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Is box dye that bad? Sick of hairdressers..

35 replies

sunflowerfields88 · 29/10/2023 17:13

Basically every hairdresser I go to either doesn't do what I asked for, cuts my hair too short, damages it, costs way too much or sometimes a combination of both.

The latest example of what I asked for vs. what I got in pics. Still waiting for a refund I was meant to get 2 weeks later.

Is box dye that bad? Thinking of just not having a salon colour done again for a few years!

Is box dye that bad? Sick of hairdressers..
Is box dye that bad? Sick of hairdressers..
OP posts:
Lorelaigilmore88 · 29/10/2023 17:17

Not all box dyes are bad. I think it depends on what you are having done. Mine is blonde and I wouldn't attempt bleach and toner at home. But when i was brunette I did it myself with a box dye and it looked good.
What you have asked for in the first picture would be very hard to do yourself.
Ask around for some recommendations from people you know you have lovely hair :)

rcat74 · 29/10/2023 17:19

I think to box dye over your current colour would be very difficult. I box dye but it’s only ever one flat colour. I think you need to ask for recommendations to correct what you have had done.

Pewpewbarneymcgrew · 29/10/2023 17:21

I do but it’s dark brown, never had any issues

MerryChristmasToYou · 29/10/2023 17:22

If you use a box dye, use a tone-on-tone one

hotcandle · 29/10/2023 17:24

Chase them up for that refund!

I love box dye. I have one flat colour, so I'm not the best person to ask because my hair is relatively easy to do, but the SHINE it gives my hair is second to none!! Plus, it doesn't damage it.

Saying that, I did go too dark a few weeks ago, but I've washed it ever since with Vocene shampoo, and it came up a lovely colour again.

sunflowerfields88 · 29/10/2023 17:24

I've chased her once and she said sorry she had a sickness bug.. 2 weeks later and still nothing! x

OP posts:
WeighDownOnMe · 29/10/2023 17:28

Jesus what did she do to your hair?! That's awful.

That said, I think it'd be hard to get a good result trying to dye over that yourself.

MarshmallowsOnToast · 29/10/2023 17:28

MerryChristmasToYou · 29/10/2023 17:22

If you use a box dye, use a tone-on-tone one

What does this mean please? 🙏🏻

sunflowerfields88 · 29/10/2023 17:29

@WeighDownOnMe tell me about it.. charged me £100 for it too! I left the salon with it wavy so it hid it.. when I straightened it I messaged her and said I'm sorry but this wasn't exactly cheap, it's just not up to scratch at all.

OP posts:
WeighDownOnMe · 29/10/2023 17:38

I really feel for you! They're not going to give your money back either are they. Cheeky bastards.

Hedjwitch · 29/10/2023 17:39

I use a box dye but its just one colour...a deep burgundy. Costs me abou £7 a time

Mackeroo · 29/10/2023 17:40

She's done a very poor job and should refund you fully.
Box dyes are fine, if you're OK with your hair being one colour; they tend to be darker than they say so go for one shade lighter. You may need to put the dye on the blonde bit first and then then add to the darker hair later (reverse roots).

WorkSmarter · 29/10/2023 17:44

Yes box dyes are great if you need one colour. Anything more complicated you will need to go to a salon.

That pic is nothing like your picture you asked for. I would go somewhere else to correct it.

Threaten if you don't get a refund today, you will give them a bad review.

Good luck☘️
Xxx

imnotthatkindofmum · 29/10/2023 17:46

Maybe if you can give your area people can recommend someone to fix this. You've asked for a balayage effect and been given an ombré. A bad ombré. Keep pushing for that refund.

imnotthatkindofmum · 29/10/2023 17:47

I always box dye and it's fine but it does affect your hair. I wouldn't recommend a box dye over what you currently have as the difference in colours is significant.

Emeraldsanddiamonds · 29/10/2023 17:56

I think you might need a recommendation for a good colourist to even try to get your hair to one colour. And maybe a load of deep conditioning to try to improve the condition. I wouldn't try to do any sort of highlighting at home either. You'd be working with foils at the back of your head and if one of them leaks it would not be good.

Emeraldsanddiamonds · 29/10/2023 17:58

By the way, when you find a good hairdresser, follow her to the ends of the earth. My hairdresser always asks me to tell her how much to cut and she does just that.

devildeepbluesea · 29/10/2023 17:59

I box dye all the time and use the Schwarzkopf ones you can get for £2.99 from Home Bargs (just one colour). This was on the advice of a hairdresser and it’s absolutely fine. As a PP said, the condition of my hair straight after is absolutely beautiful - I get so many compliments about the shine and condition..

TheOGCCL · 29/10/2023 18:02

I've used box dyes this last year or so (its more the time you have to be there when done in a salon) and I don't think they're that bad. I've been brunette to blonde to brunette to blonde to brunette. I've covered very dark roots and I tried at home bayalage kits. In the main people don't really notice what you're doing or have done.

I have quite a lot of different tones in my hair but they still tend to make it a bit blocky. They fade quite quickly and can go brassy easily. They always turn out darker than the box. But I can't see how a box dye would be any worse than what that hairdresser has done. It's different if you have a very skilled colourist - someone who could actually produce the model photo. Then it's worth the cost imo and they are very talented.

Near me there are places you can take a box dye for them to put on for you (for like £10) which you could maybe try.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 29/10/2023 18:14

It’s not just the dye. It’s the application, and it’s very difficult to do that on yourself, at least for me. That’s where it all goes wrong for me and it all goes patchy.

CrabbiesGingerBeer · 29/10/2023 18:19

I box dye but I grew out my salon colour and highlights during covid then had the coloured bits cut off by my hairdresser so I wasn’t trying to dye over the top of existing dye / bleached highlights.

Since your hair is two very clear different colours, I’d be worried about the same effect but lighter / darker (depending on the dye used). Also, I’ve heard dyeing over bleach (which it looks like she used on the ends of your hair) can go very wrong.

I think your hair may require professional remedies. Maybe find someone to fix it then send the original hairdresser the bill (less the £100 if she has repaid you)? If she doesn’t pay up, it may be time for small claims court.

43ontherocksporfavor · 29/10/2023 18:20

My DD19 is great at home kits. She did a warm brown and then a few weeks later picked up some fine sections for warm highlights. My DM and DSis were always doing each others hair with highlighter kits. Massive savings and depends on what you want. I have foils / half head/ 3 different shades so I can’t do that at home.

AgaMM · 29/10/2023 18:26

Where are you based? As £100 for what you were looking for is ridiculously cheap so I’m not surprised she did such a a bad job.

Balayage together with the right base colour requires a colour specialist who is very experienced. I had the colour on the left done a couple of years ago, and paid a lot more than £100.

Also worth noting that the hair in the photo is a lot longer and thicker, so anyone who claims they can achieve that in your hair without extensions is lying.

IndianSummer78 · 29/10/2023 18:27

Jeez OP my hair looks like that but I'm a year into growing out a box dye!

I always use box dye, never had any problems with it. I use Excellence Crème and find it true to the colour on the box. I think people like to over complicate things. I'd go shopping with a friend, have her match your dark hair to the box, then dye the blond bits and put some dye over the dark bits for the last 5mins. Even if it's not 100% perfect it'll look a darn sight better than it does now.