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I mixed a color for a client's balayage that went totally green
So this client wanted a cool, ashy blonde, and I used my usual formula with a violet additive to cancel warmth. But her hair had some old box dye underneath I didn't catch at first. When I rinsed it out, the midsection had this weird minty green cast. I mean, it was subtle, but definitely there. I had to do a quick color correction with a direct dye remover and a warm, peachy toner to neutralize it. The whole thing added like an extra hour to my appointment. It taught me to do a better strand test on every single section when there's a history of color, even if the client says it's 'all gone'. Has anyone else had a toner go sideways because of hidden underlying pigment?
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hugo_schmidt20d agoMost Upvoted
Honestly, is a little green that big a deal? Clients probably wouldn't even notice half the time if we didn't point it out.
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the_wren20d ago
Ugh, the green surprise is the worst. I had a client with old, faded red dye that she swore was completely gone. Went in with a beige toner and it pulled this bizarre swampy color on her lengths. It was like the leftover red pigment mixed with the ash and made mud. Strand tests are non-negotiable now, even if it makes the consult longer. That hidden history will always come out to play.
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