The horror

December 21, 2007 9:39 AM

Hair dye-filter, need to fix this mid-90's burgundy disaster I created on my head last night by 4 pm and I can't afford a pro at the moment.

The dye I used was Natural Instincts. I expected a bit of red but the result is way beyond that expectation and really dark as well. My natural color is medium brown with a tiny bit of red.

What can I buy in a box that will tone this down a bit? Is there some brand that is less likely to say, fry my hair? I should add that my hair is on the mild side of damaged but not pristine.

The darkness I can handle but the red is hideous. I'm assuming I need to go with a permanent dye to have any success with the red-reduction. Somebody...anybody...?

posted by sarelicar to clothing, beauty, & fashion (19 comments total)

Call Clairol (they make Natural Instincts). I did something similar, called the Clairol helpline, and they gave me extremely detailed instructions for fixing what I did (which involved using a dye color I wouldn't have guessed would work, and using it not according to the printed instructions on the box).
posted by occhiblu at 9:45 AM on December 21, 2007

This may not be that bad. Reds are notoriously difficult to make "take," and with being a semi-permanent dye, a few washings with a harsh shampoo might tone it down enough.
posted by ferociouskitty at 9:45 AM on December 21, 2007

Oh, should have added: The instructions the guy at the helpline gave me worked extremely well. I went from pinkish-burgundy back to my natural boring brown without much problem at all.
posted by occhiblu at 9:46 AM on December 21, 2007

Seconding the call to Clairol. They're colourists, and know what they're doing. When I worked at a drugstore, I always directed people who were doing repairs to call them, and I never heard a bad word about it.

Good luck!
posted by melissa at 9:48 AM on December 21, 2007

Nthing calling Clairol. If you don't have time, try washing a couple times with a clarifying shampoo. Always helped me tone down a bright colour. Just make sure you use a good conditioner after...
posted by heavenstobetsy at 9:53 AM on December 21, 2007

I've found that the reddish Natural Instincts colors tone down quickly. If you don't think it'll damage your hair too much, try a few shampoos to see how much it brings down the glare. Otherwise, call Clairol. I doubt you'll need permanent dye to counteract this.
posted by bassjump at 9:54 AM on December 21, 2007

Short of calling Clairol, My advice is to buy two more boxes of permanent dye: one about three shades lighter than your natural color, and one close your natural color. Use them in that order, washing your hair thoroughly and drying it between. This has been what worked for me, personally. Natural Instincts is crap. I quite like Preference by L'Oreal.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:57 AM on December 21, 2007

Note: if you end up dyeing again, DON'T use Clairol permanent dye. If you use anything make it L'Oreal Preference or L'Oreal Excellence. I've dyed my hair hundreds of times and those are the only two I'll use now. Stay away from everything else, especially Feria which is generally best suited for natural un-dyed hair.
posted by heavenstobetsy at 10:00 AM on December 21, 2007

Um...that is unless you call Clairol, then use what they tell you. But if you strike out on your own...
posted by heavenstobetsy at 10:03 AM on December 21, 2007

Good times. I once colored my hair tomato red. (Not on purpose.) Here's what I did.

1. Went to the beauty supply store.
2. Picked up a box of Jheri Redding Color Fix.
3. Applied said Color Fix.
4. Watched in amazement as the color was lifted right out of my hair in about 30 minutes.

My natural color is a dark ashy blonde bordering on light brown with ash undertones. Despite having colored my hair penny red for the past 10 years, the Color Fix lifted it all out and restored my natural color. It was truly miraculous.

You can then re-color if you'd like. Just follow the directions on the box. It's awesome.
posted by FergieBelle at 10:04 AM on December 21, 2007 [1 favorite]

if you're going to try to "wash it out" or at least lessen the impact, use liquid dish detergent for shampoo. seriously. and your head will smell lemon-y fresh as a bonus!
posted by kidsleepy at 10:17 AM on December 21, 2007

N-thing the call Clairol. You are not the first to have a oopsy like that.

