Oh dear - so dont like my new hair colour...

[supergolden88]

Went and had a colour and cut at Willis B yesterday as a last treat before baby (due in two weeks). I decided to cover my outgrown highlights with an overall colour and on the advice of the colourist chose the one that was closest to my natural colour (dark brown) to avoid regrowth etc.

The new colour is very glossy and healthy looking but so very dark it is almost black. In no way is it close to my natural colour which is more chesnutty brown. In short I quite hate it!

What are my options do you think? Call Willis B and ask them to correct it (and pay all over again)? I realise that in the grand scheme of things this should not top my worry priority list...

[Pickle]

Oh no, that's not what you need! I wonder if the colour will fade a bit over the first few washes? It might be that it only looks dark for a week or so and then will settle down a bit to a lighter colour. Worth ringing them to have a chat about it I think - if you're really not happy I'm sure they would re-do it either free or at a discounted price.

[EDmummy]

It will fade in just a week or two and should resemble your natural colour quite quickly. Did you have an Inoa colour? It might be worth the colourist describing the colouring process for you. They have done it for me but I am afraid I cannot remember the ins and outs of it to tell you here.

[Mrs TP]

If you are up for it give them a ring or go in and tell them you are unhappy with the colour and it is not as discussed, i.e. it is not a good match for your natural colour and see what they say. Don't say much more than that, don't apologise or feel it is your fault for not liking it - it is not what you were expecting. After you have said your bit just be quiet and let them do the talking. See what they come up with and if it is acceptable to you. I think they should offer to do it for free and you certainly shouldn't tip again. I once read in a women's mag that a good salon should even give you back your original tip.

We spend bundles on our hair and should get what we want.

I complained once a million years ago funnily enough in Willis B when I had a severe crop, which I wanted at the time. When I got home, happy with the overall style I noticed that one side was above my ear and the other below - not deliberately. I went back to have it evened out and they were fine about it.

Practice what you are going to say but just don't say too much, stick to the facts and give them the opportunity to put it right. I am sure they would rather see a good post from you here tomorrow saying 'hey they were great and fixed it'. They want happy customers.

Good luck and with the pregnancy.

[supergolden88]

I did have the Inoa colour - wonder if that is any different to normal ammonia colourants? I may try to read up on it. I think the problem is last time I went there I had the top colourist and he seemed very capable and did exactly what I asked. This time I had the junior/first lever colourist who just put the colour as it was on my hair - that is she did not adjust it in any way.

I will give it till Monday and if I still hate it after a couple of washes etc I shall go back.

[candj]

I agree with everyone that the colour will settle a bit and also you will get used to it. I did the same thing a few years ago and got rid of highlights that I had forever and was completely mortified coming out of the salon with what I considered to be black hair. My stylist did put a few lighter shades in front to not make it so dark but it still shocked me. I basically got used to it.

Also be careful with using lighter coloured towels when you wash your hair as sometimes the colour will transfer if it has recently been done. If you don't like it by Monday (as you say) then ask to have a few lighter strands done in the front to break up the dark colour. Good luck for the pregnancy/delivery.

[suzisoo]

I am addicted to having my hair coloured, every 6 weeks. If you have been before your colour should be on their records. Ring and explain the situation, maybe the mix was not correct. It is easy for them to get the mix ratio round the wrong way if they are very busy, it has nearly happened to me a few times. A good salon will not charge you to rectify it, they want to keep your custom, let them know. By the way i havent used this salon so my experiences are not with them.

[supergolden88]

I have cracked and called Willis B. Somone will hopefully call me back. At this point I dont really care if I have to pay again I just hate looking like Wednesday Adams. It's making me washed out, pale and more tired than I actually feel

[alieh]

I have heard that your hair is more absorbent or something when pregnant and that colour can take much more strongly than usual? Not sure if that's true, but a similar thing happened to me the last time I was pregnant and the golden highlights that are usually tinged with auburn came out bright orange! It was hideous.

I would get it fixed. Really, it should be at their cost. Maybe they could run some lighter highlights through especially around your face?

[esme]

alex (junior) does cut price colours for ?10 there - maybe ring her and book in, at least it won't cost the earth to have it rectified. she cut my hair and did an amazing job, so i'm sure she's good at colouring too :)

[untamedstylist]

They are a very good and very amenable salon I'm sure they will re do it for u for free but my suggestion would be to buy some head and shoulders and really wash ur hair alot it's makes colour fade alot and something we advise clients i'n the industry... Sadly this does happen alot with colour which is why i stick to cutting only....

A clients idea of what they want and the colour choice made don't always quite agree somewhere and redo's are a common thing i'n salons with colour, it's just one if those things sadly... Normally if u have colour history on ur hair it won't always come out the desired colour if not on virgin hair...

But if u go back I'm sure they will sort it for u they r good like that.