This isn't right is it? What did she actually do to my hair and how do I fix it?

[Hessianbag]

Name change as very outing. Can't believe I'm sharing pictures of me.

Went to hairdressers today. In fairness to the hairdresser she normally cuts my hair how I like it.

My hair was virgin. Like the first pic but with more grey.

I asked for something like the second pic.

I got the third but that doesn't show the contrast all that well. It looks like a dark red brown base with thick brassy highlights. She only used 2 colours but did tone the blonde as it was white. She was adament the difference from the pic is bcause of a difference in natural hair colour. She said the only way I'd get something like the picture was to have a full head of highlights and then tone them differently. I got a bit confused tbh. She said the pic was warm toned and she's given me cool tones to match my skin colouring but I don't think that is right. I think it's the other way round? She said this all afterwards obviously. When I first showed her the pic she was very confident about it.

I've agreed to give it a week to get used to before going back. I haven't a clue how she'll fix it though. I don't want to go too dark.

What should I be asking for?

What should I be asking for?
A full refund.

She said the pic was warm toned and she's given me cool tones to match my skin colouring but I don't think that is right. I think it's the other way round?

Well i agree with you there. It's the first thing i thought.

It isn't anything like it, is it? It's not me being stupid?

So; would you describe what you want as a mid ashy brown with cool pale high lights? That is how i would describe pic 2 as it shows on my screen.

Mid red brown with caramel lights is what you've got.

Yes, you've got warm tones and you wanted cool. But she may be right about skin tone (can't tell), though she should have pointed this out beforehand and let you choose.

It is the other way round. The picture looks cool, almost ashy. You have a warm tone going through yours! It needs a timer maybe to try what you want. I do think it looks nice though!

Toner not timer!

She only used 2 colours but did tone the blonde as it was white. She was adament the difference from the pic is because of a difference in natural hair colour

She should have told you from the start that to reach the colours in the picture would be

1. a bigger job than she could handle (or wanted to handle) or
2. a complicated procedure which would involve changing your base colour first (to an ash brown) and perhaps coming back for second or third sittings to achieve the mix of cool lights.

It should have been your choice as pp said.

Looks absolutely nothing like the photo. The placement and thickness of the highlights is all wrong. She’s given you basic, bog standard highlights when you needed expert freehanded balayage

She was obviously inexperienced, I would want a refund! And would probably just dye it a bit darker to get rid of the warmth!

To her credit, your hair was fairly warm to begin with. So she would have had to give you a full head bleach, then add a new ash brown base colour and then freehand the highlights and tone etc. It’s a bit complicated, but then she should have told you from the start that you wouldn’t be able to achieve the photo you want!

Laiste - I did keep emphasing ashy. :(

So how can I fix this? Is there any hope of getting something like the pic now?

I did say I wasn't happy and that it seemed quite warm but she was adament it wasn't. But then she did describe the highlights as caramel so...

She rents a chair and is going on maternity soon so I feel bad asking for a refund. I'm not sure she'll give me one anyway. I can't really afford to go elsewhere if she won't refund so I need to ho back to her.

Your hair looks nothing like pic 2. I think if she foils thin strands of yours with toner and add a soft ash brown alll over, you could get closer.

By the way i do think it looks nice.

But it's not what you wanted and that's the thing.

Was it very pricey? (nosey) I'd be going back and explaining i'm not happy and wanting it put right or wanting a refund and taking myself elsewhere. Awkward if it's your usual hairdresser and your friendly.

The thing is, to get your hair to that ash tone now you would have to bleach your hair again. Do you think your hair is strong enough to handle it?

I’m not sure what to suggest, maybe drag out the roots a bit more (the dark roots/hair in the photo is definitely more evenly distributed than your hair) and get a second round of highlights, but this time thicker and freehanded. Also tone your base as best as she can, she won’t be able to get rid of the warmth without bleach but she may be able to make it look nicer with a very ashy toner

Do you want her to fix it or home fix?

Hopefully a hairdresser will see this thread soon and give you some professional advice.

Honestly don’t feel about requesting a refund - you paid for a service and received shocking results. I honestly don’t think your stylist has the skill or expertise to give you your desired look, so cut your losses and go elsewhere before she damages your hair further

She was quite happy with the pic when I showed her. :(

So my only real choice is to go darker? :(

Actually, here is a better pic of my natural colour (the grey patches are hidden).

Feel awful*

Better pic of my natural hair.

Ah we keep cross posting OP. I think you might be able to achieve something similar to the attached pic if you ask her to do what I posted earlier. It’s much warmer than what you want, but hopefully you can go blonder and more ash in the future.

You need lots of dark brown low lights i would say. The highlighted bits might sort themselves out with a good few shampoos if they were white and she has toned them down that far.

Basically the blonde needs to be lighter and cleaner. The dark needs to be darker and more of it.

I don't actually think its 'that' far from what you wanted really and easily fixed.

I would probably do a root stretch with the dark too to enhance the effect.

Thank you everyone.

Yes, I think the placement of the colours is wrong as well as the actual colours. I couldn't put my finger on it but that's it.

Right, I'll give it a week because that is what we agreed and ask for a refund. I think if she got it that wrong I don't think she can fix it.

It was £70. I know that's a fraction of what some people pay but it's about going rate for highlights here.

I have never had anything like this so would have happily listened to what she said.

This is the only colour/bleach my hair has. It's barely shoulder length and quite hardy so I think it survive further treatments.

I would be willing to look at something like that ihastingsmua. I did specifically want to go ashy though as I think that would suit me better. Beggers and choosers though! Haha!

If this was
The first
Time
You does you hair you mat have been asking for too
Much! Go out but some purple silver shampoo and conditioner or toner and try that !

DBoo - I saw the highlights before she toned them and they were white. It looked really awful against my hair which was wet so darker.