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I don't like my hair colour - help! (ADDED PICS)

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

So my hair is streaked red now and I am freaking out a little. I don't know if I like it, if it suits me or even if it fits in with my style. Plus I really miss my jet black hair.

Now I don't know what to do. I made the mistake of letting the hairdresser bleach it. Can I undo this in any way? Is my only option re-colouring my hair black? Is the bleach permanent? If my option is to re-colour my hair black, how long do I have to keep colouring it?

I am really hoping some of you can help - I'm pretty bummed about this.

Eta: Added pics. #1 to #3 show how it looks indoors, #4 and #5are under bright light. This is how bright it looks outside. How bad is it? Sorry the pics suck, we just moved and everything is a mess.

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34 replies

Latest reply was from Scarlet

catgirl

Veteran

Kirti, ack! Could you post a photo? Red feels overwhelming at first, but just like any style change, the eye adjusts. Give it a few days before you undo it! I did not bleach my hair first, but my greys are bad enough that they have the same effect... Bleach is permanent but can be colored over or you can extract color, but that's damaging too. I would wait and not panic just yet - it really may grow on you!

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Oh no - don't panic Kirti! Give yourself a few days to see how the colour sets (wash it with a gentle shampoo), and then re-assess. Black hair doesn't hold hair colour the same way lighter hair does. It often turns a brassy orange, then fades slightly as your hair grows in. Do a little research about bleaching - I'm pretty sure it's not a good idea to re-colour it black so soon, because bleached hair is often very fragile and has taken a beating!

After a few days...I don't see why you shouldn't re-colour it black if you're REALLY unhappy with the streaks! If it's a high quality dye, it should last for many months, and your natural roots will be taking over. You can snip the ends an inch every few months to ensure your natural colour shows up more quickly. Good luck! Pics?

Meredith1953

Veteran

Oh dear! I know how it feels to anticipate haircolor looking one way and then to not have it be what you expected. Stay calm! Remember Sveta wasn't thrilled with her new haircolor at first and now she really likes it. Give it a few days for you to become accustomed to the new color before deciding to do anything. Bleach is strong stuff so try not to do any processes just yet.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I agree Kirti, give yourself a little time to adjust to your new look.

If after a few days you still hate the look I imagine a semi permanent hair colour would be effective and not damage your hair.

Emily

Veteran

Another vote here for waiting a few days to see how you like it once you adjust!
Unfortunately the bleaching has to grow out to go away. If after a little time and a few washes you are still not in love, you might go back to the salon to see if they can tone it down a little, or try a semipermanent color over top.

Elly

Veteran

Don't panic. Post a photo. Live with it for a week. If you still hate it ask the hairdresser if she can tone it down, or ask her the safest way to die it back to black.

Sunita

Veteran

I agree with the others...wait & see. You can always have the bleach colored over.

I had a horrible perm job in high school and had to live with it through the first few months of college until it finally gew out. {{{Shudder}}} Never again.

Sorry you're not happy, but live & learn, eh?

catgirl

Veteran

Gosh, Kirti - I love it! SERIOUSLY. But you knew I would since mine is similar. It requires some attitude and maybe a little makeup while you adjust, but it is NOT abrasive or harsh on you at all. In fact, I've gotten more compliments on my current hair than any other color I've done (caramels, blue-black, purple).

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Okay, having now seen the pics - it's not that horrible, but I can see why you're unhappy. Your natural black is definitely most flattering. Lucky thing is, it's NOT permanent. Your hair will grow in, and as the roots take over, the harshness of the colour will look more blended.

But you don't want to wait so long - I understand. I would definitely wait a week, then go back to the salon (or another salon if the stylist didn't listen to your requests!) and have them re-colour it black. I have done that once (in my teens), and all was well.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

It looks beautiful Kirti, but I understand your anxiety. Like everyone else has said, don't panic and do anything right away. Give yourself a couple of days. Because you have dark hair, they use bleach often to lighten the strands and then add the red because it takes better that way. Taking darker hair to a lighter colour is more difficult and harder on your hair than going a darker colour. Please note that red is the hair colour that fades the fastest because it is not a "true" colour so it may not stick around for too long anyway. If you really don't like it in a few days, you can go back and ask them to take your colour darker. It will not be difficult to cover up.

And yes, I've dyed my hair every colour under the sun for about 25 years (until I let it go grey naturally about three years ago) and have been told this information by my extremely knowledgeable and reliable stylist.

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

I actually like the red! I think it looks like of funky and I was actually considering dying my hair this color a while back. Maybe you just not used to this kind of look? I would wait and see if it grows on you. You can always change it back

catgirl

Veteran

Okay, I'm going to disagree with Helen and say I think the red is very flattering. I felt like I had so much hair and I really needed to break up the mass of solid black for some dimension (back when my hair was solid black). Also, the stark black contrast made me look superpale in winter when I get no sun. Red tones really warmed me up in appearance and mentally. Now I just do color for fun and change. The red is warm and bright - it's a color you would wear as a scarf or shirt, so you know it looks good on you!

Sunita

Veteran

Oh wow! I actually like it quite a lot. It's certainly a change from your natural color, so maybe you just need to give yourself a little more time to get used to it?

bj1111

Veteran

kirti, what a fab change! it seems really drastic and different, but it's super flattering and amps up the edginess factor. ah'dore. congrats on the big step.

cciele

Veteran

I really like the red too! Especially with the streaks -- adds a nice dimension to your hair. Then again, like Una, I'm a naturally brown/black haired person who now has red hair, so I'm biased too

Janet

(website)

Veteran

First of all, I have to tell you, you are so pretty no matter what your hair color!

