AIBU to expect my hairdresser to not f up my wedding hair?

[SailorJerry13]

Four months ago I contacted my mobile hairdresser and ‘friend’ because I wanted to go from brunette to blonde in time for my wedding day.

I wanted a specific colour, and found the name of it so she could order it for me. All fine. :)

It’s taken a month longer than expected to go from dark brown to a brassy blonde, and I have had to sport some rather dubious hair colours in between. It’s not the hair appointments that are taking so long, it’s that my hairdresser just hasn’t been proactive at all in organising herself.

But That’s ok, I know to trust the process and trust that we’ve got plenty of time to do it in.

Last week I contacted my hairdresser again to make our last appointment before the big day, she wanted to have my hair looking fresh for the day so said she would come this week to do it. We made an appointment for today, as it suited her.

I get married on Friday. This week. In two days.

And she has just text to say she can’t make today as the colour hasn’t arrived !!!

AIBU to expect her to have ordered the colour weeks ago?! When she knew what colour I was going to be (after strand tests etc)

I am so so panicked that it is going too last minute, if it even happens at all now.

if something goes wrong or she still doesn’t have the right colour I am worried I will have to get married with bright yellow/brassy hair....I mean I look ridiculous, but have been getting in with it because I trusted her not to let me down before the big day.

Please offer some kind words, I am in no way a bridezilla and have tried to be very chilled out about it all - I don’t care about the little details etc. I just wanted to look pretty for one day. :(

Put a shout out on FB and see if there are any other mobile hairdressers who could get you the colour from the suppliers, there are two hairdressing suppliers (walk in places but you need a card/membership)in my area, throw yourself on their mercy, wedding sob story or ring local suppliers yourself and tug at their heartstrings

She should have advised you to get your hair to the correct colour well before now. I'd question if she's properly qualified!

OP, worst case scenario post a (non identifying) pic of the colour you’ve got here and I’m sure we can recommend a box dye to cover it. Unlikely to be blonde, though. Likely a brown colour. Better than getting married with yellow hair though:
But I hope you get that appointment you need...

DEFINITELY cancel her tomorrow and see someone else. If she fucks it up tomorrow, you'll have no chance to fix it.

PLEASE get someone else to do it for you.

I'm not a hairdresser, but have dyed blonde hair from dark brown. I've never had dubious colours, or brassiness, as my hairdresser sees my hair, and everyone else's she works with, as a walking ( and importantly, talking!) advertisement of her work.
Once you've got it sorted, a purple shampoo is a must. I use Osmo, which my salon also uses, and it keeps the brass at bay. Once a week I stick it on for 10-15 mins on dry hair, and let it sit. If you have any bright blonde bits, they might go a bit mauve, but I quite like it! It can be quite drying, but a good conditioner will help.
Your 'friend' ought to be ashamed of herself. I hope you swish about at your wedding, and show her pics of you looking FABULOUS!

Yep, I had a nice copper colour for a day or two, then she lightened it again to a fluorescent yellow, with brassy bits in. And I had to walk around like that for two weeks !

Someone at the school gates actually recommended a toner shampoo to me as she must have thought I’d done it myself but when I asked my hairdresser about it she said she had toned it and if she toned it anymore then the next colour wouldn’t take.

It was my birthday the following week and I had expected it to be done by then (at this point we had had PLENTY of time but she just never got round to it) and had to beg her to come and lighten my hair again so it wasn’t highlighter orange.

She lightened it again, and now it is bleach blonde with some brassy ends. It looks awful. I trusted her that it would come out a lovely ashy blonde. Now Iv got dark roots, white blonde mids, and brassy ends.

Oh god, I’m so worried that it is past saving.

I wouldn't let her near your hair again.

I never ever will, once this is all over I’ll be giving her a piece of my mind.

A few friends are checking in now and Iv explained what’s happened and they’ve all said the same as you guys. No one can believe someone would pull something like this with two days before the wedding.

Don’t panic honestly
You have booked a professional now and they will do their utmost to sort this out for your big day - professional colourists are miracle workers - I guarantee you will be so happy with what they have done you will feel like crying with happiness when you see yourself 😀 forget the expense as this is for a special occasion and have a deep treatment after - I’m sure you will look beautiful for your wedding - enjoy !

I say this as the (usually) most frugal person alive - throw money at it. Go to the best salon in town. Try and relax. It WILL be ok. Be good to yourself and go somewhere ace where they serve you all the wine/tea you can drink and tiny fancy biscuits.

Let us know how you get on, OP.

Professionals can sort brassy blonde, don't worry, it will be fine.

I have dark brown hair and can get it to a passable blonde with a single application of cheap box dye - I would question if this friend has any idea what she is doing.

I wouldn't have agreed to let her colour my hair a couple of days before the wedding, what if she messed it up? I had mine done over a week before so if anything happened it'd be fixed in time. You need to ask some friend's to recommend a good hairdresser, I wouldn't blindly book an expensive salon, expensive doesn't always mean they're any good!

@ItsAllGoingToBeMagnificent that’s the thing - I was recommended her ! Where I live is a very small rural village and no one knows quality.

I am from somewhere near London and the services down here are just appalling. No one cares or can be bothered.

I’ll feel better after this appointment - I’m not getting my hair done yet though, it’s just a consultation as they won’t agree to dye it Til they’ve seen it.

Arghh I just want to shake the woman who did this to me and scream at her for being so useless

Hope it works out ok for you

You live and learn.
Finding a good hairdresser is hard work.

The main thing is you have in an appointment to have it sorted. Professionals are used to fixing things all the time.

I hope it all goes well.

P.s. don't pay for the colour

Whilst it's shit she's let you down, the colour is less of a hairdresser problem and more of an unrealistic expectations problem. The process to go so light from dark is very damaging and the colours do look quite dubious in the in-between stages and a good result will be down to toner and a hell of a lot of it, regularly. She should have explained this at least.

I hope the salon can help -come back and let us know what they say. Good luck!

I have everything crossed for you that the salon can help you out.

Hope you get sorted. Keep us updated xx

OMG, I hope the salon were able to fix it - it sounds terrible!
You might end up having to have it up with lots of flowers or something on it to hide it, if they can't deal with it all - but hopefully they will be able to.

That "friend" of yours needs her arse metaphorically kicked from here to Lands End!

God she's an idiot. You're not unreasonable at all and do not pay her. Are you getting it sorted?

Is it normal to take several months to change colour? My hair is naturally a very dark, almost black, brown and I have it bleached ash white. My hairdresser does it in one sitting (admittedly, the first time took about 4 hours, the roots take about 3 hours. My hair is also quite short...)

Good luck for getting the colour sorted! I hope you have a fabulous wedding!

Go to a salon and pay - if you pay peanuts you'll get monkeys unfortunately.

I hope you get it sorted OP. What a nightmare for you. But honestly no matter what happens with your hair you'll look lovely on your wedding day and I bet your fiancé won't care what your hair looks like!