Colour Correction or Just Colour?
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It’s only natural to assume that having a colour correction is the same as just getting your hair “dyed” or “coloured”. After all, the word “colour” is still included, right? Well, there’s actually a drastic difference between the two! Our hairdressers in Putney receive this question a lot, but fear not – we have all your questions answered below.
Table of Contents
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- What is “just colour”?
- What is colour correction?
- What are the challenges to colour correction?
- Conclusion
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What is "just colour"?
Let’s put it this way: if you have virgin/non-chemically treated hair and you book an appointment to dye it a different colour, that will be a “just colour” service. There wouldn’t be any need to fix or correct previous colour applications to achieve a different result. Very simple – a colour only treatment is for hair that has never been dyed before!
What is colour correction?
Basically, any manipulation of previously dyed/bleached hair that includes more than 1 colour is considered a colour correction. If you have uneven, patchy or streaky colours that need to be rectified and evened out, it will call for this type of service.
Most commonly, colour correction is used to restore bleached hair back to brown, or to lighten up existing highlights or balayage. If hair has been highlighted before and it’s not light enough, just applying more highlights over the top wouldn’t achieve that result.
Colour correction procedures may take a few attempts to get the desired outcome as it involves a lot of corrective work. Usually, this gradual approach is the best one to opt for because if it’s all done in one go, the final result may be quite drastic and turn out very differently to what it should’ve been.
Below are 2 examples to illustrate what does and doesn’t constitute as a colour correction:
- A client that has had highlights done 3 years ago and then started colouring their hair a very light brown, brassy colour. 6 months ago, they stopped colouring it and now they want light blonde hair – this would require an extensive colour correction.
- A client that has brassy brown hair and simply wants to colour it to a dark brown level 4 – this doesn’t call for colour correction, just a colour-only service.
Note: in cases where the hair has been previously bleached and the client returns to make the overall colour lighter, it would call for a full hair bleach and not a colour correction procedure. A highly trained hairdresser would be able to tell the difference and execute the correct service.
What are the challenges to colour correction?
There are 2 main obstacles to getting a colour correction: time and budget.
Timewise, one can expect to be in the salon for a whole day so you will need to ensure that you can commit to undergoing such a lengthy process. Sometimes if the hair needs further correction due to previously ill-executed work, another colour correction appointment will have to be scheduled.
Understandably quite frustrating, the gradual approach guarantees optimal results with little to no chemical damage.
Regarding the cost, it will heavily depend on how much correction the hair needs, how long it will take and how much product will be consumed during the whole process. Typically, it can cost up to £600 a day. While the price may seem quite high for some, major factors like product usage and risks involved must be considered.
Sometimes many customers have to be turned away to accommodate a single colour correction service, so it does have a financial effect on the business too.
Conclusion
Both hair colouring services include manipulation of colour, but the deciding factor as to which one you need boils down to the starting point of your hair – whether it’s never been dyed before and you just want an overall colour change, or it has been previously chemically treated and you now want to fix/change the colour.
To put it simply, your hair’s journey will determine what comes next. And most importantly, it’s crucial that you’re in the safe hands of an experienced professional who has a sharp, trained eye for helping you achieve your best possible hair.
Our recommended colours:
Wella Koleston
Natulique
