9-1-1

Want to hear something gently ironic?

The other day I was peering at my haggard, troubled face and noticed a few gray hairs creeping about the hairline. A mere dusting of silver, really, but enough that I decided they had to go. Right away.

So I put myself in the hands of a competent colorist this afternoon with the following instructions: Banish the gray, keep the red red (if not more so) and, oh, since it is dreary January, why not brighten up the head a bit while she is at it. If I was a studio apartment I would have expected to be decked in a scattering of jewel-toned throw pillows. As it is, I seem to have acquired a profusion weird, white-blonde chunky streaks. It is ghastly and I am not kidding. I would post a picture but it is too depressing.

The irony is that the bulk of the eerie blondness is concentrated around the very hairline that first drew my attention with its whispery hints of gray. Now, almost two hundred dollars later, the whisper has risen to a shriek and from any distance greater than six inches from my face I look like I have a shock of white hair RIGHT HERE. Like I have recently suffered a sudden, terrible trauma. Most disturbing.   

I meant to write you something entertaining but first you have to tell me: HOW DO I GET MY HAIR CLOSER TO NORMAL BEFORE MY MOTHER-IN-LAW SEES IT?

I am begging you, can I just wash it a lot? With what? Should I go back to the salon? Won't she hate me and make it worse if I do that?

Comments

[e]

tell me you didn't go to Jackie!

[tracy]

Listen to me. I have been where you are, and I swear to God this will work. Artec color depositing shampoo in Orange Marigold. No other "color enhancing" shampoo is this powerful. Now, because it's so powerful, you have to use it in baby steps. Just mix a tiny dab with your regular shampoo. And a tiny bit more the next day. Your highlights will turn copper, and the rest of your hair might turn a bit redder, and it will all be silky and shiny and oh so nice. Seriously; trust me on this one.

[tracy]

Oh, and also? There is absolutely nothing wrong with calling the stylist and saying "now that I've seen these highlights in my own mirror, they're more blonde and chunky than I really wanted." She can use a toner or gloss to tone them down. A good stylist will do it at no charge. Trust me, it happens all the time. But if you can't face her, go with the Artec.

[manogirl]

I once had a hair disaster, and I just couldn't go back to the woman who butchered me. I asked someone with nice hair where she got it done, and then asked that stylist to rescue my hair. I still see the "rescuer".

[beaver girl]

I would go to another colorist and get it fixed. I haven't had good experience getting them to fix their own problems but they love to be the hero fixing someone else's mistakes.

[Bethany]

I agree - go back to the salon and get it fixed. For $200 bucks they should make sure that it's right!

[marion]

In most cases I'd second the suggestion of calling the stylist...however, it sounds as though she may just be incompetent, and even if she were properly cooperative about fixing this, her "fix" might make things worse. I'd go to another colorist and get it fixed, ASAP -- this is a mother-in-law situation here.

OR...does your mother-in-law color her hair or otherwise get it done? Will you have a free afternoon when you're there? You know your mother-in-law better than the rest of us, but based on my experience with various mothers-in-law, I'm guessing she'd be secretly delighted if you called her and said, "I had a minor hair disaster at the salon, and now I'm scared to go back -- do you have a stylist you can trust who could recommend a good colorist in D.C.?" It's not like you put in the weird color yourself, after all. Sorry if that's assvice -- just wanted to put the suggestion out there...

[Danae]

I don't have any answers, but I really, really want to see a picture. Because I'm selfish like that.

[karyn b]

For $200 bucks, go back to that same salon and have her put a rinse in it. It will tone it down. Then find a new hair person. Sorry that this happened. I'm sure it isn't nearly as bad as you think. It's always worse when it is your own head of hair though.

Take care!

[Hanna]

Absolutely go back to the salon and have her re-do it - for $200, you should be happy with your hair. They *should* care, as your unhappiness is not good business for your stylist or the salon. No suggestions on products or procedures, just know that this happens frequently and it's not any type of faux pas to go back to have it fixed.

[Scully]

For that amount of money, have her redo it. I assume she hasn't done your hair before, hence she knew how it would turn out but not exactly.

It took me and colourist a few times to work out the right colour and now we're happy.

I would go back to her. They won't charge you and she'll be able to fix it.

[Sarah]

I highly recommend a stylist--her or another one. Bad coloring, fixed with other bad coloring is way more depressing than the original bad color. Whew, that took very few new words!

