Highlights too ash!

Had my hair highlighted today...foils. Normally have 8A and 11A if that means anything, but a new hairdresser today said it was a bit brassy and was going to use bleach, followed by a no3 "semi" or toner. Anyway, overall thrilled with the colour, but in the new section (virgin hair - no previous colour), it has gone almost white in some areas. I do look a little grey - and I actually dont have any grey hair! I went back and she said not to worry cos it would "wash out". Worth mentioning that my hair was streaked light gold before the toner and I have mid to dark brown normally (of which a lot remains - thin streaking, but my normal hair within that). What can I do to get rid of my grey look? I dont quite buy the "it'll wash out" and worried that I will have gold streaks once the toner washes out!! Please advise. I am not familiar with coloring at all even tho I have had highlights for the past 9 yrs. Thanks for your time.

Sounds like a common problem and Doouglas is right in his statements. It can be toned out but not advised to be done with a full head toner. Its not a difficult process and unfortunately its something we have to do for clients too often who come in with this problem. Dont worry too much as it can be corrected. Just be aware of over coloring.

Guys, thanks so very much. Spoke to hairdresser again after three shampoos and surprise, surprise....it didnt wash out! She is now talking about me coming in and having a light brown semi put on affected parts only. Semi sounds semi permanent...yeah? Why wouldnt she use a permanent?


On a side note...am getting really, really tired of paying (very handsomely) to providers of beauty services who tout themselves as professionals and deliver inferior results.... For example, had brows done a while ago and ended up with uneven brows with whole areas removed that should not have been....a haircut where one side was a whole one cm shorter than the other...and now the prematurely grey look! Any ideas on how to source very reputable professionals?


Thanks once again!

Georgie,

Again Douglas is right but the semi will not only be translucent it will fade right out in a few washes. Now the other thing is that your stylist may be talking about a 'mid way' color that many stylists here also call a semi but infect it is not. Ask them to clarify the difference for you first.


With the professionalism issue, in most western countries and a few of the Asian ones there acctually is a formal training. Beiging even has one in place in conjunction with the Victoria University in Australia. HK has been lagging behing in this area for a long time. AS douglas mentioned there is a programe being put in place which i was on the advisory board for the first 2 years of the set up of but (agaisnt my advice) they have launched a fairly out dated programe but a promgrame non the less. It is not mandatory however so will take some years to develop further.

It is very hard to choose and find a true professional and it is not just in HK, there are hacks everywhere in the world. All I can advise is go for the consultaions, ask alot of questions and dont do anything until you are absolutely comfortable.

My hairdresser did exactly the same! Told me it would wash out.. kept me in the chair until all other customers had left, in case I caused a scene. I could see him sweating and his assistants were cacking themselves. I went and bought a box colour after 3 days and got them to put it on top. Then tried another hairdresser, but they just bleached it. So then, I started doing it myself with professional colour. Guess what? It's pretty darn good and I only have myself to blame if it goes wrong. Hasn't so far.

Thanks Douglas,


I use treatment conditioner all the time. I also only ever do the roots of my hair as the rest is now the colour I want it. It is hard getting to the back of it, but most can't see that part. I use 6% peroxide on the roots and they're in good condition.I have slightly curly hair so it hides the irregularities quite well.