, this will show exactly when your desired level of lightness has been reached.
2. Apply a Neutral Color
Neutral hues may appear dull or safe, but in reality they provide the ideal foundation for other colors to shine through. Additionally, neutrals soften contrasting highlights for more effective balayage effects.
If your DIY hair color ends up brassy or too dark, using a semi-permanent toner may help neutralize its tone. Toners contain different pigments which cancel out certain hues within your shade; using a color wheel, select your shade’s appropriate toner from their list; green-based toners may neutralize brassy orange tones while violet ones work wonders against yellow hues.
BlondorPlex can help clients achieve an exquisite bronde by pre-lightening roots, midshafts and ends before applying Color Touch 9/03 + 9/0 over balayaged strands – this technique works especially well when looking to softly tone down an almost platinum blonde hue without losing depth of tone.
3. Add a Balayage or Highlights
Balayage is a hand-painted free-hand technique used to add sun-kissed highlights to the hair. This process allows stylists to saturate different sections with color at various points along the strand for an authentic sun-kissed effect. Balayage tends to produce more natural results than its more drastic and abrupt alternatives – ombre or dip dye – because its lines of transition from dark to light tend to be smoother and gradual.
Low maintenance and versatile, this style works beautifully on most hair types. Ideal for people seeking lighter blonde highlights but lacking time or commitment for regular highlights every four to six weeks, it provides the same great result without requiring as much upkeep.
If you choose balayage, your stylist may advise that you invest in a quality kit, which typically contains everything needed for home application (comb applicator, lightening formula, plastic gloves). Also use moisture shampoo and conditioner such as Shu Uemura’s Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil ($69), to help protect against the faster fading.
4. Add a Lowlights
Lowlights are one of the best ways to add depth and dimension back into your hair, giving it more depth and dimension. Lowlights consist of ribbons of color that are darker than your base colour that are strategically woven throughout the strands so as to emphasize lighter areas in the locks. Lowlights can also help correct solid blonde shades or camouflage grays while serving as a great alternative to highlights for those who don’t wish to lighten up their entire appearance.
To create a natural-looking lowlight, select a shade one or two shades darker than your base color. When washing, be sure to use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner with heat protectant for extended color lasting power. In addition, visit your stylist regularly for touchups as this will keep the hue vibrant while also preventing it from fading over time.
