Megan wrote in to Ask the Pro Stylist in need of hair color help. She wants her natural hair color back. So, Happy Hump Day beauty lovers and hair aficionados and welcome to another edition of Wednesday’s hair and beauty Q&A.
At the beginning of the summer I got my hair dyed at a salon. I asked for an ash blonde color, but instead I got an orangish strawberry blonde color. I waited 6 weeks and then went to a different salon yesterday to get it dyed back to my natural hair color, which is a dark blonde/ light brown color. The hairstylist there said that I should get a semi-permanent hair color. The hair color she used on my hair was: 2 ounces of 6a and 1 ounce of 9n. My new hair color looks darker than my natural hair color and looks dull. She said that I should come back every 1-3 months to get it re-dyed. I just want my natural hair color back 🙁
Hello Megan, thanks for writing in. I am sorry you are unhappy with your hair color, but I do have some happy news for you.
Every hair color brand is slightly different and although they are in the general hair color range, some can be slightly darker than others, even within the same levels.
Your hairstylist was correct in using a semi-permanent color…it is less harsh on the hair and will deposit rather than lift, which is what you need so as to not damage the hair further and tone down the brassiness. She also used neutral tones and an ash-based hair color to counteract your orange/strawberry hair color, which is what I also would have done. Not sure why she went from 6-9 which is about 3 shades different…from a dark blonde to light blonde when she could have used a straight 7 or mixed 6 and 7. I assume she wanted to cut the darker blonde, but there were easier ways to do that or the salon may have been out of the hair color she needed. It has happened to us all.
Not to worry! Semi-permanent hair color also tends to look slightly darker when it is first applied, regardless of how she made the formula. Semi-permanent also washes out. It lasts 6-8 weeks, but that is with infrequent shampoos. Now I am not telling you to wash you hair frequently, all I am saying is it will lighten on its own, naturally.
As far as the dullness, a different hair color with a glaze or high shine color would have corrected that, but in actuality, the neutral tone will appear dull after the brassiness you have described.
My suggestion is to wait it out, don’t do anything else, your hair color will lighten on its own, and then find another salon that suits you. When you start to notice regrowth, about an inch worth, head to the salon for a touch-up. If you need suggestions in finding a good one in your area-let me know-I may be able to help you locate one.
Good luck! Please write back and let me know how you make out with your new hair color!
If you have a beauty/hair question similar to Megan’s hair color query, email me at DeirdreAHaggerty@gmail.com. Enjoy this beautiful weather my New York friends.
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A writer, author, NY State licensed cosmetologist, beauty educator and Executive Director, Deirdre Haggerty has been actively involved in the hair and beauty industry in New York for over 30 years. Feel free to ask any question relating to hair care, beauty and skincare! Send Deirdre an email 