[Kimm]

Do you like the color of the rest of your hair? If so, go back to the original colorist and tell her to make it all the same color, or as close as possible. I think that putting in color is less risky than taking it out. A $200 colorist ought to be able to deposit color back onto the areas where she took it out. But if you go and get a bad vibe from her, walk out. Don't worry about offending her. Just WALK OUT. This is your HAIR we're talking about here.

[Lisa]

Okay Julia,
I am a hairdresser. This is not going to wash out. It has to grow out.
Go to the salon. Talk to the receptionist. Calmly. Explain your delicate psychological situation with IVF, explain you are from out of town, explain that this isn't what you wanted. Ask if the owner can give you a consultation. Find out what she can do to correct this. There should be no charge. Be nice the whole time, I will bend over backwards for someone nice (even when I am right). If the owner is the one who did you I would still go back and ask what they can do to repair it. If it doesn't sound logical, eat the money and go to another salon. Color correction at home is rarely a good idea.

[Lisa]

Okay Julia,
I am a hairdresser. This is not going to wash out. It has to grow out.
Go to the salon. Talk to the receptionist. Calmly. Explain your delicate psychological situation with IVF, explain you are from out of town, explain that this isn't what you wanted. Ask if the owner can give you a consultation. Find out what she can do to correct this. There should be no charge. Be nice the whole time, I will bend over backwards for someone nice (even when I am right). If the owner is the one who did you I would still go back and ask what they can do to repair it. If it doesn't sound logical, eat the money and go to another salon. Color correction at home is rarely a good idea.

[terri c]

how quickly can you get a wig?

well, you DID ask....

[Mollie]

I am picturing Bride of Frankenstein in strawberry blonde.

[Mollie]

I am picturing Bride of Frankenstein in strawberry blonde.

[wix]

i confess, i'm curious, too, so i hope you change your mind about posting a picture. and i second/third/whatever the motion to take it back to the salon. artec will work in a pinch--i've used it before and i like it--but for two hunnert clams, you ought to be satisfied when you wake up in the morning and look at your hair.

[StepCorrect]

I agree with Lisa. $200 should mean you love it. If you don't say something she/they won't know it's horrid, and you'll be unhappy until it is fixed. If going back to her is nerve wracking, maybe call and see when she's not there so you can avoid upsetting her when you have it redone??

[Julie]

H
A
T

[Sarah]

I'm for going back to the salon. Really, the colorist is a professional and I imagine she WANTS you to be happy. Sounds like there might have been a breakdown in communication--you really didn't want to be THAT funky. Go back, go back, go back. And for $200 you should LOVE it.

[VHMPrincess]

Go back to the salon, but I would insist that the manager do it. Or find out what day she's not there, then go and have the manager do it. My mom's a hairstylist and that's what they do at her salon - the manager always fixes all problems. Good luck.

[Alicia]

I agree with everyone else. Go back to the salon, be nice, and ask that they fix it. Do this first before trying anything yourself.

And OMfreakinGawd! You paid $200?!?!?! Wow, makes me think I get a great deal in getting three colors(base color, highlights and lowlights) for $70!! Bill wants to divorce me every time he finds out I paid $70, let alone if I paid $200. I think he'd just go ahead and kill me, bury my body, and hope that it's never found. Ach!

Good luck!

PS Post the pic, and let us know what happens.

[Moxie]

White highlights on red hair? I bet you look like a cross between Ginger Spice and the Bride of Frankenstein. Lovely. Go back and make the stylist fix it.

[ValleyGal]

Call the salon. They should fix it (or at least try). If not, you could always go for Demi Moore's "G.I. Jane" haircut... That should solve both the gray and the color problem, at least for a while.

[Lisa S (& Riley, Bella, & Adelyn)]

Oh my goddness Julia. I can't help you with personal advice, since I haven't dyed my hair since the 8th grade. I made it jet black, very artrsy, and ended up looking like Cleopatra.

I liked the hat idea. Besides, it's freezing here on the East Coast, so no one will even notice.

[Summer]

If all else fails, you could just dress yourself head to toe in black, put on tons of goth makeup, and glue on a fake nosering, to foster the impression that you did that to your hair on purpose. Scowl at anyone who looks at you funny. This will have the added bonus of making you less likely to be stopped and strip-searched at the airport this weekend, as the airport security guards only like to pick on sweet, innocent-looking ladies who won't give them a hard time.

