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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are these highlights normal? Pic included.

92 replies

ideallyno · 15/12/2023 16:25

So I've been this morning to a new hair salon, since my usual lady of 7+ years has moved away.

I asked for highlights, but have just got home to natural light and feel like they're white yellow and streaky? Am I over analysing? I asked for a cool blonde, almost icy..

What do I do? I don't feel particularly satisfied with what I've got 😢

Are these highlights normal? Pic included.
OP posts:
bonzaitree · 15/12/2023 17:15

I wouldn’t notice this on the street or someone at work (I think most people wouldn’t) so I would t be embarrassed walking around.

BUT I wouldn’t be happy if this was me- they’re chunky and brassy. I would defo go back and ask for them to be redone.

Aprilx · 15/12/2023 17:16

I don’t think there is anything wrong with the colour per se. But they are too stripey, the hairdresser does not appear to have picked out the strands to it the dye on properly.

anybloodyname · 15/12/2023 17:16

I like it ! I wouldn't pass you in the street and think " bloody hell ! "

Toesaresoweird · 15/12/2023 17:17

Your right side looks fine. The left side would bother me if I'm being nit picky. I can see there are uneven chunks of non highlighted hair. I think the blonde colour is nice. The cut looks good but I can see why you would be upset that it's shorter if she's trying to even it out and then cutting more off.

It's not terrible but I can see why you feel upset.

NoTouch · 15/12/2023 17:18

Looks at bit weird it is blocky/stripy at the top, then all just blonde a few inches down. I wouldn't be happy with that either op, but I am not keen on the blocky look and get the horrible plastic cap for my highlights instead of foils as I prefer the end result.

Ruthietuthie · 15/12/2023 17:22

It's not good, OP. Far too blocky, uneven looking, and rather than a root-smudge, you can see a clear line between your very blonde ends and the stripes section. Go back.

Friedtofuandbeans · 15/12/2023 17:27

I’ve seen a lot worse! It’s not brilliant but it’s really not as bad as you think - no-one is going to say ‘omg look at those awful highlights’ when they see you. And no-one looks at you from the top down unless you’re really short. I find mine tend to fade a bit after a few days so it might not look so obvious then. Sorry you’re unhappy though.

Original poster
ideallyno · 15/12/2023 17:29

Sadly I am very short 😆🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
MummyMumMumMummy · 15/12/2023 17:33

I went for my first lot of a full head highlights after being my natural colour for many years.. last time I went blonde I had the most gorgeous, blended blonde that was icy white and stunning.

this time I came away like yours, obvious streaks, yellowish and just.. not blonde? My hair looked the tiniest bit lighter despite me asking to be as blonde as possible.

The only differences between this time and last, was last time I had it done by a colour specialist, and she packed the foils into my hair and alternated between weaves and slices of blonde.. i honest think the slices made all the difference.

BrightGreenMoonBuggy · 15/12/2023 17:35

The highlights are too thick so they don’t look natural. I’d go back and ask them to fix it. It’s not terrible though so I hope you aren’t too upset.

LogFireSnoozing · 15/12/2023 17:35

I like them, I can’t actually see what’s wrong with them?!

LogFireSnoozing · 15/12/2023 17:36

ideallyno · 15/12/2023 16:48

When down. Sorry for the dodgy lighting. It does look much more of a contrast in person 😔

Hadn’t even seen the second photo. I love it!

scaredofff · 15/12/2023 17:38

Have you fiddled about with the parting? It looks better than your first post

To go icy I would pop a Silver shampoo like Osmo on. Leave for 10 mins then rinse and wash as normal

Neverseenthatmuchjunkinthetrunkbefore · 15/12/2023 17:42

The aren’t the best, but really, no one else will notice but you. No where near as bad as mine a couple of years ago when my 4 year old told me my hair looked just like the cat’s fur. TBF, they weren’t wrong!

shivawn · 15/12/2023 17:45

I think your hair looks lovely down OP. The fact that she cut off way more than you wanted because she couldn't do an even cut would bother me way more than the colour. I do think you look lovely though.

Violetparis · 15/12/2023 17:47

I think it looks lovely. I don't understand the baylege look at all, to me it just looks like someone's roots need doing.

LuckySantangelo35 · 15/12/2023 17:49

What a terrible hairdresser

did you pay her op?

Pinkandgreytiles · 15/12/2023 17:54

LuckySantangelo35 · 15/12/2023 17:49

What a terrible hairdresser

did you pay her op?

Oh don't be so melodramatic, it's not terrible, I don't think they look that bad at all.

escapethemaze · 15/12/2023 17:57

Pinkandgreytiles · 15/12/2023 17:54

Oh don't be so melodramatic, it's not terrible, I don't think they look that bad at all.

Show quote history

which is fine

however i’m with the previous poster. they are not highlights. they are stripes.

Atethehalloweenchocs · 15/12/2023 18:02

I dont think they look terrible, but if you are not happy I would definitely go back. I used to get my hair bleached icy platinum and they then put a toner over - it was fine, never really messed with the condition - but he is a good hairdresser. As long as they dont use heat to develop it, you should be fine.

Coralsunset · 15/12/2023 18:06

Oh I spent all the noughties with stripes! I like the colour but the stripes probably aren’t fashionable now.

What is important is that you aren’t happy so you will have to go back.

Birdsongsinging · 15/12/2023 18:06

I think it looks absolutely fine.

Lilibert456 · 15/12/2023 18:09

Change your parting a little. They look ok.

Gnomegnomegnome · 15/12/2023 18:15

Sorry but it’s Awful! Unless you asked for chunky thick stripes ?

IHeartBiscuits · 15/12/2023 18:22

I quite like the contrast, but it is more of a "retro" type of highlights, given all the subtle ones that are around today. The stripes still have their place though IMHO. Contrast can be good, and the 90s looks are in, so you might be ahead of the curve!

When I had highlights I found all but the extreme lightest ones usually settle down after a few washes. Perhaps apply some root blending powder in a mid blonde shade, it might blend in the brighter bits as a temporary fix whilst you consider your options. (the type that looks like an eyeshadow for hair, with a little brush to apply it, not the spray root powder).