Hair Bleaching Disaster: Why You Should See a Stylist With Experience!

Hair Bleaching Disaster: Why You Should See a Stylist With Experience!

A hair bleaching disaster is never a pleasurable moment, for the stylist or the guest. However, when I found out who the culprit was, I was not surprised. What follows are some tips to avoid your own hair bleaching disaster.

Happy Monday beautiful and welcome to Ask the Pro Stylist’s Hair Police of the week! Today we discuss a recent hair bleaching disaster that occurred twice in as many days. The sad thing is the bad stylist is a former student, which didn’t surprise me at all.

First lets begin with the term hair bleaching disaster. Actually, professionals prefer hair lightening to stripping or bleaching. If your stylist or colorists continually refers to the process as bleaching, I would rethink my appointment. That could be a clue they are not taking advantage of the scores of continuing education available to us. Additionally, it could mean they are not up-to-date on the latest trends.

The newly licensed stylist attempted to balayage a former classmate’s hair. Obviously, she never listened to her friend when in class. And I could bet she didn’t do a proper consultation, because her victim had previously lightened hair that was covered by dark hair color.

She used 40-volume developer. Needless to say, the girl’s hair fell out.

The young girl told this tale to her next victim in the middle of another balayage service. She again used 40-volume developer. This so-called stylist then used foils and folded her sections, creating a checkerboard effect due to the many holidays in the application.

Because she lacks experience, the bottom took 3 levels lighter than the top and sides. She toned it with a level 9, creating a gray effect on the bottom. Nothing changed the orange pieces. I know this because I had to fix it.

So, what went wrong? First of all, knowing this girl as I do, she believes she is talented enough to pull it off. She never listened in class, and would always run off and do her own thing. When the second client complained, also a former student, she said, “It looked fine when I did it”…bad customer service.

Using lightener over lightener is dangerous, especially for those that lack experience and speed. She didn’t use Olaplex. The 40-volume developer lightens to quick for someone whose hands do not move as fast.

You also need to tone within the same level. Using a level 9 on 9/10 hair color is fine, although, the client didn’t want gray. Orange lives at level 7. If she ever listened in class, she’d know that. A level 9 toner will do nothing to a level 7.

And finally, she didn’t do a proper consultation or use techniques akin to balayage. If your stylist is fresh out of school and you want to experiment, then ask to see photos of her work. Additionally, question how and what she will use prior to sitting in his/her chair. Otherwise you will end up with a hair bleaching disaster of your own.

For your amusement: (This is not the stylist)

©Deirdre Haggerty, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It is unlawful to reproduce this article or any part therein without prior written permission and consent from the author. This post contains affiliate links, compensating Ask the Pro Stylist if you make a purchase via clicking on such.