Despite having heard the warnings, many people persist in using at-home, out-of-a-box color in hopes of achieving professional-looking results. Unfortunately for most color DIY-ers, the results aren’t pretty. Additionally, correcting the problem can be far more time-consuming and expensive than having gone to the salon in the first place. So, the first rule for avoiding hair color nightmares: skip the at-home experimentation and seek a colorist at a salon that uses the best professional hair color available.
Of course, hair color nightmares come in all shapes and sizes and aren’t always the result of bad coloring. There’s a whole variety of hair color problems that arise from fading, using harsh shampoos, too much sun, chlorine, etc. You’ll be glad to know that all of these color problems also have solutions! Here’s a list of hair color “oh-ohs” and their possible remedies…
Brassiness
There’s nothing blondes fear more than having their golden tresses turn orange or copper. This unwanted look is referred to as “brassiness” for its resemblance to that particular metal alloy. But blondes aren’t the only victims of brassiness! This hair color problem also shows up as “lifted” color in darker hues.
The remedy is a toner to neutralize the brass effects. To prevent a recurrence of the problem, add a good color neutralizing shampoo to your routine.
Your Color Came Out Too Dark
Let’s say you were aiming for golden blonde, but you ended up with “golden” brown. You’ve got a couple of options. The first is to wait and see how much the color fades after a couple of washes. The other route is to make an appointment at a high-end salon and have the color stripped. This is an aggressive procedure, so whatever else you do, do not try to do it yourself!
Your Color is One-Dimensional and Flat
Simple: ask your colorist about Balayage! This subtle technique will wash your hair with multi-dimensional color and barely-there natural highlighting. Your stylist will add lighter tones through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair using a freehand technique that mimics natural, sun-kissed changes in tone. It’s a sure-cure for flat, all-one-color hair!
Problems with Pastels
The pastel trend is one that many women are trying to do themselves with varying degrees of success. A common problem arises when pastel pink comes out looking too cool. A gold toner can solve the problem by restoring some natural warmth to your color.
Caring for Your Color
Using professional-grade color-safe shampoos and conditioners is a must if you want to preserve your color. Otherwise, it’ll fade and lose its richness and depth. Some great products to incorporate into your routine include:
- Kevin Murphy Colour Care and Shimmer.Me Blonde – Formulated with rich emollients to repair damage and keep colored hair moisturized.
- Kerastase Bain Chromatique – Sulfate-free, formulated to extend the life of your color.
- Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Color – Preserves color, repairs damage and protects your hair from the elements.
In addition to using top-grade products, you should also cut back on the frequency of washing. When you do shampoo, use the coolest water you can to avoid dry, brittle hair. Chemically-treated hair is especially delicate and susceptible to dryness. Try to keep your colored hair out of chlorinated pools and keep it covered in the sun with a chic straw hat or with a professional product that includes SPF protection.
Color Correction Services at Deseo Salon & BlowDry
The best salons have expert colorists who offer color correction services to take care of color mistakes. Deseo Salon & BlowDry in Denver offers the highest quality color correction services, and will send you home feeling serene, confident, and beautiful!
We’ve seen it all here; from patchy, uneven color to highlights that were meant to be subtle but came out looking like stripes, we can put your color woes in the past. Our professional colorists know how to handle “hair-tastrophes” with grace and skill, getting you the beautiful results you originally envisioned.
At Deseo Salon & BlowDry, our passion is in our craft, and our mission is to provide you with high-quality hair services you want and deserve. Book now!
Frequently Asked Questions: Hair Color Problems and Correction
Why does at-home hair color so often go wrong?
At-home box color is formulated for the broadest possible consumer base, not for your specific hair type, base color, or previous chemical history. The result is unpredictable: color can come out too dark, too light, patchy, uneven, or with unwanted undertones that were impossible to predict without professional knowledge of color theory and how different hair types respond to chemicals. Additionally, box color formulations often contain higher levels of harsh peroxide and ammonia that can damage hair more than professional-grade products.
What causes brassiness in blonde or lightened hair, and how do you fix it?
Brassiness occurs when the warm underlying pigments in hair, yellow, orange, or copper tones, are exposed during the lightening process or as color fades over time. It affects blondes most visibly but also shows up as unwanted ‘lift’ in darker color. The professional remedy is a toner, which neutralizes the warm tones using cool or neutral pigments. To prevent recurrence at home, adding a color-neutralizing or purple shampoo to your routine helps counteract brassiness between salon visits.
What should you do if your hair color came out too dark?
If your color came out darker than intended, the first step is patience, wash your hair a couple of times and observe how much it naturally fades before taking any action. If fading doesn’t achieve the result you want, a professional colorist can strip the color using a controlled, targeted process. Attempting to strip color at home is strongly discouraged, as the process is aggressive and requires professional calibration to avoid causing serious damage to the hair structure.
How does color correction work, and when should you seek it?
Color correction is a professional service that addresses color that has gone wrong, whether from at-home attempts, uneven salon results, or unexpected chemical reactions. It can range from toning out brassiness to completely removing and re-depositing color over multiple sessions. Because correction services are technically complex and require an accurate assessment of what’s in the hair, they always require a professional colorist. The earlier you seek correction after a mishap, the easier and less costly the process tends to be.
How can you fix flat, one-dimensional hair color?
Flat, one-dimensional color lacks the tonal variation that gives hair a natural, multi-dimensional appearance. The most effective solution is balayage, a freehand highlighting technique where lighter tones are painted through the mid-lengths and ends of the hair to create subtle, sun-kissed variation. The result looks natural rather than artificial because the placement mimics how sunlight actually lightens hair. Balayage is a proven and popular remedy for color that looks too flat or uniform.
What products help maintain hair color and prevent fading at home?
Color-safe, sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners are the most important products for maintaining vibrant hair color at home. Kevin Murphy Colour Care and Shimmer.Me Blonde repair damage and keep colored hair moisturized with rich emollients. Kérastase Bain Chromatique is sulfate-free and extends color life. Oribe’s Shampoo for Beautiful Color preserves color while protecting hair from environmental damage. In addition, washing in cool water and limiting wash frequency both significantly extend the life of salon color.
Where in Denver can you get professional color correction services for hair color mistakes?
Deseo Salon & BlowDry in Denver specializes in professional color correction services, handling everything from patchy at-home attempts to uneven highlights and severe brassiness. Their expert colorists have the training and professional-grade Wella color systems to address virtually any color situation and restore the beautiful results you originally envisioned. Located at 3600 W. 29th Ave in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood, Deseo serves clients from across the Denver metro area.