I agree that you should go back to the salon and ask that they fix it. The natural color has been stripped out of your hair, so the only solution is to deposit more dye in an acceptable color. But I also think you should take Steve with you, preferably a hasn't-shaved-in-three-days Steve. He looks intimidating, so all he'd have to do is stand there and glower while you politely ask them to fix your hair. Don't bring Patrick. Adorable Patrick clutching his Bear would give the wrong impression entirely.

[Nicole]

GO BACK! GO BACK! If the colored bits are lighter than your actual hair color especially, put down the drugstore hair color and go back to the place you started. She should do it for free, too.

[Kris]

Go back - she will not be mad at you. For that much money, you should be blissful. I chatted with my hairstylist one time about this very thing and she explained that they truly want you to be happy. It's not all about what they want. Once you leave the salon, you have to live with it. She'll find time for you and yes, it will be FREE.

[Anyabeth]

If you don't feel confident in the stylist being able to fix it, call the manager of the salon. I guarantee that they will fix it. And make sure you are happy. Salons do not want you walking around town telling the world how much you hate your hair. Call now, they can fit you in in five minutes if you freak out enough.

[Natalie]

Call them and ask (nicely with gritted teeth) to fix it. They should, especially if they don't want you to be a walking ad not to go the that salon. (For example: a woman looks at your hair and winces. You mention oh so casually that you hate it, and it was done at X Salon...). If they won't fix it for free go somewhere else. I go to a very fine hairdresser in Bethesda MD if the need becomes acute... After all, if you are taking Lupron, you don't need to hate your hair at the same time.

[Libby]

Do not attempt to fix it at home. Trust me.

Go back to the salon. They should fix it at no cost.

[Emily Drew]

Have her fix your hair. If she gives you any kind of crap, tell her that you will grow the fangs to go with the hair and bite her head off.

She has an obligation to make you happy. For what you paid, any kind of unhappiness is not acceptable.

Be strong, grasshopper.

[Monica C.]

First of all, your are freaking hilarious:

"Now, almost two hundred dollars later, the whisper has risen to a shriek and from any distance greater than six inches from my face I look like I have a shock of white hair RIGHT HERE. Like I have recently suffered a sudden, terrible trauma. Most disturbing."

I don't know why that cracks me up, but it does.

Secondly, girl, please, don't even think about *not* going back to that salon and having her fix your hair. She won't be mad about it- that's part of her job. Just say, "I'm sorry, but I was wondering if you could tone down some of this blonde in my hair," and she should smile and say, "No problem! I'm sorry it was too blonde for you!" End of story. And if that's not the way it goes, you do have enough curse words in your arsenal, right - or do you need me to supply you with creative ways to do a neck roll while calling someone a BEEYOCH?

[Lori]

Go back to the stylist. When my stylist tries something new, he always tells me that if I don't like it after a few days, I should come back and he'll squeeze me into his schedule. for free. this is the normal way of their doing business.

[jess]

And above all, DO NOT LET THEM BLAME IT ON YOUR HORMONES! I had a terrible highlight job done when I was on injectibles, and this seemed to be the party line at the salon I went to. And, like most assvice, its an old wives tale. Although it was pretty interesting to hear about how many infertile women's hair they had screwed up- every time I see a bad dye job around town now I think- Is she in the club?

[Judy]

I'm evil, so I've been chanting "Photo!" at my monitor until I read Lisa's 'grow out' comment at which point I switched to chanting "Crew Cut!"

That said I agree that you should go back. It was probably a communication break down rather then incompetence (especially if the salon charges that much).

If not the crew cut could be a viable option. You could tell your MIL that your hair-less-ness is a side effect of the Lupron injections. You could discuss it at her dinner party to avoid being boring.

[grumpygirl]

ok, you need to go back and make them fix it. there has to be a way to fix it. (then again, my last salon coloring experience turned my auburn hair MAGENTA. and it was supposed to be temporary, and it wasn't, and i walked around with magenta hair for years. so make them fix it.)

[Brooklyn Girl]

I think you owe it to your loyal readers to post a picture. Of course, I'll still love you if you don't, but I'm so damn curious....

I also vote for going back to the salon to make them fix it.

