So, did you ever think to yourself, “I can do that myself, what could possibly go wrong!”? Box color, a few highlights, and maybe a touch of balayage – sounds like the perfect DIY project to tackle after your third coffee. Spoiler alert: It’s not going to be a simple afternoon, it’s a chemical mission impossible!
Reality Check: What you really get
Sure, on social media it all looks like a kids’ birthday party. But realistically, it’s more like, “Look what you conjured up on your head at home!” We’re not talking about a quick color refresh here, but a science project that never ends. And yes, if you’ve been happily experimenting with chemistry, we might have to clean up the mess first before we can even begin working on your hair dream.
Many hairdressers know this, and that’s precisely why more and more are refusing to make corrections. And no, it’s not out of arrogant boastfulness – physics and chemistry simply don’t take shortcuts. You can’t just tell yourself, “I’m a brilliant hairdressing genius!” and circumvent the laws of nature!
5 rules after a failed drugstore hair coloring:
- 1. Be honest about what’s on your head!
And that means: Even “I only did it once!” counts! If you treated your hair without a master’s degree in chemistry, it could lead to a less than pleasant surprise. How else are we supposed to know what your hair has been through? A colorful secret? Yes, that’s our first task – a bit like investigating a crime!
- 2. Don’t expect miracles!
“I only have this one little greenish tint!” – Ah, yes. Physics trumps wishful thinking, and the only wish we have here is that you stay realistic. We can’t conjure up blonde angels with bright red hair – that’s pure magic, and that’s beyond our powers!
- 3. Plan for more time!
Corrections take time. Period. If you think you’ll be back outside with your new desired color in 45 minutes, you’re totally wrong. Plan for a whole lesson day instead – you’ll get through it much better than trying to do it in record time. Bringing coffee helps – for us too!
- 4. Expect additional costs!
Extra work is still extra work. If you quickly snagged a bargain at the drugstore, at the salon that translates to “Here’s my checkbook, and I’m happy to pay for what you need to do now!” A correction is like a joyful road trip down a gray highway – the gas costs money and doesn’t pay for itself.
- 5. Trust your hairdresser!
Yes, Hairhack-Hannah has 47 posts about the best color hacks, but she hasn’t even seen a color wheel! Your professional, however, has the training, experience, and knowledge to help you! If they tell you that you should avoid a certain technique… you’d better do!
Repair – then dreams
First repair, then perhaps desired color – everything else belongs to the realm of social romanticism. So dear drugstore artworks: Let’s make the best of the chaos – together!
