i used a home colour and don't like the result what should i do?

I used a semi permanent home hair colour but it has come out very different that it said it would. is it ok to colour over it with something else or just let it fade as i wash my hair?

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i used a home colour and don't like the result what should i do?

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May 09, 2009
 depends
by: Michelle

It depends on what you mean when you say it 'came out different' than you expected. Do you mean that it's too dark? Or too light? Or a different shade entirely? A bit more detail will help us help you. :)

Best,
Michelle
Editor
May 09, 2009
 what kind of answer was that?
by: Prissy

OK. She didn't like the color I belive the question was: Can she color over it to achieve the desired results.
If the color was too dark maybe try a color a shade or two lighter, if the color was too light use a shade darker.
I beleive that the images on the at home hair color boxes are deceiving, and those names, just what color is a truffle anyway? A lot depends on hairs' condition, amount of grays,any chemical processes already present, and length of time coloring is left in hair.
My advice: if you try again you could damage your hair. Go to a colorist ask for guidance maybe after that you can do the coloring at home.
May 09, 2009
 more detail
by: Anonymous

what i meant when i said it didn't come out as i expected it to, was that on the box the result was a medium brown colour only a little bit darker than my natural colour. The actual result is that my hair is a gingery red colour, very different from the colour on the box. I don't really want to damage my hair anymore as it is usually in good condition. so have you any tips on how to make it fade faster? any suggestions will be very welcome. thanks x x x
May 10, 2009
 info!
by: Michelle

Thanks for providing more detail. That way I can give you accurate answers, based on an understanding of what's happened, as opposed to just taking a 'stab in the dark.'

I'm wondering, are you sure it was a semi-permanent color? It sounds as though you may have used a permanent haircolor. That's my suspicion because permanent formulas (in drugstore 'boxed' colors) use a 20 volume peroxide developer which lifts out your natural color a bit, exposing the underlying pigments, before depositing it's colors. And once those orange underlying pigments are exposed, they like to be at the forefront. So you end up with a reddish tinge to your color. (Here's more on underlying pigments and haircolor chemistry)

If it was a semi-permanent, it must have had some warm pigments in it. Either way, you can tone down the red and get the medium brown you want by using a semi-permanent (no ammonia) color. Use an ash based medium brown, without any warmth (i.e. gold, auburn). Semi-permanents use around 5% peroxide so their main function is to deposit and they don't do that lifting that funks up your color. So long as you choose the right shade to begin with, you shouldn't get any red tones. But be careful about the shade because the haircolor companies do like to give them exotic names which don't clearly indicate whether they're warm or cool colors.

Because semi-permanents use such a low volume of peroxide and no ammonia, they are not damaging to your hair in the way that permanent colors are. So don't worry about causing further damage. Hope this helps!

Best,
Michelle
Editor

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