So you’ve coloured your hair, unwrapped the towel, and…the colour in the mirror looks different from the model’s hair on the box. Don’t panic. If you feel that your colour turned out drastically different from what you were hoping for, there are a few fixes you can try at home.
If your hair is too dark
Shampoo the darkest area several times with a shampoo NOT intended for use on colour-treated hair. You can also add a teaspoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of 20 volume peroxide to the shampoo and apply to the dark area. This mixture may help lighten your locks. Follow with a very rich conditioner or treatment formulated for colour-treated hair, like Vive Pro Colour Vive or Everpure.
If your hair is too light
Apply a darker shade of the same brand to your hair, but keep it on for about half of the recommended time. Check your colour every five minutes. Rinse when you feel your hair is dark enough.
If your hair is too red
Apply a shade of brown that’s the same colour level as the red shade you used. Apply the colour first to the area that’s most red and keep it on for five to 10 minutes at most. Check your colour every five minutes. Rinse when you feel you hair is dark enough.
If your colour looks faded
Revive your sheen with a toning gloss like Colorist Secret™ Shine Gloss, which infuses hair with brilliant, glossy shine without changing your colour results. If that does not provide a boost, it may simply be time to recolour. To help your haircolour last, always use a fade-defying haircare product such as Vive Pro Colour Vive System or Everpure.
If your highlights are too visible
Next time select fewer, thinner strands of hair to highlight. It’s possible that you left the highlighting mixture in your hair longer than the recommended time. Next time, avoid overly light highlights by keeping a closer eye on the clock.
If your highlights are not visible enough
Reapply with your L’Oréal Paris highlighting product to lift the colour, but let it set for only the minimum suggested time. If you are still unhappy, adjust your technique and try highlighting closer to the front and top of your hair.
If your highlights are too thick
To make your highlights look more natural, find a L’Oréal haircolour that most closely resembles your base colour, like Excellence Pro Keratine® or Natural Match™, pick up the highlighted strands you want to thin and pull out a smaller section of hair that you want to keep highlighted — and colour this section.
If your highlights are brassy
Use Colorist Secret™ Brass Banisher, which instantly tones down brassy gold, red and orange tones in your hair and infuses it with glossy shine. Cleanse your mane by using a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week and brush your hair to help eliminate pollutants. To keep your hair brass free always, use shampoos, conditioners, and treatments designed for highlighted hair, like the Vive Pro Colour Vive System and Everpure.
Not very precise
To create a balanced result, finish highlighting one piece, gently lay it down, and pick up the strand on the other side of your head. Continue to alternate sides so that your highlights don’t appear too blonde in one area. If you attempt to brush on the highlighting mixture with your hair lying flat against your head, you will end up with thick, uneven highlights.
Make a Dramatic Change
If you are unhappy with your colour results and want to dramatically alter your look without waiting for your coloured hair to grow out, call the Customer Hotline at 1-800-535-3457 for personalized advice about what you should do next. You may also try using the L’Oréal Colorist Secret™ Haircolor Remover and start immediately with a new shade.