And betsey -- I do my teenage daughter's hair, and used to do my own. Clairol (herbal essences) is the only one that gives her the color she wants without damaging it (unlike, say, L'Oreal Preference). It depends on the hair. Admittedly, since OP has already sustained damage from the Clairol, it might be a good idea for her to try something else next time.

I used to use the old Feria and then they stopped making the color I liked (which was about the time I got enough gray that it looks like I'm trying to cover it, and I'm not).
posted by jlkr at 10:35 AM on December 21, 2007

I've used that exact same brand/color and got the same burgundy-nearly-purple hair (course, this was in the 90s, so that's what I was going for). After a week of showers-- so 7 hair washes with suave or whatever bargain-basement shampoo I had--it was just a normal hair color. I was disappointed by this; you probably won't be.
posted by holyrood at 10:55 AM on December 21, 2007

You can call Clairol, but their advice will almost certainly be limited to Clairol products and you are unlikely to talk to a practicing colorist or cosmetologist. Worse yet, you may get someone reading from a script, which may or may not result in the best advice for you.

Some basic information: Natural Instincts is a semi-permanent product. When used, it does, in fact, lighten your hair a touch.

If you are in a rush, you can use your regular shampoo (rinse, repeat) to lighten the color. Note, though, that because you (most likely) did not use even heat or any heat at all, that the heat of your head will cause the developer to react more quickly around the roots. Any lightening stands a good chance of making your roots look hot. The effect of shampooing will be that the colors look brighter, even if it is not as red.

You can pick up a clarifying shampoo at your local cosmetologist supplier. This will have the same effect as shampooing, just quicker and with fewer washings than a regular shampoo.

If you have a local cosmetology supply store, like a Sally's Beauty Supply or a CosmoProf, you may be lucky enough to find a licensed cosmetologist working at the store. (Call ahead if you want to be sure.) You should be able to find another demi-permanent color like Color Gems by L'Oreal. A cosmetologist *should* be able to help you determine what level (color) to use to achieve the results you desire, but without the help of someone who knows the color interactions, you are risking even worse results.

I would recommend against using Effasol or ColorFix, the product recommended by FergieBell, unless you are okay with going back to a lighter shade than your natural color. Because Natural Instincts does lighten your hair and because of the uneven heat situation, you could end up with something even worse than you have now. That said, Natural Instincts is not supposed to dramatically lighten your hair, so if you're feeling lucky...

Red is tricky, so for best results get ye to a reputable colorist, where reputable does NOT mean the most expensive local place.

If you can't get into a salon, you can always walk in and simply ask. The best results will come from an experienced, licensed cosmetologist who can see your hair and give you the appropriate formula for whatever product they recommend.
posted by sequential at 11:01 AM on December 21, 2007

Natural instincts semi-perm?
Wash your hair with Tide. Failing that, use dawn or other dish soap.

Not kidding.

(and next time you want to go red use Garnier, seriously. It's what I always use when I DIY and I get tons of compliments on my hair).
posted by Kellydamnit at 11:26 AM on December 21, 2007

Ok...called hotline, they gave me instructions similar to occhiblu's experience, and I am now sitting with product in hair hoping I don't look like a freak for work tonight.

Thanks all for the help and advice! Will update if anything hilarious happens, otherwise assume the best ;)

(FYI, if anybody's interested, they directed me to a light golden brown shade and had me mix equal parts color, developer, and mild shampoo and apply for 20 minutes max)
posted by sarelicar at 12:06 PM on December 21, 2007

Keeping my fingers crossed for you! Let us know how it turns out.
posted by occhiblu at 12:29 PM on December 21, 2007

It worked! Ended up with a really pretty deep auburn. And my hair didn't fall out.
posted by sarelicar at 7:24 AM on December 22, 2007

Yay!!! Glad it worked out.
posted by occhiblu at 10:28 AM on December 22, 2007