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(More customer reviews)BACKGROUND
As a naturally medium blonde 20-something, I'd been talked into going red by my salon stylist. I loved it, but 8 months down the road I was frustrated with having to touch it up every few weeks, let alone not being able to consistently find the right shade in the drug store (sorry, but I'm not paying a stylist obscene amounts of cash to do my hair every few weeks). I'm a beginner when it comes to color and didn't realize how difficult it would be to try to take my hair back to blonde after having it red for many months.
I asked my stylist, who said that she could strip it, which would be time-consuming, damaging and expensive. The other option was to highlight my hair repeatedly over the course of a year or so while my natural hair grew back in (again, expensive). I thought, surely there has to be some other way...
PREPARATION FOR COLOR OOPS
Then I found Color Oops online. I read hundreds of reviews on multiple Web sites, some good and some frightening, and picked up lots of usage tips along the way. I proceeded to purchase two boxes of Color Oops, two boxes of hair color (Nice n Easy - Natural Dark Neutral Blonde and Natural Lightest Golden Brown) in case I had an "omg" moment, a shower cap, a wide-toothed comb and a thermal conditioning treatment (heavy duty conditioner). If you use Color Oops, I highly recommend making sure you have all these items handy. Also, read the box insert, and know it like the back of your hand. This is a must.
Make sure to do a strand test. Cut out a small piece of your hair and just do it, or you'll be sorry later. Check it every five minutes so you can see the various shades of change and decide on the best time for your hair. They recommend no longer than 20 minutes. Based on mine, I saw my hair change from red to blonde after 20 minutes and elected to leave it on for the full amount of time.
THE PROCESS
Still, I was super nervous as I prepared the mixture and dumped it on my hair. It is a thin mixture, maybe a bit thicker than water but not by much, so be careful with the dribbles. I didn't notice any bleaching effect on the red robe I was wearing. As everyone else has said, it has a very strong odor - citrus and sulfur, so be prepared. I made sure to spread the mixture quickly and evenly, using the wide-toothed comb to ensure that my hair was fully saturated, then put the shower cap on to help "lock" in the product. I avoided being in cool areas of my house, as the insert said this could cause it not to process correctly (also a good reason to use the shower cap). I'd recommend checking your hair periodically, even after the strand test, so you don't let it go too long.
Rinsing it out was a breeze in the shower. This is the most important part of the process. I kept the water warm, rinsed for several minutes, shampooed and rinsed for several minutes, and repeated once more. Rinse until your water gets cold, no joke! Your hair may feel a little stiff at this point, so use your restoring conditioner after the second shampoo. I had some left over from an older Nice n Easy kit and it worked better than the thermal treatment I bought specifically for this purpose (read on to find out why I ended up having to condition twice).
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
After I got out of the shower I could tell right away that my hair was looking pretty bleached blonde and much lighter than my natural color, but probably due to the previous dyeing I'd done (most over-the-counter permanent dyes include a bleaching agent, no matter what color you choose). I dried it using my blow dryer and it came out looking pale and brassy - almost a strawberry blonde. My boyfriend said, "Your hair is kind of orange..." I didn't think it was hideous, but not exactly what I had envisioned. It didn't seem damaged, either, though I had very healthy hair to start with.
REDYEING AFTER COLOR OOPS
So I started thinking about that box of blonde hair color I bought to use after the Color Oops, in case it didn't turn out. Color Oops recommends using a color filler if you choose to dye right after the color removal process. They also advise that you choose a lighter, warmer shade than that of what you are trying to achieve and say not to let it process for more than several minutes. I skipped the color filler and applied just the color, noticing that by the time I'd applied it to my whole head, it had already "taken" and rushed to rinse it out, but it was too late. After no more than just a few minutes, the blonde hair color had turned my hair a distinct brown, and on the ashy side (even though it was labeled a "neutral" shade). That wasn't the hair color's fault, though - it was mine. The box insert is not joking. Use a color filler and/or buy at least a couple shades warmer and lighter than your desired end result if you are dyeing right after Color Oops. So if you're looking to go medium/dark blonde, buy a golden light blonde (or even lightest blonde).
COLOR OOPS... TAKE TWO!
Luckily, I had bought the second box of Color Oops, did another strand test, and decided to leave it in for only 15 minutes this time. I got the same result as the first Oops application (glowing blonde hair), and still little, if any, damage. Stinky, though. I don't notice the smell one day after, if that's any consolation.
THE AFTER GLOW
Realize that the rinsing process is absolutely the most important part of making Color Oops work (yes, I'm reiterating, but honestly it can't be repeated enough). Even after what I thought was excessive rinsing, I did notice that my color darkened overnight, meaning that the first application probably would have done the same thing if I'd been patient. I am still blonde, but not back to my natural caramel blonde. It appears very golden with some glowing reddish tones, which could be from the previous dyeing, but definitely toned down after just 8 hours. I have actually received compliments today on the new color, and told people that I had my hair stripped at the salon. They commented that it didn't appear damaged at all. The results are that good. Just be aware that you will likely have some darkening up to 24 hours after you complete the process (and also take this into account if you are redyeing).
THE END?
Sorry this was so long. I learned quite a bit about Color Oops by reading reviews and realize that this information is invaluable to other people who are thinking about taking the risk to get their hair back to normal (or at least close to it). I hope the detail in this review helps you to relax and embark on your Color Oops adventure!
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