• Auburn
  • Black
  • Blonde
  • Blue
  • Brown
  • Gray
  • Pink
  • Red
  • White
  • Burgundy
  • Light Brown
  • Dark Red

Hair Color Code

HairColorCode.com is the number one resource for free hair color information from professionals and fans. Check out our hair color guides, ideas and advice.

Choosing the right hair color which matches your skin tone can be tough. We offer the right advice & support in maximising how you feel and expressing your personality.
  • Home
  • Hair Color Ideas
    • Dark Skin
    • Dark Hair Ideas
  • Hair Color Chart
  • Hair Color Guides
  • Celebrity Hair Colors
  • Editors Blog
You are here: Home / Hair Color Guides / Hair Color Removal – When It Goes Wrong…

Hair Color Removal – When It Goes Wrong…

March 22, 2012 By Anthony Anders 2 Comments

Woman performing hair color removal

Standing in a pile of tear soaked tissues, the image of yourself staring back at you in the mirror strongly indicates something went wrong with your hair color.

As you are now venturing into uncharted waters, taking the wrong measure of correction can sometimes exacerbate the issue or damage the hair.

Tread carefully my friends!

Where to start when your hair color has gone wrong

Often the biggest problem with a color gone awry is a level issue (too light or too dark) or a tonal issue (too warm or too ‘muddy’.) Check out our guide to hair color shades to make sure you are going for the right level and tone for you.

Woman clutching her hair after a bad color

If it’s not that simple and you have done the damage yourself, it might just be you and the toll free number on the box as the recovery team, please think about this before you proceed.

This is likened to calling a medical hotline and stating, “I feel like I am dying and need to give myself surgery right now; should I use my soup ladle or butter knife?”

I really, really do not advise doing anything by yourself in your bathroom at this point. If it is a touch too dark, and I mean miniscule, you can sometimes wash, re-wash, and re-wash again with a low-quality shampoo to cause it to fade, but it is still often uneven and ineffective.

When it comes to neutralizing colors, stripping, or lightening, remember it was either your lack of skill or a bad product that got you here in the first place. Seek a professional stat!

What NOT to do…

Next; never, ever (and I mean ever) try to strip out your own hair color! I don’t care how easy it says it is on the box, even we professionals seek counsel with the clergy of our faith before attempting this.

‘From the box’ hair color removal kits are mostly in the form of a fast-acting bleach, and do not have a stopping point. If unattended it will continue stripping color, then cuticle, then the substructure, and then “poof”–your head is adorned with bubble gum (actually it used to be hair, it just now resembles bubble gum.) Please, please please; leave this to the pros!

What will the professionals do?

Hair colorist removing hair color

Hair color removal in the hands of a well-skilled and well-supplied artist can often be a quick and simple remedy.

It requires a trained and forensic evaluation of what went wrong and where, the porosity, the remaining and underlying pigments, potential for damage, and how much neutralization is needed. This falls somewhere between art and science.

There are so many factors that I find it hard to offer any specific recourse as it comes down to a, “How bad are we talking?” scenario.

By seeking a professional you may minimize your recovery cost from that of a mortgage payment to simply a salon service. I don’t want to be repetitive, but to bring the point home, leave this to the pros!

Check out our guide on how to get the best from your Salon Colorist.

Don’t try this at home!

You will notice that I did not (and will not) offer advice on how to tackle this in your own bathroom. Integrity steers me from doing so. It is simply time to resign yourself and surrender that a Hair Colorist may be your only savior.

It is okay. You sometimes have to go beyond the pharmacy counter and seek a doctor when your health gets challenging.

This is another case where admission of powerlessness or lack of resources is actually empowering. And for those who do not heed my advice and try to go it alone, I promise to write an article on proper hat and scarf selection.

Hair Color Removal - When It Goes Wrong..., 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating

Filed Under: Hair Color Guides

Hair Colors

Alexa Chung with brown to blonde ombre hair

Ombre Hair Color – The Big Look This Year

Ombre hair color is the look of the year, making its way from stylish celebrity circles to become a … Read More

Young woman with stylish gray hair in a bob

Gray Hair – A classic color back in style!

For some people gray hair is something to be avoided at all costs, but when fashionistas like Daphne … Read More

Comments

  1. Norma says

    February 10, 2013 at 1:23 am

    Hi guys i would like to know the best haircoloringclass?
    Thanks,
    Norma

    Reply
  2. Fix Kalyan Jodi says

    March 2, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    Awesome site you have here but I was curious if you knew of any message boards that cover the
    same topics talked about here? I’d really like to be a
    part of group where I can get comments from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest.
    If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Kudos!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Us

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Contact

Come Say Hi on Facebook

Four women with hair colors

Hair Colors – Starting With The Basics.

Find What You Are Looking For

Getting Started

  • Hair Coloring Basics
  • Hair Dye Guide
  • Hair Color Shades
  • Hair Colors
  • Color Ideas For Brunettes

Hair Color Guides

  • Changing Hair Color
  • Kool Aid Hair Dye
  • Hair Color Removal
  • Natural Hair Dye
  • Henna Hair Dye
  • Red Hair Dye

About The Team

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 · HairColorCode.com

This site uses cookies: Find out more.