Coloring your hair at home or even at a salon doesn’t always go as planned. Whether your blonde turned brassy, your brunette looks too dark, or your highlights are uneven, color mistakes can be frustrating.
Fortunately, color correction techniques can help you fix these issues and get the perfect shade you envisioned. Here’s how to troubleshoot common hair color mishaps and achieve salon-worthy results.
1. Fixing brassy or overly warm tones
If your blonde, brunette, or red hair has turned too warm or brassy, a color-correcting toner or purple/blue shampoo can help.
• Blonde hair: Use a purple shampoo to neutralize yellow or brassy tones.
• Brunette hair: A blue shampoo counteracts orange undertones.
• Red hair: A blue-green toner can balance overly warm red hues.
For stubborn brassiness, a salon toner or gloss treatment can refine your color without further damage.
2. Lightening hair that turned too dark
If your hair color came out darker than expected, avoid using bleach immediately. Instead, try these gentle methods first:
• Clarifying shampoo: Wash your hair with a clarifying or dandruff shampoo to help fade excess pigment.
• Vitamin C treatment: Crush vitamin C tablets and mix them with shampoo to lighten dark dye gradually.
• Baking soda and shampoo: A mix of baking soda and anti-dandruff shampoo can strip some color safely.
If these methods don’t work, a color remover may help lift some of the excess pigment before reapplying a lighter shade.
3. Blending patchy or uneven color
Uneven application, missed spots, or streaky highlights can result in an inconsistent look. To correct this:
• For patchy all-over color: Apply a semi-permanent gloss or toner to even out the tone.
• For streaky highlights: Use a blending technique, like a root smudge or lowlights, to soften harsh lines.
• For uneven dye absorption: Deep conditioning treatments can help balance porosity for future coloring.
4. Toning down hair that’s too bright
If your color turned out too intense, a toner or gloss in a neutral or opposite shade on the color wheel can soften it. For example, if your red is too vibrant, a green-based toner can neutralize it slightly.
With patience and the right color correction method, you can fix mistakes and achieve your ideal hair shade without excessive damage.
