hair color disaster/plus bad cut

> My stylist did an all over permanent color instead of> highlights this time, stating my hair would look good> very light blond because of my skin tone. No bleach> was used. Well, I hate the monotone color and I think> it looks washed out. My hair feels weird, like heavy,> but it is soft, so soft it won't hold a curl, and> there is a shine to it. This was done about 2 1/2> weeks ago and my roots are already showing!!! My hair> is naturally dark ash blond per my stylist, but always> had lighter areas on the ends, on the top layers and> near my face, I guess from the sun. The color on it> now is very light and to me, I see some golden> highlights,I don't see any ash tones. To top it off, I> got a bad hair cut, tons of layers, very short on top,> but the sides and crown have longer layers, to just> above the ears, but then short layers tapering to the> neck. I have thick hair. I have been to so many> stylists and I communicate well, I take pictures,> explain my problem areas, I have cowlicks everywhere,> but I never seem to get a good cut. They never look at> my hair dry or feel it, plus they never do strand> tests!!!> I seriously want this blond color toned down. Can I> just do it myself? I once did a semi-permanent darker> color over lightened hair due to the same problem and> it turned out ok. I always do a test strand. What> products should I look for? What colors/shades should> I look for? How often will I ahve to reapply until the> roots grow in? We have a Sally's nearby. I would even> go as far as doing foils on my own hair using a shade> close to my natural color. As I may never step foot in> a salon again! As far as this cut, well I look like> Mrs. Brady, but I can work with it until I get some> length.> I am really upset about this. I went to a reputable> salon, with pictures, and got nothing remotely close> to what I wanted and I already dropped close to> $100.00 dollars on this last cut and color, I can not> afford to get it corrected! If it was just the color,> I would go back and have them re do it, but this cut> was awful, very uneven so I don't trust to go back.> If anyone can help me, I would greatly appreciate it!> Thanks!To UpsetSorry that you have had a very bad salon expierence. Maybe I can help you survive this. You stated that you had a Sallys beauty supply store nearby, you have a couple of ways of working with your problem. You could use a product called Uncolor or Metalax to remove the permanent color. This will NOT return your hair to its "before colored" color, it will strip the color that was applied,but will reveal the changed 'base color'. This is what your hair color was before the last color plus the permanent change that the developer in the color created to the 'base'. However this is tough on your hair. A second solution is to do a color correction to 'color back' your hair. This is a very tricky process sometimes for a pro, let alone a novice. I would advise against it for the home colorist. A third option which I would reccomend that you try, is a color "overlay", where a color such as Loreal Naturelle or other similar 'deposit only' color is applied over your color as it is now(not stripped). This is a relatively easy process and the combination of the transluscence of this type of color 'overlaying' and combining with your color as it is now will "create" a new color that is a 'blend' of colors. This will take a little trial and error to blend the right amounts of different colors to achieve the right end results. I am so happy to see that you have enough experience/common sense to do strand tests. (Something that your stylist certainly didn't have!) With this type of "deposit only" color, timing is not super important down to the minute as is a permanent color is, the longer you leave this type color on the more 'depth' of deposit you will get. More than one color can be applied to weave or highlight/lowlight as needed to correct your "monochrome" color as it is now. I use Redken Shades EQ extensively to do the same type of correction, but they are a salon only product. The "deposit only" colors will leave your hair in much better shape than a permanent color will and use about 2 shades lighter than you want the finished results to be (because your colored hair will "grab" the color quicker because it is more 'porus' than virgin (uncolored) hair. An intense conditioning program should be started also to help keep your hair as well as possible after all the coloring. I have written an article dealing with some of the basics of color that should be of help to readers of the Hair Boutique, that should be out soon. If you have any more Questions please post or email me and I will try to help. Please post and let me know how this worked for you if you try it. william