Messed Up Lightening

Orange hair
Photo: Pathdoc/Shutterstock
Q: I've been lightening my hair for years now and this is the first time someone has messed up on it. They left bleach in my hair for a little over a 1/2 hour which usually it takes about 5 to 10 minutes to bleach my hair.
 
After they had realized that I was still there with bleach in my hair, they rinsed it out and it was white so they added some color to it. The color looked fine for the first day but after I washed it my hair looked orange and I can't have my hair that color. How soon can I dye it to a darker more natural color? And what would work to make it more of a natural color?
 
A: Well, first of all, I'm sorry you've had to experience this, but the answer to when you can recolor your hair depends on the condition of the hair now. If you aren't comfortable going back to the salon that messed up your hair, try a new salon. You may need to go through some additional deep conditioning therapy, before you can treat the hair with additional color.
 
As for interim help, try using a shampoo and conditioner with a bluing agent, such as Clairol's Shimmer Lights which can help take some of the orange and brassiness from the hair. Your permanent solution is going to be using a hair color "toner" application using a light shade of color with a blue color base. The blue base color will counteract the orange tones in your hair.
 
Because of the damage to your hair, it is now far more porous than before and this is most likely why the color added in the salon faded so quickly. This can be countered by using a clear-gloss ingredient in with the color toner to help seal the cuticle of the hair. While the damaged hair has a chance to grow out, be sure to keep your hair moisturized by treating it with deep conditioning treatments at least once a week.
 
©Hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
How to color hair
 
Yellow-orange hair after highlights
 
Brassy orange hair color after lightening