Dear Color Crew is a recurring blog post where we answer hair-related questions—no matter how hairy they may be—from readers like you. Got a question? Email our team of professional colorists at ColorCrew@Madison-Reed.com.
Dear Color Crew,
Why is my color darker than it was the first time my color was applied? My hair is feeling dull and lifeless but I’m not changing anything! What’s happening to my hair color?
Hair dye came out too dark - what to do?
The main cause of hair color appearing progressively darker over repeated applications is in the application of the dye itself. That is, many people make the mistake of coloring their entire head of hair each time they color. Not only do you not need to do this, you don’t want to do this, either. Whether you have blonde hair or dark hair, the mid-lengths and ends are typically more porous than your roots and new growth, particularly if they have been previously colored. This is why the mid-lengths and ends tend to soak up the color faster and deeper than the dyed hair at the roots. Over time, this leads to hair color that is darker than you may want, and possibly dull or faded.
The good news is that the solution is simple. You should only color your entire head of hair if coloring for the first time, changing your hair color, or every few months. This goes for any shade—from black hair, to blonde, to anything in between. That’s right—only color your roots and new growth with permanent color. Your DIY hair will look salon quality in no time.
If you need to touch up your roots but also want to refresh your color and add vibrancy and shine, we recommend what we like to call “The Perfect Pair”—the combination of permanent color at your roots and a semi-permanent gloss to refresh the color on your mid-lengths and ends. This is actually what most colorists do in salons when you get your color done. Want to see how you can do it yourself and become an at-home hair care expert? Here’s a video tutorialto show you how it’s done.
