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Hair colour gone too dark - anything I can do?

8 replies

lechatnoir · 25/06/2026 16:18

I've had a hair colour disaster 😭I've went back this morning to speak to the hairdresser who basically told me nothing can be done and just keep washing it and it will fade. WTF.

I have lots of very thick mid-dark brown hair. I've been box dying for about 4 years to keep greys in check and last year fancied a change as it was quite flat and boring and always had a reddish tinge which I wasn't that keen on. I took lots of pictures of what I would describe as chestnut / dark honey coloured look- she convinced me highlights and a toner were the answer and as she's a highly regarded colourist, I trusted her. I liked it initially but as the toner faded it was increasingly yellow and too warm against my grey. I went elsewhere and explained I found my colour too orange / warm and maybe somehing a bit cooler. She said going a bit darker would be the answer and I'd still have some shade and movement from the highlights but calm the yellow and leaning more to my natural colour.

It's really bloody dark - roots are very dark brown and where my highlights start, it's just a sort of mousey brown with some shit layers which I could have done with a £6.99 box dye. I'm almost ready to give up on professional colour but in the meantime, is there anything I can do? I look totally washed out and whilst the highlights were too warm, it looked a million times better than this 😭😭😭

I've lived in sun hats this past week but have various events coming up including family wedding and milestone birthday and feel really miserable about my appearance.

OP posts:
Augustus40 · 25/06/2026 16:19

Try dandruff shampoos. Any so far as I know.

ArabellaWeird · 25/06/2026 16:21

I was going to say, Head and Shoulders will lift the colour out of it, if it was a toner or a demi

ForPinkDuck · 25/06/2026 16:24

Dandruff shampoo. Ive also tried crushed vitamin c tablets but im unconvinced.

lechatnoir · 25/06/2026 16:26

Wow thanks will give it a couple of goes and hopefully leave me looking less Mortica Adams!

I don't know where I'm going wrong with hairdressers - both came highly recommended and I thought I was clear about what I wanted the first I even had photos! Oh well, it would save some money going back to the box dyes at least.

OP posts:
LadyUrsula · 25/06/2026 16:31

You'll need to do it several times, one after the other so set aside a couple of hours! Use very hot water, towel dry and then let the shampoo (Head & Shoulders works) sit in your hair for 15 mins (wrap in cling film or shower cap). Then rinse off with hot water and repeat twice more. I had a bad experience with a dark toner a few years ago and this worked for me.

PenguinLove1 · 25/06/2026 23:00

Nizoral shampoo does it even quicker

Augustus40 · 26/06/2026 09:02

I had the exact same problem recently. I will leave the box dye on less time going forward. So 15 mins not the full 20 mins. The make is very good for the hair. Vegan. Cannot recall the brand right now. Gives my hair excellent condition.

Augustus40 · 26/06/2026 09:03

Clairol Natural Instincts semi permanent.

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