Coming Back from a Hair Color Catastrophe

In a perfect world, home hair coloring would always produce the glossy red or shimmering blonde highlights the packaging promises, but mistakes do happen, and they can be traumatic . . . to say the least! When the worst happens, your best course of action is to seek professional help, says Sheila Zaricor, president of Master Design in Memphis, TN.

“the box looks lighter than it will appear on hair”

The most common mistake women make with home hair coloring is overlapping their color, or applying hair color that’s supposed to go on new growth only throughout locks. The result? The line of demarcation becomes more noticeable, leaving a darker top and bleached, frazzled ends. Other times, color simply goes far darker than you anticipated—keep in mind that the hue on the box always looks lighter than it will appear on your hair—or you end up with a shade that would be more appropriate in a box of Crayolas than on anyone’s hair.

If the worst happens and you need someone to fix your hair color, keep in mind that nursing damaged hair back to health is a partnership between the hair colorist and client, and may need to be remedied in steps. That’s why you’ll need to find a hair colorist who you totally trust and feel comfortable with; someone who’s qualified and who has broad-based hair color experience. “Finding a good hair colorist is a lot like finding a doctor—always get credentials,...