Color correction seems all the more pressing if you have an upcoming big occasion, such as a wedding, graduation, or a scheduled photo shoot. If your hair has dark bands at the mid-lengths, the ends have been bleached to an orange hue, or the blonde has turned greenish like a pond, you may feel compelled to try dyeing it with another box dye. But it may be best to leave color correction to professionals. Color correction stylists begin with the event date in mind and work backwards to ensure that you get the desired color without compromising the integrity of your hair.
14 Days Before the Occasion
14 days before your event gives a good window of time for doing a color correction. At the consultation, your stylist will assess the condition of your hair, review the history of what has been done to your hair, and pinpoint where certain products may be clashing. It is important to give details, because permanent hair dye (you can see this for yourself at https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/jan/05/how-to-colour-your-hair-without-damaging-it) is not the same as a colored conditioner. Also, the previously lightened ends could process much faster than the roots.
It’s helpful to show clear pictures of both what your hair looks like now and what you’d like it to look like. You should also tell the stylist exactly what products you’ve applied to your hair recently. Even if you feel that you used a “temporary” color, it may have some lasting effects on your hair.
Strand tests might be the most helpful part of the consultation. They can inform the stylist of what’s possible with your specific hair. The results can help determine if those dark bands from box dyes will lift uniformly, if the orange patches can be lightened further, and how the porous blonde will respond to the color correction. The results may alter the original plan, and that’s fine. It’s better to find out the limitations on a single, undetected piece of hair than on your entire head.
Stylist performing a hair color strand test before correction
Seven Days Before the Occasion
With about seven days left, you can potentially get an initial color correction followed by a touch-up down the line. However, this doesn’t always mean that your stylist needs to get you to the perfect color right away.
For instance, the dark bands from box dyes cannot usually be lifted through just one application. Instead, your color correction stylist might isolate the darker sections and leave alone the lighter or damaged ends. The orange bleach patches are a different problem entirely; some strands may require careful lightening, while others can simply be toned or darkened to create a smoother effect.
A greenish cast on blonde hair may be caused by a mineral deposit, an environmental factor, or a color deposit that wasn’t properly balanced. Applying an ash-based color over the green won’t necessarily neutralize the issue. Based on the results of the strand test, your stylist might need to remove the deposit, add warmth back into the hair, or blend the area.
Here are some possibilities for how the timeline might play out:
- A color correction appointment with extra processing time
- A few days between appointments to allow for proper hair care
- A gloss or toner appointment, as well as a haircut or styling appointment
- An alternate color choice if your stylist is unable to safely achieve the original target color
Three Days Before the Occasion
When the date is getting close, it is more important to go with what you know than to risk a complete overhaul. Aggressively lightening the hair three days before a photo shoot leaves little time to deal with dryness, unwanted warmth, or sensitive scalps.
The better solution is likely to be to go with a conservative approach. Your stylist can blend the areas together, darken the overly bright parts, adjust the cast, or add dimension to make the unevenness look more intentional. A trim can also help cut off the faded and stained ends that contribute to the color discrepancies.
Conservative hair color blending and trimming before an event
After you’re done, don’t use new hair masks, pigmented products, or hot tools (description) until after the event. Follow the directions that your stylist gives you for washing and styling to keep the newly corrected color intact until your event.
On the Day of the Event
On-the-spot color corrections have their own set of limitations. If your hair stretches when wet, breaks easily, or feels gummy after bleaching, it might not be appropriate for further chemical services.
Save Your Hair for the Occasion and Beyond
A looming deadline may make you anxious to get the color you want, but it shouldn’t mean turning your hair color correction into a risk. The best course of action is to start ahead of time, get a strand test, and have a backup plan. While a skilled color correction stylist may not be able to magically transform your hair overnight, she can create a viable path toward hair that looks even, feels healthy, and is ready for your event.