We've all been there. You leave the salon or maybe your bathroom anticipating sun-kissed perfection only to be left with streaky patchiness, brassy highlights, or worse, fried/burnt ends. Whether it's illusory colour, tacky lines, or a shade that just doesn't work for you, a highlight horror story can be a full-blown beauty crisis leading to loss of confidence and constant mood havoc. But don't freak out, even the most annoying hair highlighting mistakes can be zapped in the comfort of your own home with patience, the appropriate products, and a little Tender Loving Care (TLC).
How To Fix Hair Highlighting Mistakes
Here's your step-by-step guide to saving those highlight hiccups without another pricey salon visit:
1. Brassy Tones? Try the Purple Shampoo Saviour
If your highlights have turned out to be orange or yellow, you’re dealing with brassiness. This is a common outcome with blonde or lighter tones, especially if your hair has natural warm undertones.
Quick Fix: Use a purple shampoo or conditioner twice a week. The violet pigments will help cancel out warm hues, restoring a cooler, more natural blonde. Look for sulfate-free formulas to keep your hair healthy.
2. Too Light or Too Dark? Use a Colour-Depositing Mask
When your highlights are too bright or too dark, a colour-depositing mask can tone down or equalise the colour.
Quick Fix: Apply a colour-depositing conditioner in a shade that is nearest your base to tone down extremely light highlights, or apply a bit lighter one to lighten dark or dirty streaks. These masks also moisturise, which is a plus after chemical processing.
Also Read: What's So Special About BPA-Free Lipsticks: Dermatologist Shares Benefits
3. Patchy or Uneven Streaks? Go for a Gloss Treatment
Highlighty, stripey patches are a surefire sign of a DIY gone wrong. This will leave your hair colour patchy and unevenly spread along your hair lengths.
Quick Fix: Apply a tinted or clear hair gloss treatment. These semi-permanent treatments smooth and even tones, adding shine, without further damage. Glossing kits can be found at most beauty outlets and are easy to use for beginners.
4. Damaged, Dry Ends? Try Deep Conditioners
Highlighting tends to dry out your hair. Especially when bleach was used. Hence, if you are happy with the colour and damaged, dry ends are the problem, it is suggested that you reach out to deep conditioners that will help nourish and provide that much-needed moisture to your hair.
Quick Fix: Add a deep conditioning mask or hair oil treatment to your regimen one to two times a week. Argan oil, keratin, and shea butter are a few ingredients that can restore and mend softness.
Bottomline
Before your next highlighting session, always pre-test on a strand, follow timing guidelines, and consider getting professional help for first-time lightning. And, as always, if you're a beginner when it comes to experimenting with your hair or are in doubt how the colour will finally turn out to be, subtle is safer. With proper care and recovery tips, you'll recover from a highlight disaster and be sporting healthy, gorgeous hair in no time.
[Disclaimer: Always patch-test products and follow instructions on the packaging. When unsure, speak with a certified hairstylist.]