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?

In the most recent photo that you posted your hair looks lovely - the perfect base colour for the photo that you wanted! It definitely has a cool-neutral undertone, but unfortunately it’s warm and brassy now. She really messed up if that lovely colour is what you walked in with!

I think your message sounds fair. I wouldn’t trust her to make this right honestly, her techniques are quite amateur. You don’t want someone experimenting with bleach on your hair, you want a dependable, skilled stylist that will keep you aware of what is/isn’t possible

Don’t let her touch it again.

About £130-150 round here for what you originally wanted.

It looks the same to me and rather lovely .

I've texted asking for a refund. I said it looks nothing like the pic, it's too dark and the highlights are brassy, look grown out and blocky. I said if she'd told me the pic wasn't possible before hand I would have chosen something else. I said it's not what I paid for and I would like a refund.

If she offers to fix it I'll say no. If she won't give me a refund is there anything I can do or do I just have to accept it?

I'll need to deal with it for a month or so before I can afford to get it fixed which is a bloody pain as I've got a couple of things coming up I wanted to look nice for. I know it's only hair. :)

Does anyone know, would this be the dreaded "colour correction" at the hairdressers? I can't get a photo that shows how dark it is. When it's wet the brown looks deep black. When it's dry it looks like a sort of dark berry brown. The pics I posted show the colour of the highlights quite accurately.

It is only hair but it takes an age to grow out, it's cost you money and it isn't what you asked for.

I think it could fall under a colour correction if you definitely want the ash tones now.

If you want to try and work with what you have to maintain the condition, they might not consider it a colour correction as it isn’t that bad (as in bright orange, patchy, extremely uneven etc)

But as you said the photos might not be accurate. It’s a good idea to pop into a different salon or two just for a colour consultation and see what they suggest. They can check the condition of your hair and evaluate whether your hair will stand another bleach to get it like your inspiration photo.

Hopefully she offfers you a refund!

Oh, I would recommend going to a salon that offers Olaplex as part of the colouring process, it really helps with the condition. Especially as you’d be getting another colour done relatively quickly.

I doubt it would be a colour correction just a new set of colours. Like someone else said best doing uour research into a good bayalage-er in your area. Im north east and would expect to pay upto 130.

Olaplex is worth a shout but i will say i shelled out for it and didny rate it at all.

I just wanted to add your hair as is now is much lighter than the pic you wanted which is a good thing and less work for the next person who has a go.

Okaaaay. What you have now is nothing at all, whatsoever, like what you asked for and she agreed to. You should ask for a full refund. IF you have the confidence to allow the hairdresser to correct her work, go ahead. Personally, I’d go elsewhere. Take the pictures and ask for a consultation with the chief colourist.

I’d cry if that was MY hair. It’s almost all one-gingery-helmet-head of a coiffure. Sorry OP.

Well. Good news. She said she'll refund and I trust her to. I feel guilty.

I'm also really cross and upset about the text she sent me back though.

About 10 years ago (?) when she worked in a salon one of the many, many times she dyed my hair, the colour didn't take at all. No idea why but literally there was no change. Her manager agreed and they redid it, in the same colour on the same day. I paid in full and tipped.

In her text today she said "I know you've done this before at x hairdressing" and implied I'm lying to get a free haircut. :(

This is the first time I have ever asked any hairdresser for my money back regardless of how bad the end result was. I've also been going to her on and off for probably 15+ years and she has coloured my hair a lot during that time (just a one colour).

I was considering putting this colour down to bad judgement but after her text today I won't be going back. :(

She's just texted again and said "we'll have to agree to disagree". I'm not sure if she is talking about the colour or whether I'm a liar. :(

She is only refunding the cost of the colour service. The full amount would have been good but I wasn't expecting anything to he honest so I'm not going to argue.

Oh the joy of hairdressing. :/

Thanks everyone. Hopefully in a couple of weeks (when I can afford to get it fixed) I will post a lovely hair pic. Or at least one I don't hate and looks vaguely like the picture.

Well done.

So she's charging for the hair cut; but refunding all of the colour/highlights?

It's a shame that it's turned nasty over text. Did she know that you were unhappy in the salon? You come across like you might worry about upsetting people; which isn't a bad thing, but experience suggests that may mean you covered up how unhappy you were; and your text may have come as a bit of a shock and she's reacted defensively.

I hope you find somewhere good to get it sorted

AnchorDown - I did say in the salon that it didn't look like the picture and made it clear I wasn't happy. We agreed to leave it a week and for me to go back but I hate it and what people have said on here about the techniques sounds right. I don't think the text would have been a shock.

I feel bad because she has some personal stuff going on for her and actually I did quite like her.

The fact you like her and the fact she has done an unprofessional job are two separate issues. Judging by her response the liking is not reciprocated.

I would not be happy to accept a deduction for the colouring. You now likely have an expensive correction job ahead owing to her shit skills - that’s if she hasn’t trashed it such that you will need to have the lot cut out.

She’s a cowbag and you have misplaced loyalty. I think I would be talking about small claims court/internet reviews etc.

Yes Iwanka - I was shocked by her insinuation that I was lying. I didn't think we had anything other than a professional relationship, but her tone made me think she was just tolerating me all these years.

I'm not going to take it any further. It would have been good if she'd given me all my money back and you are right, it's going to cost me more than £40 to sort it but ultimately it is only a bad dye job. It isn't worth the bad feeling I will have personally if I took it further.

I will leave a review though. I need to leave it a few days though because I know right now it would sound very personal when it should be about her skills.

I'm sounding like such a drama queen! 0

I would tell her you've had a consultation at a (good!) salon and they are shocked at the outcome. (They probably will be!) Then leave a review after you've had your refund.

She really should not be offering balayage if she doesn't know how to do it.

Hope you manage to find a decent colourist. Agree with previous poster about searching #balayage your area on ig and fb and look through the photos they posts

How do you actually say "balayage"?

Oh wow so she only charged £40 for balayage?? That’s crazy. It’s quite a complicated service at times (as it involves freehand placement of highlights so not a one size fits all job) so that seems much too low

In regards to the review, I think you should post photo #2 and #3 - this will speak volumes. They are nothing alike, her skill is non existent.

If you want, you can give us your general wider area or nearest large city so we can try to find a decent salon for you?

Not the point but I actually like it.

I have this problem a lot as my hair is very very warm toned and I only like ashy colours.

The best at home fix (and maintenance) I've found is L'Oreal Serie Expert Magnesium Silver shampoo for grey hair. Leave it on at least five minutes and use it about twice a week or every other wash. They advise you do a patch test first as it's quite strong

I've tried a lot and always come back to this one (for over a decade!)

Hi OP, you pronounce it bal (rhymes with Val) - A - arge (rhymes with Nigel Farage...don't let that put you off ).