by Rhonda Piraino

Created on: May 09, 2008   Last Updated: April 06, 2011

Did you hurriedly grab the wrong shade of haircolor? Did your sister call just as you applied your color and you remembered you had color on your hair one hour later?

This is real life, and it's entirely possible you're now sporting a shiny black color Marilyn Manson (and only Marilyn Manson) would approve of, but it's not quite the result you wanted. The good news is that in many cases, this dark color can be removed to at least something livable.

The first steps to your plan of action? Breathe, don't panic, and get thee to a salon!

A professional, experienced colorist is truly your only recourse. This is your guide for what you need to know, what you need to say, and what to expect.

Where to start

Don't throw out that empty bottle/tube/box you used, including any other accessories, packaging, and instructions. I'll explain in the next section.

If you don't know a competent colorist, don't run to the phone book. It's preferable to ask your friends, acquaintances, even total strangers with great hair color, for references (extra tip: it's also the best way to find a new hairdresser, period). Book an appointment for a consultation, which most reputable salons will provide at no charge. If time is on your side, it's perfectly acceptable to seek more than one opinion.

What to say

It's crucial to be completely honest with your colorist. Explain how you arrived at your current shade, how long ago you applied it and the type of color you used, such as temporary, demi-permanent, permanent, etc. With that said, you may have no idea which type of color you used, as the terms I mentioned often have different meanings to both colorists and manufacturers. This is why you keep what you used AND bring everything with you. Which products and methods your colorist will use relies mainly on the category of color you used.

What to expect

Your colorist should have a direct plan of action and be able to explain the process to you in plain English. You should have a basic understanding of what is realistically possible, how long the process will be, what the maintenance will be, and how much it's going to cost BEFORE going any further. If you're unsure, ask specific questions. It's completely reasonable to get a second (or third) opinion if you don't feel at least a certain amount of trust.

Whatt to know

Depending on the type of color you used, there are different ways to achieve the best results possible. Here's a simple Haircolor 101.

Haircolor can have 2 kinds

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