Comments on: My hair is purple. What have I done?

Question: My hair is purple. What have I done?

heavenstobetsy — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:00:28 -0800

My hair is sort of a light purple-y gray. It was supposed to be dark blond. Now what?

So, the longer version. I originally had dark brown hair. Used Blondissima (by L'Oreal basically a lightener or to remove dark colours from your hair) to get from the dark brown to a very light yellow blond-ish colour. Waited a couple hours, then applied a dark blond colour (Feria). I've done this once before and the result is about a medium to light blond. This time, however, I'm left with a light purple/gray. Which, while sorta cool, is not really going to fly when I go back to work tomorrow. I can't go to a salon. I have about $20 to fix this before tomorrow. My thinking right now is go back and get another colour to put over this, but...what colour? Or is there a better option?

My hair isn't super dyed, if that's important. The colour I removed was the only other colour on top of my natural hair colour.

I know home hair colour is always a crapshoot, so I'm well aware this is my own fault.

Also, I'd post a picture but I don't have access to a camera at the moment.

By: crush-onastick

crush-onastick — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:03:16 -0800

this is why I own wigs.

I'd call the 800 number on the Feria box and have them talk you through fixing it. Or I'd go to the nearest Sally's and have someone there talk me through fixing it.

By: Ruki

Ruki — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:03:50 -0800

My hair reacts that way to any ash blonde dye. I've always redyed it light brown. (Yes, it happened more than once before I learned my lesson.)

By: damnjezebel

damnjezebel — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:08:07 -0800

Can't you put a honey-caramelly color on top of it, at least to make it look work-presentable? That way, it's at least in between the shade you were and the shade you want.

Or is that a pacifying answer? Sorry if it is. I'm just thinking about what I'd do in that situation.

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:19:40 -0800

Crush-onastick knows of whence she speaks. Get thee to Sally's. They will talk you through it. (They talked me through a horribly brassy self-bleach job once)

By: heavenstobetsy

heavenstobetsy — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:23:37 -0800

Unfortunately, being in Canada I don't have access to Sally's. Actually there may be a few in Canada but not near me, sadly.

By: kmennie

kmennie — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:28:35 -0800

Sally Beauty Supply - maps.google.ca
655 Fairway Rd, Kitchener - (519) 894-6184

?

(surprised me; I didn't think they were in Canada, either. A Google for "Kitchener beauty supply" brings up a couple of other places, too)

By: thinkingwoman

thinkingwoman — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:29:02 -0800

oh, i know exactly what happened. those home kits have a color toner in them that give you the ash/gold/red effect you want along with the lightening. it will wash out after about a week, leaving you with ash blond hair.

call the 800 number for more advice.

By: patricking

patricking — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:33:45 -0800

it sounds like you need something to neutralize the blue base they put into ash blondes to give the color coldness. i don't know what would do that, though.

chances are if you walk into a colorist's studio, and tell them you're broke, they'll probably give you pointers on getting it out. not everyone charging for a service is dead set on keeping proprietary info secret to make a buck, especially when it keeps you looking like a dip.

By: heavenstobetsy

heavenstobetsy — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:34:19 -0800

Oh wow. Thanks kmennie! And everyone else too! I'm still undecided so if anyone has anything to add please feel free.

Though I will be stopping by Sally's to see what they say!

By: frosty_hut

frosty_hut — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:44:43 -0800

If your hair looks purple, add a golden blonde or brown shade over it. The warm tones of the golden shade should cancel out the bluish ash ones.

And don't forget to use the moisturizer that comes with the color. You'll need it after all that processing! ;)