How soon can I fix a bad hair dye job?

Author: Dr. Chad Cronin PhD  |  Last update: Thursday, October 9, 2025

How soon can you dye your hair again? Wait at least two weeks after your last dye session before coloring your hair again. For maintaining your color, stylists suggest visiting the salon every four to six weeks for touch-ups.

How long should you wait to fix a bad hair dye?

``Experts advise waiting at least 2 weeks (technically 15 days) before dyeing it again. However, this is the minimum amount of time and, in some cases, you may need to extend that period to 4 weeks.

How soon can I dye my hair again to fix it?

How soon can you dye your hair again? You should wait at least two weeks after your last dye session to re-dye your hair, regardless of the reason. If you're maintaining your color, stylists recommend returning to the salon every four to six weeks for a touch-up.

How soon can I recolor my hair if I don't like the color?

Generally speaking though, it's best to wait 4-6 weeks before having another color treatment – in most cases, this is enough anyway and reduces the risk of hair damage. There are some exceptions, but in general, it's better to err on the side of caution and wait for this long.

How do I fix my hair after a bad dye job?

A brown or natural red conditioner could do wonders. Either that or dilute a little semi permanent color into your conditioner. It will be subtle but will help to heal the hair. On a side note, I bleach my hair and tone it white regularly. Redken has a product, extreme bleach repair in a blue tube (name might be off).

Baking Soda To Bleach Hair - How To Do It?

How soon can I get a color correction?

Your color correction can be done immediately or after a few weeks depending on your current hue. Every stylist uses different formulas and techniques, however, and only they would be able to know the best time to do a color correction.

What to do if you hate your hair after dying it?

Consider a New Colorist or Salon

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.

Can I recolor my hair after 2 days?

Waiting to Re-Dye Your Hair

When using demi-permanent or permanent hair dyes, it's important to wait two weeks before re-dyeing. Longer-lasting color changes tend to cause more damage.

Why do hairdressers hate box dye?

Certain harsh chemicals in popular box dyes have given many stylists pause. Common concerns include: Ammonia - This mixing agent lifts cuticles to deposit colour but is quite drying over time. Peroxide - High volumes like 30+ developer cause more damage to delicate hair.

How to remove hair dye from hair?

Baking Soda Paste

Baking soda can be an effective way to remove permanent hair dye naturally because of its lightening properties. Try mixing baking soda with lemon juice, which is acidic, to create a paste. Then, work the paste through your hair, allow it to sit for five minutes, and rinse thoroughly.

Why do my roots show after 1 week?

It could be that your hair is resistant to tint, especially when the hair texture has changed as a result of going white. But also it could be that by going lighter, either all over, or by introducing (subtle) highlights you would not see the regrowth strip quite as quickly as if it were lighter.

Is my hair too damaged to dye again?

Look at the texture and stretchiness of your hair

Check whether the hair surface is uneven, if it has kinks or if some sections of it snap quite easily. These are important signs that your hair is too damaged for a new shade of colour.

How to correct hair color that is too dark?

How to Lighten Hair Dyed Too Dark with a DIY Approach
  1. Use a paste of Baking Soda and Lemon Juice.
  2. Wash your Hair with Apple Cider Vinegar.
  3. Take some Vitamin C Tablets.
  4. Wash Hair With Clarifying Shampoo.
  5. Use Purple or Blue Shampoo for Brassy Tones.
  6. Do a Bleach Bath.
  7. Bleed the Color Out.
  8. Use Hair Lightener or Toner.

What if I am unhappy with hair color from salon?

If your color ends up brassier than you wanted, bring it up with your stylist while you're still in their chair. "Ideally, you would address it in the salon, and your stylist will tell you if they're too busy and you'd need to come back, but we can usually fix it right there," Papnikolas says.

What to do if you don't like your new hair color?

Sometimes if you are not feeling totally great about a new cut or color, it may just require a bit of time to get used to it. After you've slept on it, and maybe given yourself a chance to style it yourself, and you still are not happy with your hair, it's time to let the stylist know.

How do you fix damaged hair dye?

Applying protein to your color-treated hair is one of the best things you can do to recover from the damage. Protein patches up the holes and strengthens the strands, resulting in healthier and more vibrant hair that doesn't break as easily.

What hair dye damages the most?

Comparing Permanent, Semi-Permanent, and Demi-Permanent Hair Dyes. Permanent hair color has the greatest potential for hair damage due to the chemistry involved and should be done most cautiously. Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide combine to open up the hair's cuticle to reach the internal structure and make a color change ...

Is box dye more damaging than professional dye?

Many box dye formulas also contain ammonia, a chemical that can damage strands and cause them to be dry and brittle. Professional hair color formulas are often made without ammonia to ensure that hair isn't damaged during the coloring process.

How long does permanent hair dye last?

Ideally, *permanent hair colour* would stay vibrant forever, or at least until the roots grow. On most heads of hair, that would mean getting a good 6-8 weeks between touch-ups – but sometimes, even with permanent dye, colour fade can happen within a few weeks.

How to fix a bad hair dye job?

If you had a bad coloring job your best bet is to visit a reputable beauty salon and have a trained professional perform corrective coloring that will rid you of the unnatural color and give your hair a second chance.

Can I dye my hair again if I don't like the color?

Wait at least two weeks before applying another color.

Applying dye again too soon after coloring your hair can cause extensive damage and breakage. Additionally, you will have no way to predict how the color will look, since you're dyeing over an existing dye-job.

Can I re-dye my hair if I missed some spots?

You Missed a Spot

For a more permanent solution, try applying the hair dye to the exact area you missed before. Make sure to position a mirror in the right spot so you can see it clearly. Or, turn to a professional hair colorist who will be able to seamlessly fill in any gaps in your hair color without overlap.

What to do if a salon ruins your hair?

The best option is to complain while you are still in the salon or barbershop. Otherwise, go back as soon as possible after your appointment. Don't go somewhere else to have things put right as the salon, barbershop or independent contractor will need to see how things were left at the end of your appointment.

How to get rid of permanent hair dye fast?

The fastest way to remove hair dye is typically by using a clarifying shampoo or anti-dandruff shampoo. These shampoos contain strong cleansing agents that can effectively strip color from the hair. It's important to follow up with a deep conditioning treatment, as these shampoos can be harsh and drying on the hair.

How to fix hair color that is too light?

5 Tips to Correct Hair that Was Colored too Light
  1. 1) Apply a darker shade to your hair. Be careful not to end up with the opposite problem: having to correct a color that is too dark. ...
  2. 2) Choose a color full of nutrients. ...
  3. 3) Prevent other hair dye mistakes. ...
  4. 4) Pamper your hair. ...
  5. 5) Test before going forward.

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