Hairdresser Advice Please - Bad Balayage

[Clare246]

I had balayage colour in 2016 but haven’t kept on top of it since I had a baby last year. I’m back at work on Monday so thought I’d treat myself to a cut & colour. Having had this before I went to my usual hairdresser, but she used a different technique. Previously it was very blended and she painted colour on the last few inches of hair then rotated the brush 90 degrees and blended it upwards. This time she seems to have block dyed it so the top layer is blond except for a few cm by the roots. In my opinion this isn’t balayage and I feel it looks like I’m growing out a bad dye job. I’m a very shy person but decided to call them back to say I’m unhappy and they’re seeing me on Monday. How would you fix this? She mentioned a root stretch but I have a weird natural hair colour (not quite red not quite brunette) and I’m worried this will make it worse. Also she applied a toner but it’s a much lighter blonde than it was before..... could she darken this down a little?

Toner could darken it but will progressively wash out and need reapplying every 4/8 weeks dependent on brand/hair condition etc.
Root stretch is how I would fix it - I would err on the brunette side as it will fade/warm anyway. I would probably then in 6 weeks have a few baby lights put through the area where the colours meet to blend and break up the probable banding you might get

Hiya,
Sorry to hear your are unhappy with your hair. I'm sure your stylist will fix it up nicely, we all have our days. :)

I definitely would do a root stretch that is close to your natural colour and drag it down on some sections to the ends, leaving some blonde sections also. Giving a sun kissed look with flashes of blonde and the darker colour that is trying to match your natural hair colour. Regarding the blonde being too light, I would add some depths back in to the lightened parts of the hair by applying a darker shade of blonde tint. So then the shade of blonde will be a more suitable level of lightness for you that also blends in well with the darker shade of colour. The blonde tint will last longer than a toner, but the blonde tint would be a permanent not a semi.

Hope it helps and makes sense.

Good luck and don't forget to take in hair pictures so you can show your hairstylist. This helps them have something to aim towards while they personalize it for you. ;) Also helps you both have a better idea on being on the same page.

Relax, put your feet up, have a cuppa and chit chat while enjoying your time with the stylist. :)