[Lena]

While I respect everyone else's advice, I have one word: LOWLIGHTS. I would not go to the same salon, but go to a new one asap and get lowlights over the highlights. That will soften and blend them into your hair.

That's all! :)

[EJ]

Since your comments are at 41 I am thinking you have had plenty of advice...so I will commiserate and tell you what happened to me. I am a brunette (since birth) and thought I wanted to try something lighter...$150 I walked out with platinum blonde hair. The best part you ask? Well there are two actually, since she bleached my hair it could not tolerate any more color (she had already tryed to tone it down) AND I worked for Consumer Credit Counseling Service doing presentations and my next scheduled presentation was at a correctional facility.

[Tonya]

I'm sure this problem has been corrected by now, but just in case, here's my story: I was a receptionist for a high end salon after I graduated from college (yes, mom, you can find plenty of work with an English degree) and this kind of thing happened all of the time. Even when the owner, who was fabulous, did the work. They will have no problem fixing it. Oh, and the person who did the work probably wasn't incompetent, he or she just didn't understand what you were truly after.

Now, enough pictures of cascading river of hair Julia, slim and impish looking. Post the damn photo.

[Crystal]

Another former stylist here (until a bad compound fracture ruined any professional aspirations). Chemical services were my area of expertise.

I wouldn't go back to this stylist. Either she hasn't the color sense that G-d gave a... well, um... or she was inattentive, or using inappropriate chemicals. Or there was a huge error in communication and forgive me, but I hardly believe it lies at *your* feet.

Talk to owner/manager, explain (as others have said, nicely, not that we have to warn you of this, I know) that this was not what you had in mind, you'd like a color correction. I used to use various products designed for covering gray (what others have referred to as color depositing products) very successfully for color correction. Filler also works incredibly well for color correction, although people will look at you like you're insane because that's, um, off label use (sort of, it's used before color correction, but can be useful on it's own).

You can do it yourself, but base tones with color are a tricky business, particularly with blonde streaks, particularly if you have red to reddish hair anyway. Think bozo the clown, or worse, mud blue. If it's at all brassy, anything that will un-brassy it will tend to grab the base color... Really, unless you've got a buddy who's a stylist to walk you through color selection and application, it's just better to go to a salon.

Make sure anyone who does this is EXPERIENCED in color correction. Look through the yellow pages, call, and maybe even go in and ask what they would do to fix it. I once tried to rid myself of the last remnants of cosmetology school experimentation and *did* turn into bozo the clown, flaming orange frizzy hair and all, by someone who claimed to be competent in color corection. I attempted to have it fixed by someone else who claimed to be competent at color correction, and had chunks of hair fall off. I finally went back to the headmistress of our school, and a cute cut and good color job later, I was.... wiser.

Don't make my mistake. : )

Crystal

[Reba]

Do no attempt to fix this yourself. Go back to the salon and tell her that you've lived with it for a day and you're just unhappy with it. She will want to retain you as a client and -should- be happy to fix it. Just put yourself in her shoes. Wouldn't you rather have someone come back and rationally explain they're just not happy?

[Laura K.]

I'd go back to the stylist, as well.

Laura

[Pink Poppy]

Hello! I am here on behalf of the membership of The Poppy Club. We appreciate the fabulosity of your blog and congratulate you on your recent success in The Best of Blogs Award competition. We are hosting a party to celebrate you and your fellow finalists and would be honored if you would join us to walk the Red Carpet and greet your fans:

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http://tall-poppy-diaries.blogspot.com

Attire: Black Tie
Red Carpet Opens at 12:01 on Friday, January 21

We hope that you and your friends can join us. And again, please accept our congratulations and best wishes for a very successful and happy 2005.

[Shelly]

Go back and have them fix it. For $200 it should be perfect!
I say you need to post a photo for us.

good luck!

[Her Ladyship]

Go back to the salon. GO! They should fix it for free. That is far too much money to have something you feel lukewarm about, much less hate. And good salons realize that.

[jenna]

Ok, if anyone is still reading this, I have a problem. I've had dyed "auburn" hair for years and decided I wanted to go back to my old medium/light brown hair. My regular stylist did her thing and the hair looked exactly the same. She did another application and fried my neck with the extra application, and it turned it maybe one shade darker, still VERY red. She kept saying that it takes time to cut the red--but she said that AFTER the fact. Should I suck it up and go back or find another colorist?