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Original poster

Is this a hair disaster - and can it be fixed?

29 replies

HildaAlida · 22/04/2019 22:02

I have dark but greying hair, so after 20 odd years of being brunette I decided to embrace the greys around my hairline and go for highlights to help disguise them.

It was clearly explained that I cannot get ashy blonde highlights overnight - I know it will take a few appointments. I had my first balayage done about 8 weeks ago (it was fairly orangey) - I wasn't entirely happy and she hadn't blended any highlights up to my greys, so I had a consultation with a different hairdresser for the next one.

I said I wanted to keep my dark hair but have blonde balayage through the ends, gradually brighter and ashier, and he suggested babylights around my hairline to blend the grey. So far so good.

However...the end result is what looks to me, like a fucking orange mess. One of my closest friends looked at me in horror!

I've attached three images, hopefully the first is what I had in mind. The other 2 are what I've ended up with. I don't seem to have any dark hair left through the lengths, it's ALL orange?

I've tried purple pigment shampoo but it's just horrid. Can a salon put some brunette back in and I'll keep going with steadily trying to brighten the highlights?

Or can I just have it dyed back to brunette and forget this ever happened!

Is this a hair disaster - and can it be fixed?
Is this a hair disaster - and can it be fixed?
Is this a hair disaster - and can it be fixed?
OP posts:
stanski · 22/04/2019 22:11

Ouch. The first image looks nothing like the rest. Go to a different hairdresser

Original poster
HildaAlida · 22/04/2019 22:18

Oh fuuuuck. I was hoping everyone would say its fine haha! I'm in denial.

It's cost me £200 so far, bet it costs me that again to get it fixed. I did show the stylist what I wanted but I assume I explained myself badly?

OP posts:
Atalune · 22/04/2019 22:21

The back shot of your hair isn’t so orange but it’s definitely orangey.

The front——sorry, it’s quite brassy.

I would go back to the hairdressers and speak to the manager.

SRK16 · 22/04/2019 22:23

I don’t think it’s terrible but it’s clearly not what you asked for. I would go back and explain you are not happy and request they fix it. If you’re like me then you’ll never return to that salon again!

Original poster
HildaAlida · 22/04/2019 22:25

Ok well its only money, but will a salon sort this out? I'm not sure I want to go back to the one that made it look like this - the guy had a slight attitude and I'm not letting him near me again (speaking from bitter experience you are better off not going back, I had a bad cut made even worse once).

I'm meeting my new boss tomorrow. I better wear a hat.

OP posts:
user1471522295 · 22/04/2019 22:31

My teenage daughter had something similar with her balyage. I took her back because she was too shy to speak up. I asked them to put a toner through her hair and add some low lights all the way through to break up the block colour. They did this free It looked 100 times better, still not quite what she wanted but took out the orange and gave a more natural colour.

PineapplePatty · 22/04/2019 22:43

I thought it was the first one and was going to say is it a stealth boast as it's lovely.

Definitely complain. It's not what you've asked for at all

Original poster
HildaAlida · 22/04/2019 22:47

Really? They put a toner through it there, and I've used a good purple pigment shampoo on it twice to try and mute it down, but that brass is going nowhere.

Yes I was expecting more of my natural dark to still be there, not this wall of lightened hair. It's really not my colour!

I'm not so much shy, as a) not entirely convinced I explained myself very well and b) very nervous of a repeat experience where I went back to a salon as I wasn't happy, and the stylist was irritated and subsequently wrecked my hair by thinning great long chunks out of it.

The guy that did this was fine but not very personable, I couldn't stand the awkwardness of having him dicking around with it again for what could be hours, especially when he might say that he did exactly what I wanted. Confused

I don't really understand all the terminology you see. But after all that, my greys are still obvious in the dark roots, two appointments and 2 salons and they're still un-blended? Maybe I'm asking the impossible.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 22/04/2019 22:48

Yo said in your OP that it was clearly explained it would take several appts to get to an ashy blonde, yet you switched hairdressers after the first colouring session and now want to complain again after the second.

If they've Said it will take several sessions, then they’ve been honest with you - what colour were you expecting in the interim?

Original poster
HildaAlida · 22/04/2019 22:53

That's a fair comment. The first hairdresser, despite having said it would take a few appointments, was entirely disinterested in making a second one so I simply switched to a salon nearer to home - I wasn't "unhappy" after the first one, just wanted some additional highlights. So I went for a consultation, showed about 20 pictures, he said he could do it even though it would take a few goes, so I booked in.

What I was expecting was balayage throughout my dark hair with some highlights, even if the highlights had to be coppery to begin with. I want expecting ALL of my hair to end up coppery. So even if I continue with the appointments, I'm going to endnup being blonde, which wasn't what I was going for at all.

