There’s something about a soft strand of caramel brown tucked behind the ear or a fiery red mane gloriously fluttering in the summer sun. Yes, hair colours are fun, flirty and transformative, offering endless opportunities to express your personal style through addictive visuals. A fresh colour can instantly brighten up your complexion or bring out the colour of your eyes. However, the path to getting there and staying in the right lane can be tricky. We’re talking hair colour mistakes that can turn your strands from fab to drab in a matter of weeks, especially if you’ve taken on the herculean task on your own shoulders instead of making a trip to the salon to get it done.
Fortunately for colour enthusiasts, the most common colour mistakes have a tried and tested fix, and we’ve laid them out in detail below. Regardless of whether you’ve committed any of the hair colour no-nos below, read on to hit reset and fix your mane
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1. Bleach, please!
Anybody who’s walked out of the pandemic with kitchen-bleached hair is familiar with their tresses bearing the brunt of it. When it comes to hair lightening, it's best to leave it to the professionals. A tricky process, DIY bleaching can easily damage your hair if not done correctly. Powder bleaches work by breaking the bonds in your hair that hold the pigment in and then lifting it. Wrong timings and techniques can damage your scalp and hair significantly.
How to fix it:
First things first, consider getting a trim to remove any damaged ends. This will allow your hair to grow back healthier than before. Next, use a potent leave-in treatment, like the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, that works on rebuilding the keratin bonds in your hair. Swap out your regular conditioner for a concentrated hair treatment and use it weekly to restore strength to your strands.
2. That’s not what I ordered
Drastic colour changes can spell trouble. It's important to choose a shade that complements your skin tone and natural hair colour. Going too light or too dark for your skin tone or picking a colour that clashes with your natural hair colour can end up looking too harsh or uneven or cause product buildup.
How to fix it:
It can be tempting to reach for harsh colour removers. However, these solutions can fry your hair further. Consider using a clarifying shampoo like Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo to maintain the integrity of your hair while the colour washes out gradually. Purifying or detox shampoos are designed to even out colour and clear product buildup from your hair, while providing an extra-deep cleanse. Focus on shampooing the areas where the colour is too patchy for maximum effectiveness. While washing your hair more frequently may neutralise the colour faster, be sure to follow up with a moisturising conditioner and, to prevent drying out your hair, only increase your washing frequency for a week or so.
3. The mean, green monster
Certain colours, while trendy and fun, can make your mid-lengths and ends turn an unwanted greenish hue. Bright or pastel colours are most notorious for this. The green tinge can also appear when blondes go brunette and choose a cool brown colour with smoky undertones.
How to fix it:
To achieve a long-term solution, refer to the colour wheel. Green sits across from red on the wheel. Once it's safe to dye your hair again (after waiting at least two weeks), opt for a warm brunette shade that has traces of red or gold undertones. When choosing a shade, choose one that matches the original brunette shade that didn't work out.
4. A member of the brass band
It is essential to consider your hair's base colour before dyeing. If your natural hair colour has a brassy or warm undertone, some box dye shades may exaggerate the yellow or orange undertones of your hair. Coloured lengths can also turn brassy due to exposure to chlorine and sunlight.
How to fix it:
To address brassiness, consider using hair colour correction techniques like toning shampoos, like the Paradyes Fine Tone Toning Shampoo, or colour-depositing hair masks. It's also important to limit your hair's exposure to chlorine and sun to prevent further damage. After swimming, rinse your hair immediately (or avoid getting it wet in the first place). Chemicals in swimming pools can bring out less-than-amazing brassy shades in your hair, and too much sun can worsen the effect.
5. Snoozing on proper after-care
Colouring your hair is a commitment and, if you snooze on after-care, it can become dry, brittle and prone to breakage. The colour may also fade quickly, losing its vibrancy and shine. This can make your hair look dull and feel lifeless, and it may even require a costly trip to the salon to fix the damage.
How to fix it:
To maintain healthy coloured hair, it's important to use products specifically designed for colour-treated hair. We recommend the Wella Professionals colour Motion + Colour Protection Shampoo for at-home professional care. Use a hair mask or deep conditioner once a week to provide extra moisture and protection. Try to minimise the use of heat styling tools and indulge in regular trims to keep split ends at bay and maintain the overall health of your hair.
Cover Image : Instagram/@anisasojka
