While do-it-yourself hair coloring at home may seem like a good idea at the time, it may not be worth it in the end. There are so many things that can go wrong…

• More often than not, a do-it-yourselfer will choose hair color based on the most beautiful photo they see on a shelf full of boxes. This is a huge mistake because, depending on your natural hair shade, that color may appear far differently on you than it looks in that photo. You always need to take into account how your own hair color and tones will affect the outcome.
• An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So never forget to conduct a hair strand test where it will go unnoticed. Without testing for accuracy, it’s pretty much pot luck.
• Also, never overlook the current state of your hair. Any hair processing, especially if not conducted by a professional, can be hard on hair. If your hair is too dry or brittle when you apply color, you could severely damage it.
• Don’t forget to allow ample time between hair dying. Hair needs time to recuperate. Conditioning after shampooing and weekly deep conditioning is also recommended. Also don’t wash hair too soon afterwards because you want your color to stick.
• And always follow instructions. Overdoing processing time can yield terrifying results and you never know how your hair is going to react to color. So err on the side of caution, setting a timer and checking as you go.

So, what do you do if your hair didn’t absorb the color properly, your dye is too dark, you ended up with an unwelcome orange tint, you didn’t fully cover your roots or you missed a spot? Yikes! Seek the help of a professional hair colorist. They can fill in those scary gaps, cover those roots and neutralize orange tones without incident. Better yet, maybe just play it safe from the beginning. A professional hair colorist will provide you with the right color choice, the right process and the right care for beautiful results.