Help me with my awful hair (pics included!)

[Helpmyhair2019]

Hello
I am in need of some hair advice and wondered if anyone had any ideas?! I’ve been through a tricky year and hadn’t really done anything with my hair so decided to go to the hairdressers before Christmas to have a full head of highlights and a cut. Unfortunately I received what I think was meant to be balayage but it was done very badly with the highlights in the lower third of my hair coming out orangey, then the second third brown (the colour it is at the moment) and the top third just my natural brown with all the greys showing. I used a natural brown box dye last week to cover it all up but its just left it looking very ‘bleurgh’ and flat.

The cut seemed very wispy and I tried (foolishly!) to ‘fix’ the fringe myself and as you can tell it’s come out very blocky and awful. At the moment I am just pinning it back to hide it.

What can I do colour and cut wise? I’m feeling very down about myself in general and at least want to feel a bit better about the mop on my head!

I think the colour looks really natural, as for you fringe - it will grow out fairly quickly. If it feels wispy then have a trim - but I think just an inch or so, and then maybe use a caramel toner (wash out one). I wouldn't mess around too much with it.

Not sure where you are OP but it really doesn't look that bad, how about a very sleek bob? If you are in London go to Vidal Sassoon they specialise in precise haircuts. From what I understand balayage works best on wavy hair so probably not the best option for you. If money is tight go to a hairdressing academy (Vidal Sassoon, Tony and Guy or Mahogany in London are all good and dead cheap).

From the side picture, it looks like they've cut your corners off and layered or thinned it. I've had this happen to me and it leaves it looking like a bob from the front and long from the back. With the thick fringe, thin sides and thick back it looks a bit disjointed.

Personally, I would have it cut into a collar-bone length long bob and try to grow some of the sides back down. I'd also grow the sides of the fringe longer and have it blended into the sides where there is currently a sort of missing triangle.

Did you want balayage, highlights or ombre?

It looks quite thin and wispy at the ends, it would look much better if you got it cut to get the ends looking even and full again. It looks like you’re hanging on to damaged length if that makes sense, where the shorter lengths are due to breakage.

Sorry but the fringe is a no. It’s too thick and blocky and doesn’t blend as it’s such a harsh contrast. Don’t cut it yourself again, let it grow out. Luckily hair clips are in fashion now, so it would actually look nice if you put your hair in a middle parting and pinned your fringe down with grips. If anyone asks, you can just say ‘it’s fashion’ to draw attention away from the cut

Your hair looks thin from the pieces at the front. My hair is really fine, I get it cut Square now and it looks much thicker and blocker than it did before.

Apart from that I don't think it looks bad.

oh OP its really not as noticeably bad as all that! If anything i would go back the hairdressers and get the fringe thinned out a bit if it really bothers you but you may as well just wait for it to grow out otherwise, it won't take long.

The've definitely taken it wispier at the front than the back which i think is what highlights what bothers you; i suspect if you wore it in loose waves, as is the fashion it seems like, then it would suit the cut better, but otherwise i agree you could get it chopped into a long bob to even out the lengths, if you were looking to change the cut.

Honestly i would just buy a conditioning treatment, or some lovely smelling hair oil, whack on a face mask and give yourself a bit of a pamper. getting some shine back in the lengths and some definition with some hair products might change your opinion on it anyway. I'd using your straighteners to slightly! curl/curve your fringe under, and back away from the face to give it some volume and shape, i think leaving it dead straight enhances the blockiness.

with that in mind, as others have said; it really isn't anything i'd look at and think it was noticeable bad, we are much harsher on ourselves than other people are!

I'd go for an inverted bob (shorter at the back longer at the front) it'll look really sleek. I'd also add a bit of vibrancy to your colour its a bit lack lustre

Although if you go to a hairdressers to book an appointment any good one worth their salt will give you a mini-consultation and suggest something that will look good on you

Thank you!!!!!! Thank you for all your lovely replies! I think I’ve gained from the above that I probably need to keep the colour but really condition it/use a caramel toner (where can I get this from? I’ve looked on amazon and can’t find any). I also think I need to get it cut collar bone length and then get the ‘fringe’ thinned Until it grows out and then never cut it myself again!!!

I have tried various curling techniques and end up either burning my face (I have a lovey burn on my jaw from trying this last weekend!) or the curls just drop out.

Can anyone recommend a nice conditioning treatment or oil?

Thank you everyone. I will make an appointment for a cut ASAP but I’m worried they will be horrid about the state of my hair like the last one was!

What’s your budget for products?

I like Kerastase hair masks as they make a noticeable difference (my hair is quite dry though so I need the more heavy duty options!)

If you plan on visiting a salon for a cut, you could also ask them to put on a toner. It’s a cheap service at around £10-20. Hopefully the salon isn’t horrid, but if they are I would just blame the cut on the previous stylist!

You can then repurchase the toner yourself online then, as you’ll know what shade to get from the salon. Otherwise good toner brands would be Wella, L’Oréal etc.

OP I can't recommend Phillip Kingsley Elasticiser enough, it's a fab product. Use it on wet hair either an hour before you shampoo and condition in your usual way or overnight on wet hair then wash and condition in the morning. It is expensive but if you like it you can buy a litre bottle for £60 approx it lasts ages.