Hair color. It can transform your look in an instant. When professionally applied, you can achieve stunning color that’s vibrant, shiny and everything you hoped it would be. But, when hair color goes bad, what can you do?

Fortunately, all is not lost. While you may not be able to restore your hair instantly to a color you love, you can get there over time and with the right help.

If you have received a bad dye job, there is really only one thing you need to do: see a reputable salon right away.

A good hairstylist can:

Apply Color Theory to Correct your Color
Hairstylists understand color theory and should know what color to add or take away to cancel out the unwanted colors. Oftentimes, hair is damaged in the process of coloring, especially when harsh, over-the-counter dyes are used. Good hairstylists understand that darker colors feed the hair and may suggest you go a little darker as you begin the color correction process. Of course, what a stylist recommends will be based on your unique situation.

Maintain the Integrity of your Hair while Correcting your Color
Additionally, an experienced stylist will make sure that the integrity of your hair is maintained throughout the color correction process. This is important, because every time you modify your hair color, you are using chemical processes. These chemical processes break down the hair, damage the hair and affect the porosity and elasticity of the hair. A good stylist will make sure your hair is not damaged beyond repair in the color correction process.

Help you Save Damaged Hair
If your hair is already damaged from too many chemical processes, you don’t have to get a pixie and say, “Crap! I’ll never do that again!” A good stylist can help you save your hair—and your style. When doing color correction on damaged hair, your stylist may recommend a cut that removes most of the damage, suggest products to help nourish and restore hair health and advise you on other steps you need to take for a successful color correction.

Depending on how much damage has been done, the color correction process can take some time. Be patient and allow your stylist to walk you through the transition. You’ll be happy with the results!