I Effed Up My Hair: This is How to Fix a Bad Box Dye

If you’ve ever box dyed your hair before, you know it’s risky business and usually doesn’t go as planned. This is how to fix a bad box dye…
I Effed Up My Hair: This is How to Fix a Bad Box Dye

I’m sure many of us have been there; excited and hopeful that the box dye we’ve picked up from the drugstore is going to liven up our lives. Our hair is going to look immaculate and windswept and life will basically be perfect. However, instead of looking fabulous we just end up looking f**ked up.

I learned this the hard way when I tried to box dye my own hair white blonde. Being naturally blonde, I assumed that not much could go wrong, but on the contrary, a whole hell of a lot can go wrong.

The finished product, while not terrible, was blotchy, more yellow than white, and my roots were lighter than everything else. When they eventually faded/grew out I was left with even more blotchiness – almost like my hair resented me.

After living in ponytails for a few weeks, trying to conceal the damage, I finally decided to seek professional help at the new LOFT Salon location at 1575 Dundas St W.

Once my hair had been assessed by stylist Nadine Casemore, we discussed why box dyes never work and why your hair should be corrected at a salon.

Box Dyes are One-Size-Fits-All

Casemore says box dyes are “one-size-fits-all.” Unless you really know what you’re doing, you can’t predict how it will turn out, especially since everyone’s hair is different. This can be in terms of natural colour and the integrity of the hair.

Box Dyes Never Leave

Box dyes are literally in your hair forever! Even if the colour fades the chemicals from the dye still remain in your hair, and box dyes will react unpreditcably to other dyes.

How Your Hair Should Be Corrected

Given all the above factors, your stylist needs to assess your hair and completely individualize the process based on the current state of your hair, old dye, and whether you’re planing on going darker or lighter.

Once your hair has been assessed, Casemore says the first step is to strip the current colour with remover or bleach. After all the colour from the box dye has been removed, dye and toner will be applied based on your natural pigment and desired look. The huge difference here is that the dye and toner at the salon will be completely customized to your type of hair; not a one-size-fits-all.

The last thing to keep in mind is that you may not reach your desired goal in the first visit. Colour corrections can be incredibly hard – from trying to strip all of the pesky box dye out, to working with your natural pigment – it’s definitely a process, but seeing a professional really does pay off.

After one visit with Casemore at LOFT Salon, my hair was looking a hell of a lot better. I still have to go back for another round of colouring, but this is common with corrections so be patient. And in the meantime DO NOT try to fix your hair with another box dye!!!

LOFT Salon on 1575 Dundas St. W is open Monday to Tuesday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm, Wednesday to Friday 10 :00 am – 9:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and Sunday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

Have you ever had to fix a bad box dye?

Salon Images: Aly Zorn