The fastest method is to use another, darker hair dye to cover the unevenly bleached hair. If you bleached your hair to a medium blond, for example, you could cover it with a light brown. To fix uneven bleached hair you can either dye your hair in a darker color or bleach it again. Dye your Hair in a Darker Color.
Re-Dye the Hair a Darker Colour
However, dyeing your hair a darker colour is the fastest way to resolve badly bleached hair. This is an especially good option if your hair was dark to begin with and the bleach has turned it orange, yellow or green!
Violet and purple are the best colors to get rid of oxidation. You haven't bleached enough levels of your hair to get all the 'pigment', 'color' out of your hair. That's what that brassy color is. It's like a rust that lingers when there's still color left.
Getting your hair back to its natural shade depends on the current state of your hair as well as its health. Oftentimes, returning to your natural color takes several sessions with a colorist unless you're planning to let your hair grow out.
Our favorite color-depositing conditioner is the dpHue Gloss+ thanks to its wide range of shades, easy application, and ability to soften and hydrate hair. For a clear gloss that adds shine to any hair color, we recommend the Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Sheer.
Color Remover only removes hair color that is darker than your natural hair color. This means that it cannot remove bleached hair. If your hair has been bleached blond or your color has been lighter than your natural hair color, your natural pigment has been chemically lightened.
Hair stylists often tone bleached or blonde hair to neutralize brassy yellow and orange tones on bleached hair with a purple color. Purple shampoo is a great at-home solution for toning hair and preventing brassiness.
If you want to dye your bleached hair or highlights darker, pay attention to a few things to ensure you achieve the right colour. Care for your hair well eight days prior to dyeing to close your hair cuticles as much as possible. Choose a lighter and warmer colour than the one you aim to achieve.
Use deep conditioning treatments – Weekly deep conditioning treatments can help restore moisture and softness to bleach damaged hair. Use protein treatments – Protein treatments can help strengthen and repair the hair's structure, reducing breakage and improving elasticity.
The trick is to use a shampoo that isn't a 'colour protecting' one, as it helps to strip your hair of any unwanted colour and lift it back to its lighter tones. It also helps to add a little bit of soap into the mix too.
Deep conditioning is one of the best ways to repair bleach damaged hair. Deep conditioners penetrate the hair shaft and help to restore moisture and nutrients. Look for deep conditioners that are specifically designed for damaged hair.
Cover the splotchy bleach job with a darker hair dye for quick results. If your bleach job is so bad that you literally can't imagine leaving your home, your best bet may be to simply cover it with a darker shade of hair dye.
If considering dyeing after bleaching, waiting two weeks is safest, though some may need less time. Consult your stylist for the best approach.
Color Correction with Dye
Often the least damaging and best color correction for bleached hair or hair that is too light is to dye it darker. A good stylist will first “fill” your hair to insert pigment back into your strands and give them warmth and prevent your end color from appearing flat and muddy.
If your bleached hair looks more yellow than orange, you'll need a purple toning shampoo to neutralise the yellow. If your hair's turned orange, you'll need a blue toning shampoo to tone the brassiness and get rid of the orange.
If you leave purple shampoo in your hair for 30 minutes, the risk of over-toning increases significantly. While purple shampoo is designed to neutralize brassy or yellow tones, leaving it on for an extended period can lead to overly cool or even purple-tinted hair, especially for those with light or porous hair.
When To Use Purple Shampoo After Bleaching? Avoid washing your mane for the first 48 to 72 hours after bleaching it. This is to give your hair enough time to seal in its new color. If you waited 72 hours before washing your hair after it was bleached, you could use the purple shampoo the next time you shower.
If your lousy bleach job has come out more yellow, you'll need a purple toner. Purple shampoo can help neutralize the yellow. If your hair is orange, you'll need a blue toner. Try a blue shampoo to tone the brassiness and get rid of the orange.
If you want more vibrancy blow dry and apply. If you are doing pieces and not the whole head it's easier to apply to dry or towel dried hair. If doing the whole head, it's easier to apply on wet or towel dried hair. If just enhancing your color or don't want it too bright shampoo, apply in shower on wet hair and rinse.
If you're using semi-permanent or demi-permanent hair color, you'll need a developer with a lower volume, between 3 and 20 Vol. If you're using a permanent hair color, you'll need a developer with a higher volume. This is usually between 20 and 30 Vol.
That's the idea behind purple shampoo and conditioner: by depositing purple pigments onto the hair, they neutralize unwanted yellow undertones that make hair look brassy—so that your color stays the shade you want it to.