I also think the red looks pretty cool, but I totally understand being in a little bit of hair shock. It's a definite difference, and I'm always a little freaked out when I change my hair color because it takes such getting used to.

Red dye fades faster than any other color, so keep that in mind. On one hand, this can be a positive because the color will get less shocking over the coming week or so. (One downside is that you can count on the towels you use to dry your hair to pick up that color, but it does wash out.) I agree with the others who have suggested to give yourself a little time to adjust to it.

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

You guys are the best! I feel so much calmer now. It is a huge change and frankly, one I didn't really think through. And now, I freak out a little every time I look at myself. But you're all right -red is a colour that suits me so I guess I just need time to adjust. No point being rash!

Can I still wear reds in my clothes/accessories?

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

Una, thanks a lot for your input! You have a similar complexion and haor colour so your comments are very reassuring

harmonica

Veteran

I really like the red a lot! I also support alaskagirl and transcona shannon and the other about not rushing to another option. I've dyed my hair and coloured it from red to blue. My hair is dark, as yours, and with me colour fades quite quickly. You could recolour it, but the bleached parts will be a bit different until it's grown out. Best part is anyhow that this is not permanent and the hairdresser is obliged to alter it if you don't feel comfortable with it. Give it a week or so. You could also call the hairdresser right away just to announce your worries and what they potentially could deal with the "damage". I like it a lot though!

Emily

Veteran

Now that there are pictures: I think the colour and cut look great! And you can definitely still wear red.

Diana

Veteran

I like it, actually! (But I am another red dyer, so I may be biased...) It will fade, in any case, a little bit after the first couple of washes (since you'll be washing out the excess dye on the outside of the hair shaft), so it will be less bright in a week or so. Mine also tends to fade to cognac after a while.

I tend to get mine dyed a more purpley-red, so you could consider that as well if you really don't like this color. Obviously my coloring is a little different than yours, but I prefer red to my natural black because it makes me more autumn and less winter so I can more easily wear the blues and greens that I love. And I do still wear red all the time. =)

catgirl

Veteran

Oh yay -so glad you're calmer. Once your eye adjusts, you will feel just fine and I bet you'll come to love it. Yes, you can wear reds and oranges - see my NOLA wedding photos in bright orange and fuschia!

I felt the same way when I saw the red dye in my hair before it was even rinsed out - like did I really want to look like THIS?

http://www.gallery.becomegorge.....-1579.html

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I really like it, Kirti! Dramatic changes like that take a little time to adjust to (says someone who went from very long hair to pixie cut, hee). But really, I think you look great! I love redheads in red clothing and accessories, so I say go for it!

Jem

Veteran

I think it looks great! I love your haircut, too. I'm sure it was a bit shocking at first, but maybe you will end up liking it (at least until it grows out) It's kindof fun to have something different for the spring/summer anyway and then go back to it being dark for the fall/winter. Remember when Sveta's hair turned out way darker than she had planned and she hated it? Well, now she loves it, so maybe you will feel the same with time. Anyway, I love it now!

Mona

Veteran

I know you are wondering about your new hair colour but let me say this "you have absolutely beautiful skin". Now, about the hair colour I actually like it. I think your eyes need to get adjusted to the change a little bit.

cciele

Veteran

Glad you are willing to work with the hair Kirti! For sure you can wear reds. But I found some shades of orange clashed with my hair (it depends on how much of a blue-red vs orange-red your hair is). So you may need to look at colors of clothing and makeup through a new lens -- but it's fun being able to wear different colors, as Diana mentions!

And Una, I think it'd be fun to experience bright neon hair like Rihanna used to do

Sarah A

Veteran

I think the color looks really fun and edgy in the photos... I hope it will grow on you I have had several bad hair episodes (perms/cuts) and luckily they all grow out with time if we don't like them.... But, I really do like this look on you!

Aida

Veteran

Gosh I was expecting something totally different after reading what you wrote! I really like how it looks Kirti! The softer color will be great going into spring/summer (if that's what you're still doing). Having dark, dark hair makes any bit of lightening look dramatic even if it's just a little. I second the thought to give it a week and then reassess. You can definitely still wear red with this color, it's quite subdued

ManidipaM

Veteran

::Nodding with the others::

Congratulations on a big and spontaneous jump into the unknown! Yes, your hair looks good, lots of fun and movement (black hair often looks kind of flat and depthless, contrarily, though yours was always shiny enough to make up for that; but lightening always adds a bit more depth). It's just different enough that you'll need an adjustment period... especially as it washes out and settles a little (it WILL, red especially).

I know because I still recall freaking when my SO came back with a carroty top once! It went to sort of auburn in a few days. (His hair's distinctly brown, not black, to start with.)

Know that you'll have to experiment a little more not only with make-up colours (same colours will now look different on you), but also with the contrast level in your clothing. Since the red is right by your face, your natural high-contrast colouring has flattened out just a little (remember how Sveta's natural contrast was dramatically heightened with dark hair?). Which means you might find new combinations that excite you all round!

And yes, you definitely can continue to wear red with red hair. (Ha, I just imagined someone trying to tell MaryK to stay off the reds and oranges! You better believe I want to be a fly on the wall for *that* conversation...!)

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