So here's my story. I'll post pictures tonight or tomorrow.

I went into the salon and unfortunately had VERY dirty/greasy hair because I was running late. I asked the girl to please wash it and dry it so she could see my true root color. She said yes, but she'd have to charge me. I said whatever. She told me my roots were about a 7 and showed me a 7 swatch. Too dark. In the past, I used L'Oreal at home and used a 9.5 (that's what's in my pics) but I didn't want as dark so I said "How about an 8.5?". She showed me the 8 and 9 swatches and I said great.

Well it turns out to "lighten my hair that much" they couldn't just use their regular all-over color, they had to use a "bleach and tone". So the bleached the crap out of my hair until it was a lovely light yet bright orange color. VERY LIGHT. Then the stylists put a ton of toning stuff on it to take out the orange.

This all took super long and I had work so I ended up leaving without it cut, and without it blow dried. It looks terrible. My roots are uber light, cornsilk color. Pretty, but not with my skin. The rest.....very very light orange (ok, strawberry blonde, but not as pretty). I'm pretty embarassed to be in public, especially baby-sitting and seeing the kids parents. I look like someone that can't pull off blonde but I really wanted to and now I look like a trainwreck.

I'm considering going back into to have it fixed but 1. They don't do semi-permanent and I don't want any more permanent on my hair, 2. I don't think I trust them, and 3. I can't afford it if they make me pay. I also considering just using semo-permanent at home to slightly darken and to ash it up for the next few months. It's quite a disaster. I'll let you all know what I decide and post some pics.

EEK! Sounds to me like she didn't know what she was doing! When she bleached it, before the toner...it should NOT have been orangy! You could have gotten orangy hair from a box from Walmart! HA! It should have been pale yellow. Then they put the color(toner) back on it. My sister used to wear her hair super blonde and I used to do this "double process" bleaching on her hair all the time. It is very time consuming! It also takes a color specialist to do it right! IMHO anyway. I really don't like to do this because the roots show up too fast. You constantly have to touch up the roots.

So sorry to hear that. That's horrible and I'd be pissed as hell too.
They should fix it for you without charging you if they really care about their customers.
It's not right that you have to pay if your hair isn't how you wanted it to be but I can understand how you would be hesitant to have them touch your hair.
Using an at home semi-permanent probably sounds like a good idea if you don't want to use permanent. However, I'd go with a shade lighter that the actual color you're trying to achieve. Since your hair has been processed, it might actually absorb more color and leave it darker than you'd like if you use the exact shade you want......I'm guessing. It's happened to me before.

Maybe we have some hair coloring experts on ICompact who can give some valid advice. Anyone?

Oh my gosh I am so sorry that happened to you. I'd be so pissed off and upset. I had something similar to that happen to me. I used a semi-permanent dye to put some ashy tones back in my hair and darken it and it worked very well. The semi-perm. color actually made my hair softer and shinier and I've used semi-perm. color ever since. I agree that you should choose one shade lighter than you think you need because semi-perm. color always comes out looking darker than what's portrayed on the box. Clairol Natural Instincts is awesome. I just used it yesterday actually and the new formulation is so good. It smells nice and makes your hair soft.

You know....I have this same problem almost every time i try to go lighter---don't know why. the thing is i have found in my lifetime only 3 colorists that can get my color right and i stick w/ them. when you call a salon to make an appointment for color it's actually better to not have freshly washed hair so that was fine -no worries.

Anyhow I suggest using a semi permanent color in a couple days. I had to do this when my hair was tinted that shade...i got a wheat med blonde from something at Target but it counter balanced the brassy strawberry tint.

here's what i have done to get successful color: i call the salon (if it's a new one or I am looking for a new sylist or colorist) and i say i want someone who does great cuts for long hair or an experienced colorist who does good highlights or low lights (or whatever you want done) and I've had success....also TAKE A FEW PICS of your desired color/style. Words to a sylist have a different definition I swaer so show them precisely what you want. Sorry you had a bad experience sweetie---sure it will get better!

Awww I'm so sorry that happened to you, this seems to always happen to me as well when I try to go lighter like habibasaad. I had one great colorist but she moved to Ireland so now I'm stuck... hopefully I'll find someone soon. My advice would also be to use a semi permanent color in an ashy tone to counteract the brassiness.

I don't know what to say, other than I'm sorry that happened to you! I can't imagine paying for color, only to have it come out horribly. I would definitely try to get it fixed by the salon you went to. It sounds like they owe it to you!

I would get it fixed for free. I totally understand what you're going through-last October (2006), my hair was bleached TWICE and it was sooo brash! Not to mention all the breakage and damaged that ensued...you definitely deserve to like your color.

My stylist is totally against people leaving the salon unhappy with their hair. Then again, she is practically a master colorist so that's why I go to her. She highlights my hair exactly the same as her's. I took one look at her the day I walked into the salon for highlights and knew that she was the stylist for me judging by her own hair. I did read in an article that it's good to bring in pictures of the color/style you want because often the lingo colorists use is completely different (as HabibaSaad said above). I would definitely go back and demand that they fix what they did for free. It's not fair that you paid all that money for hair that you hate. I am so sorry that this happened to you, and I sure hope that they fix what they did!

In agreement with getting it fixed at no charge. The longer you wait, the less willing they will be to do it for free.

However, I have never had a problem with letting a stylist know I was unhappy and them being unwilling to fix it.

A long time ago, I had a color job go bad, and when I called & made an appointment to get it fixed, I told (not ask...TOLD) them I wanted someone else with more experience & expertise to do the corrections. The agreed 100%. Asking for that is not out of line.

I'm so sorry! You totally deserve to get it fixed with no charge.

I think I'd get in touch with the manager of the salon and request that someone else fixes it for you at no charge.

I'm so sorry that this happened! :(

So, what did you decide to do???

The color seems to have de-oranged a little. Maybe I just stepped back and took it for what it was, and not for what I had waned to be. I don't like it - it's much too light for my liking and my coloring, but it's not ugly. Except the roots are still lighter than the rest, but my boyfriend is the only one who has noticed (and I told him).

My scalp has been...not burning or anything, but it feels like I've had some tight french braids in. So I'm not going to do put anything on it for at least another week. I also made this decision because neither semi-permanent dyes I looked at have an ash/cool shad light enough (L'Oreal doesn't have tones for theirs, and Clairol's light blonde is neutral which usually isn't neutral enough).

I actually got a couple compliments! And also a lot of people who stared but didn't say anything, lol. I think when the roots come in, I'm going to just use my old L'Oreal Preference ash 9.5 again. As soon as I have a pic of me with the current (uber light and bright!) color, I'll post it. It is quite the switch over from brown!!!

well I'm glad it's not as horrific as you first thought then!
:)

pictures pictures!!

I'm glad it turned out to be not-so-terrible. :)

I'm with Meagan; let's see some pics! ;)

I'd like to see some pics too. You've got us all curious!

Good! I'm glad it didn't turn out so terrible! I'm nervous now b/c I'm getting my hair done Saturday :rolleyes:

I'm glad that it's ok after all! Still, make sure you're not settling and that you really like it.

Glad to hear it's growing on you! I'd love to see pics.

My boyfriend has my camera (to take pictures of my old camera to list on ebay) :(


I'm going to Sally's tonight with my mom, because there's a couple more semi-permanents that Clairol has (not available in drugstores) that, according to the website, have ashy light blondes. I'll keep you updated!