Buzz
Imagine you're in front of the mirror, armed with plastic gloves, a box of permanent hair dye, and a set of instructions. What could possibly go wrong?
A lot, actually. Even experienced colorists face challenges when dyeing their hair at home. If you've ever attempted a hair color experiment, chances are you've encountered some sort of color mishap. Don't worry, though—it'll all be okay. After the panic settles down, it's time to fix the mistake. We collaborated with Jeremy Tardo, a renowned celebrity hairstylist and Clairol Color Partner, to compile solutions for every possible at-home hair coloring blunder. Whether it's a quick fix or a temporary solution until your next salon visit, check out our top tips to help restore your hair to its best condition.
1. You left the dye in for too long.
You're caught up in an intense Netflix binge and lose track of time. "If the dye sits too long, it may cause an excessive pigment deposit," says Tardo. "While you can't lighten your hair by leaving the tint on longer (unless you're bleaching), it can result in darker hair than you planned." To fix this, use a clarifying shampoo or even a strong kitchen soap to wash away the excess color. Follow up with two to three rounds of shampoo and apply a high-quality deep conditioner. This will help rinse off some of the pigment before it settles, and your hair will gradually lighten with each wash.
2. Your hair has a brassy tone.
Is your color looking a bit too yellow or orange? No worries—this is one of the easiest issues to fix. Use a purple shampoo, like L'Oreal Paris Everpure Brass Toning Purple Shampoo ($9.99; walgreens.com), to neutralize unwanted tones. Brassiness can reappear over time due to factors like hard water and exposure to sunlight, so apply it regularly whenever those orange hues start to creep in.
3. Your color came out uneven.
You followed the instructions exactly, but when you rinse out the dye, your hair looks more like reverse balayage than a single-color application. The reason for this: The heat from your scalp speeds up the color process, making the roots a shade lighter. "Try using a slightly darker shade (with matching tones) and apply it only to the roots. This will darken that area without affecting the tone," says Tardo.
To avoid this in the future, apply the dye to your ends first before touching the roots. If you're just doing a root touch-up, start with the new growth, suggests Tardo. "This prevents over-pigmenting the already colored hair. You want the roots to match the rest of your colored hair. Then, add color to the ends for the last few minutes to freshen them up."
4. You over-applied the gloss.
Gloss is a great way to enhance color between dyeing sessions and add plenty of shine. However, leaving it on for too long can darken your shade. Luckily, glosses are temporary and will lighten after a few washes, according to Tardo. The more you shampoo, the quicker it will fade, so there's no need to panic. Just be more cautious next time and avoid using it like a daily conditioner.
5. You stained your sink and/or skin.
At-home dyeing can get messy, splattering onto your face, hands, and sink area. If your bathroom looks like a dye disaster zone, start by spraying the sink with a bleaching agent and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing. To clean your skin, use some rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad.
6. Your brows don’t match your hair color.
This may not be a mistake if you're intentionally pairing bleached hair with dark brows, but in general, brows are best when they're one or two shades darker than your hair color. "A little makeup or a root powder can help match your brows to your hair," says Tardo. Consider using Clairol Root Touch-Up Temporary Concealing Powder on your roots or a tinted brow gel like Makeup Forever Aqua Brow ($23; makeupforever.com).
7. Your color looks too flat.
Let's say the color turned out as you expected, but the overall look feels a bit lifeless. "Adding movement to your hair with waves or curls can create shadows and highlights between your strands, giving the illusion of more dimension," says Tardo. For a more permanent fix, consider asking your stylist for a subtle balayage or strobing technique.
8. Your hair feels dry and brittle.
Two words: deep conditioning. A nourishing hair mask will help restore the moisture lost during the dyeing process. After washing out the dye, apply a hydrating hair mask, like Living Proof Restore Repair Mask ($45; ulta.com), and leave it in for 10 minutes. Repeat the treatment two to three times a week until your hair feels properly hydrated.
9. You just don't like the color (it happens!).
If you're looking to completely reverse your dye job, Tardo suggests contacting a colorist or your favorite salon through email or Instagram before resorting to drastic measures like re-dyeing. "Sometimes, there’s an easier solution than you might think. Many hair artists have more free time than usual right now and may be happy to offer some advice," says Tardo.
Color removers are also an option. Color Oops Hair Color Remover ($10; target.com) can be used right after coloring to gently strip away unwanted pigment and return your hair to its previous state. It works by shrinking and neutralizing dye molecules, making it easy to wash them away. For a more temporary fix, try a colored dry shampoo like Batiste Tinted Dry Shampoo ($13.79; ulta.com).
