a new hairdresser put too many lowlights in my hair, some of them overtop of my old blond highlights to break up the monotone blonde.  The lowlights came out a horrible ashy blackish brown color so I waited 6 days and she put highlights over top so I would look like a blond again and not a brunette.  Now my hair is split and breaking about 5 inches from where the length should be and the blonde is ugly and dull. Why did this happen & how long should I wait until I get the color fixed again?  Another hairdresser said she could just put a toner or very low volume color on it in about 4 weeks.  What do you think would be safe??

Thank you so much for your reply!!

Any self respecting hairdresser would know better than to put lowlights on your hair, and then just highlight it once again without recommending some type of deep conditioning treatment until your hair was in better condition.  I think this other hairdresser you went to seems to care more about you being satisfied with your hair, than to just get money.  Maybe you should ask her a few more questions. 

I learned that the hard way, but it's really necessary to do a lot of research as well as ask a lot of questions.  Usually if a good hairdresser sees that your hair is damaged, he won't put any harsh chemicals in it immediately, they'll usually recommend a deep conditioning regimen, which at first may seem like a waste of money, but at least you will have pretty and healthy hair.

All in all I say follow the other hairdresser's recommendation.  Your hair is very weak from all the chemicals and needs a rest.  It's a sacrifice to have not so great hair for a few weeks, but at least you won't be bald!  I've had my hair thermal reconditioned last year, and I told the hairdresser I wanted some highlights.  He didn't tell me I shouldn't do it, he just went and did them.  Then when I went to another hairdresser she told me he should never have done that, because my hair was fragile as it was.  Now, one year later, my hair is falling off, a lot!  Luckily I still have hair on my head, but still, I'm not going back to that hairdresser.  When a hairdresser agrees to do everything you want without suggesting at least a little treatment first (unless of course your air is completely healthy) then get suspiscious, and get a second opinion.  Even a third if needed, because at the end of the day all that matters is that you're happy with your hair.  Hope this helps.  Good luck. ^^

Thank you FunnyGirl and Nancy for replying to my post.  I am crying so much about the amount of damage in my hair.  My hair is pretty long (reaches my back bra strap) and my goal was to get hair like Anna kournakovia's length.  It was almost there until this happened!  I am thinking I will probabaly have to cut about 2 inches off the length and get a whole ton of layers throughout if I want to keep it long.  What do you think??  I think the only way to get rid of all the splits and breakage in the areas that are highlighted is to put shorter layers in it.  The actual length is not really damaged because the underneath of my hair was colored with a permenant brown color & not touched with highlights.  How much length should I sacrifice in order to have healthier hair? It looks okay to the naked eye - but when I go through it I find all kinds of breakage and splits!!

Thanks again for any replys, you don't know how much this forum is helping me.  I am so depressed and crying myself to sleep.