Box dye disaster

[burgledinParis]

I stupidly box dyed my hair for the first time, I'm naturally darkish brown and thin and frizzy with increasing grey round my temples - I don't know why but I just snapped at seeing so much grey and got box dye from the supermarket. I used Garnier Olia 5.3 ... It's a disaster, It's colored all of the grey as far as I can see but it's distinctively auburn/ginger instead of chocolate and defiantly looks box dyed... a part from an expensive trip to the hairdresser is there anything I can do ?

*definitely and defiantly !

I think that might be the dye I’ve just used and it is very brassy looking at first. Mine has toned down now a few weeks on and doesn’t look too bad but if you really hate it I’ve heard mayonnaise is good for salvaging a bad dye job in an emergency.

@FatFilledTrottyPuss Do you think leaving conditioner on overnight might help - I'm not sure I can muster making mayonnaise and applying it to my hair this late. Or If I shampoo it a few times in a row tomorrow morning ?

Proper Head and Shoulders.. Few washes over and over ime helps loads!

Aww poor you OP, I've done that myself and regretted my choice. I'm a little grey around my temples too and I would for now colour over it with Live range hair colour in red passion or L'Oréal casting black cherry. Both semi permanent but great coverage. Good luck 🤞🍀

You need to add base to neutralise the warmth. If your hair has any natural warmth or orange/red under tones a .3 colour will definitely go to warm.

The only thing you can do to salvage it is either see a professional or, top up roots only (and any other overly areas) use a 6. This is a base colourblind shade lighter than the 5. But as you've already coloured your hair putting a 5 on yourself will risk it dropping too dark.

Sometimes, you should just spend the money and see a professional. There's so much more behind hair colouring than just choosing a shade you like on the box.

If cost is a factor, you can see professionals at a lower price point or go to a hairdressing academy or salon that needs models. The cost is a fraction of the price and will be done by a trainee who takes longer, may not be the best job possible but will be over seen.
Good luck

thankyou @PickleOfAConundrum - I feel less alone!

@OneMoreCookieMonster That all sounds so technical! I've never dyed my hair a part from with henna when I was a teenager and actively trying to go orange and I probably go to the hairdresser for a chop once a year dragging my feet because I hate it .... I'm a total newbie

If I understand correctly - The first number stands for a color and the second for a tone or the opposite ?

It's not a cost thing ( although I'd like to avoid spending if possible), or about not recognizing the skill hairdressers have, it's just that I really really hate going to the hairdressers - I hate all of it, the hairdryer noise, the itchyness, the smells, the talking, having my hair touched, the questions, and even when I just go in for a cut I over feel like crying coming out, so if there is anything I can do to avoid it I will ....

@Eggseggseverywhere thanks, does it get rid of the redness?

There is a box stripper you can get from Superdrug to remove the dye, then re-dye to desired colour but it can damage hair a bit. Think it’s called Colour B4

I accidentally dyed my hair black last year, leaving head and shoulders on multiple times did help quite a bit but ultimately ended up having to go to the hairdressers as it was less than a week before my wedding so didn’t have time on my side 😬

when I read the reviews afterwards everyone said it came out black not dark brown, so I would recommend looking at reviews before you use a box colour if re-dyeing!

Good luck

Oh dear OP, I am a ginger and I use that shade to dye my eyebrows! Definitely a coppery brown not a chocolate brown.

You could try a 5 or 5.2? Never look at the woman on the front, you have no idea what colour hair she started with (and it’s most likely recoloured in post production anyway). Look at the change in hair colour on the side, and patch test a strand first.

So … I left deep conditioner on overnight and have just used the harshest shampoo I have - it doesn’t seem to have made much a difference - oh dear !

Yes that's correct the first number is the depth of the colour and the second and third numbers are the reflects and tones.

Usually to neutralise warmth you would use a .1 or .2. But these can be tricky to manage at home because they often drop a shade darker.

Please ignore all advice saying to use a colour stripper, shampoos, conditioner or mayo. The shanpoos will lighten, or potentially remove a bit of colour. The colour stripper is bad idea all round and if you use one and it goes wrong no reputable hairdresser will touch your hair because they often contain chemicals that contraindicate with professional colourants and peroxide. And the others idea will have no impact once so ever.

I understand that salons can be horrible places. If your nervous or uncomfortable let reception know on booking. Beyond your consultation, your stylist doesn't need to speak to you. Just maybe to check in that they are doing what you've asked. Salons cater to everyone and may be able to tell you when it's the most quiet or get you in the right stylist for your needs. There's no shame in asking to be accommodated. A good salon will do everything they can for you.

It's a golden brown you have chosen so that's why you've ended up with the warm tones. You could use a straight number 5 hair colour to see if that covers over the ginger areas.

I find chlorine in swimming pools or Epsom salts in a bath strip my (box dye) hair colour out quicker.

@OneMoreCookieMonster Thank you ! I’ll see if I can muster the courage to book an appointment. This is the color I have now … not great !

It actually looks a lot more orange in real life than in the photos

Ash brown covers red.

First colour 5 medium brown, second for under tone. 1 will be ash, 2 iridescent (purple), 7 mat (green), 8 mocha. Any other numbers I do not buy.

Blue shampoo in Superdrug! And also there's Bleach London Brunette toner in Superdrug for £6!!

It's very good!

Washing up liquid for fading. If needed :)

Aussie do blue shampoo too! £3.99 in Boots

Head and shoulders and a purple shampoo. This happened to me before Christmas, stupidly put another box dye over the top and had a massive allergic reaction. Definitely don't do that.

Well I think the colour looks lovely. Looks like a 6/3 to me.

I say keep it!

Nice n Easy Medium Brown is a good one with no gingery tones. If it was me I'd just stick that over what you have, don't leave it too long or you'll end up too dark. Your hair is short so any damage will grow out before too long.

Thanks all, I have decided to try and live with it for a few days and then If I haven't gotten used to it to go to a hairdressers and cut my losses .... I unfortunately don't have boots or super drug as I'm abroad

Why don't you try the Garnier Olia 5.0. That should be just a brown. At the moment I use L'oreal 5.0 and it's a ashy normal NON red brown.