I don't want to complain, I was asking on MN to see if I was imagining how bad it looked or if some randoms on the Internet also think it looks shit.

OP posts:
winterisstillcoming · 22/04/2019 22:54

The 3rd picture isn't bad, but it's definitely not what you wanted - or even half way towards it, just different.

I'd suggest talking it through with another hairdresser and making sure you both understand what the transition is going to look like, and if it is possible in the first place.

I'd get some olaplex on it too if you haven't already.

Original poster
HildaAlida · 22/04/2019 22:58

Thanks winter, yeah the back looks pretty close to what I wanted, it's just the transition coppery colour, which I can cope with when it's interspersed with dark - it's the front view with it down that looks the worst, all ginger rather than highlights.

I am certainly not breaking a sweat over it, far better to have a colour disaster which is fixable, than a cut which can't be undone. I've had three of those in my 46 years on earth.

In the meantime, it looks fine up. Grin

OP posts:
m0therofdragons · 22/04/2019 23:01

I'd get some olaplex to help your hair cope with the bleach.

Original poster
HildaAlida · 22/04/2019 23:05

It had some olaplex at the salon...I did ask for it.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 22/04/2019 23:07

What I was expecting was balayage throughout my dark hair with some highlights, even if the highlights had to be coppery to begin with. I want expecting ALL of my hair to end up coppery

But in terms of areas highlighted the hairdressers seem to have matched it pretty well. The photo of what you wanted shows blonde across all the bottom part of the hair. Balayage is simply hand painted highlights - it doesn't Determine the colour saturation. I have blonde balayage and it’s pretty saturated because that’s what I prefer. You seem to be distinguishing between balayage and highlights and expecting both which is odd. The amount of hair highlighted seems close to what you wanted, you just don't Have the right tone yet and that should be achievable with follow up visits

Holywaterrr · 22/04/2019 23:11

I think it’ll be better after your third appointment. It’s just at that in between stage.

EverybodySayHumph · 22/04/2019 23:13

£200???!

I went from left to right on my own for about £30 Shock

Is this a hair disaster - and can it be fixed?
EverybodySayHumph · 22/04/2019 23:15

Sorry pic

Is this a hair disaster - and can it be fixed?
Original poster
HildaAlida · 22/04/2019 23:19

You are quite right Vet, I do think they've done what I requested - but the result wasn't what I expected, even at this stage. Saturation is a good word, I think that might be where I went wrong - I'm not comfortable holding the stylist responsible, this might be a lesson in making sure I understand what I'm bloody asking for.

It obviously wasn't possible to pull the highlights up to the greys around the front without saturating the entire front and side sections with the interim brassy tone, but I didn't appreciate that. He called them babylights, which I thought were separate to balayage and around the hairline.

OP posts:
Original poster
HildaAlida · 22/04/2019 23:20

Blimey Everybody that looks good, I wouldn't dream of doing it myself!

OP posts:
thewinehasgonetomyhead · 23/04/2019 01:02

Oh dear it definitely isn’t what you asked for is it OP. How frustrating and I get where you’re coming from ref the hairdresser being a bit of a dick. If I were you I would be inclined to just leave it for a while, it’s been through some pretty hardcore colouring so far and going back again will only damage it further. Give you hair a break for a bit, get some olaplex you can do at home or some Philip Kingsley elasticiser (sp?) to help improve the condition. I’ve recently used Bleach London Silver Shampoo as my hair was quite orangey and it really took it right back to my natural colour (besides the bleached grown out ends). First pic before, second now. It’s great stuff and might be worth a try?

thewinehasgonetomyhead · 23/04/2019 01:03

Pics

Is this a hair disaster - and can it be fixed?
Is this a hair disaster - and can it be fixed?
Original poster
HildaAlida · 23/04/2019 05:14

I bought some of that thewine! I've only used it twice so far - the first time I put it on wet hair like a dye and left it on for 20 mins, last night I used it like shampoo but only left it on a few minutes. I guess it needs a few more goes - I wonder if there's anything else I can use...ill have a look online.

The condition feels pretty good actually (it's fluffy in the front facing pic as I'd freshly blow dried it) but yes I'll just have to leave it for a while - I'll look for some elasticiser as you mention, thanks for that. Maybe I'll stick to the schedule of appointments and see how it goes!

Your hair colour looks miles better, how long did it take you to tone down the orange?!

OP posts:
TaxiPlease · 23/04/2019 07:29

Hi OP, I haven't got any advice but wanted to direct you to this very helpful thread for a professional opinion:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/3561195-I-m-a-hairdresser-AMA

Original poster
HildaAlida · 23/04/2019 14:31

Brilliant thanks Taxi! I'll head over there.

OP posts: