What to Do if You Hate Your New Hair Color: 8 Options

Speak Up

Step one is to say something. Easier said than done? Sure, but the alternative of living with a hair color you hate isn't much better. "Tell your colorist—calmly—that you are unhappy with how the look turned out, and he or she will be understanding," celebrity colorist Rita Hazan says.

Try to explain exactly what you don't like about the color. Is it too dark all over? Is the tone too warm or too cool? Are the highlights too chunky? Is there not enough variation in the highlights? Be specific and be polite. The last thing you want to do is place blame on the colorist after they spent an hour or more on your hair. Help them understand your unhappiness and move forward with ways to remedy the situation.

Book Another Appointment

Let's say you couldn't muster up the strength to express your disappointment while still in the chair. Don't worry—you can still turn the situation around.

"If you end up leaving the salon unhappy with your color, but have been seeing the colorist for many years with only one upsetting experience, go back to get it fixed," Hazan says. Your colorist wants you to be happy with the final result.

Plus, the person who started the job will be better equipped to make the adjustments needed compared to someone coming into the situation without any background. Usually, the problem that's bothering you only requires a quick fix, and most salons won't charge you for color correction.

Consider a New Colorist or Salon

Of course, you might consider going to a different colorist altogether. "If it's your first time with someone and you really don't like how it turned out, I would suggest [researching] and finding a new person," Hazan says.

When you go elsewhere, be prepared to pay. A new stylist will treat the appointment as a new color, not a color correction, but if it's a complete redo, Hazan says it'll be worth it to resolve the issue. "Or, if you want to switch stylists at the same salon, that's fine too—it's your hair and your money," Hazan says. "You should never feel bad about making that decision."

Note that, depending on the treatment you had done, you might have to wait a few days or longer to fix your color. Say you've put your hair through the wringer going from deep brunette to platinum blonde, or had your hair stripped and dyed without much time to recover—a colorist may encourage you to wait for a fix at the risk of over-processing your tresses.

Go Back to Your Natural Color

Whether you opt for a new colorist or return to the original colorist for a re-do, opt for a shade that's not too far off from your own. "Using your roots as a guide, select a color shade as close as possible to your natural color," says colorist Richy Kandasamy. Once your colorist nails that shade, you can go lighter (or darker, depending on preference) throughout repeat visits to the salon.

Just keep in mind that going back to your natural shade won't always be the best resolution. For example, if you have brown hair and lightened to an extreme blonde, a simple gloss to adjust the tone might be all you need.

Wash Your Hair

If you're not ready to spend another afternoon in the salon, there are other options. First, go home and wash your hair a few times. Most brunette and red shades will fade a bit right after washing.

Try Some Styling Tricks

Next, try some DIY styling. Sometimes there may be a stray lowlight or too intense highlight that's bothering you that can be taken care of just by switching your part. Or maybe your highlights don't look as naturally sun-kissed as you would want them to in the sleek, blown-out style you got at the salon, but once you style your hair into your usual beach waves, you'll feel differently.

Consider a Gloss

If you wish your red was just a little richer, your brunette a little deeper, or your blonde ever so slightly warmer, try an at-home gloss. The difference will be minor, but if you're looking for a small tweak, a three-minute, in-shower treatment may be all you need.

Do note, however, that an at-home DIY likely won't give you the same results as a salon professional. "A professional colorist can match your color more precisely than home products," says Kandasamy.

Change Your Makeup Look

Your new hair hue may not mesh with your go-to makeup look. Before you decide that your new color is a hard no, try changing up your lipstick to complement your new hair color. Or add a swipe of bronzer if you're feeling washed out. These simple tweaks may prove that your new hair color looks pretty good on you after all — plus, you'll have an excuse to hit Sephora.