I Dyed My Hair And My Roots Are Too Light – What To Do
Hair coloring can take stylists years to master.
Hairstylists even train to become color specialists, ensuring you can achieve a gorgeous hue without compromising the hair’s integrity.
Dyeing your hair at home or alone could pose multiple challenges.
It’s challenging to predict a specific outcome when dyeing your hair at home, and the results may not turn out as planned.
There is a high chance your color won’t turn out even or vivid.
Some individuals have experienced their roots lightening after dyeing their hair.
Lighter roots that appear after dyeing your hair can indicate that something went wrong during the color process.
Coloring hair involves mixing various creams, solutions, and chemicals to achieve your desired look.
Color corrections are a lengthy and expensive service at a salon, often used to fix dye jobs gone wrong.
Because coloring the hair can be challenging, fixing any hair dye mishaps can take a toll on your strands if it’s not cared for properly.
So, what should you do if you dyed your hair and your roots are too light?
Roots that are too light can be corrected by using a toner, recoloring your hair, consulting your hairstylist, and other methods. There are also several ways to avoid roots that are too light in the future.
This scenario is often referred to as hot roots.
This can occur for multiple reasons, such as changes in the roots’ temperature or a variation in your hair color formula.
We’ll explain how they happen and how to prevent and fix them below.
What Are Hot Roots?
“Hot roots” is a term used by professional hairdressers and color specialists.
It refers to an unwanted band or halo effect at the roots after a coloring session.
Hot roots can appear extremely warm, red, or orange, which explains why they’re hot.
Hot roots may also appear lighter at the scalp, depending on your starting hair color and your desired finish.
Also, hot roots can occur no matter your hair color, but they can look hot and bright on blonde strands.
Our hair follicles can indicate how they will react to color, and the scalp’s temperature can also lead to hot roots.
Thankfully, hot roots can be easily prevented during your next color service.
Cosmo Dad on YouTube describes this phenomenon in more detail!
Why Do Hot Roots Appear?
Multiple factors can trigger hot roots.
It can be challenging to understand what has gone wrong during a dye job, especially if it’s done at home with little color knowledge.
You’ll need to understand the chemicals you’re working with and hair theory.
Seeking advice or help from a hairstylist can help alleviate anxiety because hot roots can be corrected with a color touch-up.
Color corrections can be challenging to perform at home, but it’s not impossible.
Hot roots can appear due to your scalp’s temperature or a color that doesn’t match your natural hair color. Always proceed with caution when dyeing your hair.
Applying Lightener All Over
Lighteners or bleach are potent tools that need to be applied with care.
Dyeing your hair lighter may increase the risk of hot roots appearing.
It can be challenging to lift hair multiple levels, and darker colors can experience warm and uneven tones.
Applying bleach can heavily impact whether you get hot roots.
Using lightener all over the strands, especially at the roots first, can cause some concern.
It can also be a significant risk if your hair is already previously colored.
Previously colored hair and virgin hair will react differently to bleach.
Additionally, applying lightener all over can create hot roots because the scalp emits heat, which can accelerate the lifting process.
Scalp Temperature
Surprisingly, your scalp is warm and can actually emit heat.
Do you ever wonder why hairstylists color the mid-shaft to the ends first?
This is because the scalp can emit heat, which can speed up the processing time of most color services and sometimes lead to hot roots.
Saving the roots for last ensures you achieve an even dye job.
Additionally, initially avoiding the roots can help preserve the health of your scalp.
Applying bleach or color directly to the scalp for an extended period can cause burns or irritation at the follicles.
So, it’s crucial to consider your scalp temperature before starting your color service.
Mismatched Color
Another common reason why hot roots can appear is incorrect color matching.
Most hairstylists will write down a specific hair color formula they’ve used on their clients, so they can always mix that exact hue for every color appointment.
Color matching can be tricky, so it’s crucial to triple-check that you’re using the same hair color as your previous session.
The wrong shade can heavily impact the outcome of your hair, and you may notice uneven tones around your roots.
It’s also beneficial to consider the various tones in your hair.
For example, your ends may be lighter than your roots, which can affect the hue you choose to apply.
How Can You Prevent Hot Roots?
You don’t need to be a complete hair expert to avoid hot roots.
You can prevent hot roots by adding a few helpful tips to your color process.
Also, conducting thorough research or a test strand will never hurt before you commit.
One of the most beneficial things you can do to avoid hot roots is to apply color to the midshaft and ends first.
Also, sticking to the same color or brand will ensure consistency with each hair-dyeing session you perform at home.
These tips, along with a few more, can help ensure a safe and even color application.
Start With The Strands
Apply your dye mixture to the midshaft and the ends first.
We’ve mentioned how important it is to consider your scalp’s temperature.
While most at-home tutorials show you how to slap on color to your head and drag it down, it may not be beneficial.
The scalp emits heat, which accelerates the coloring process and facilitates the cuticle’s absorption of the color.
However, the midshaft and ends don’t have this additional heat source and need more time to process than the scalp.
So, avoiding the roots first ensures your strands have adequate time to process.
Then, you can apply the dye mixture to the roots, revealing an even color application.
Use The Same Color
Write down your color or hair dye recipes just like the hair professionals!
Leaving the guesswork out of coloring will make each session a breeze.
Also, you know you’ll achieve the same outcome and hue as your previous hair dye service.
Sticking to the same color can help minimize the chances of hot roots appearing.
Also, conduct a test strand if you plan to switch up your hair color formula to see how the strands and roots will react to your new dye.
Apply Color Evenly
Investing in the proper coloring tools will simplify the application of color.
A color brush/bowl or a color applicator bottle will ensure you can achieve even full coverage after every dye job.
Uneven application can affect the scalp and roots.
This is incredibly significant for those who are going lighter or bleaching their hair.
Bleach is prone to leaving orange tones and unwanted bands.
An even color application will ensure your roots lift simultaneously and get the same hue.
An uneven application can result in hot roots or patches of warmth that won’t look flattering.
Lighten Only A Few Levels
It cannot be very safe to lighten your strands at home.
Bleach is potent and can cause severe damage to the hair and scalp if misused.
Also, bleach can leave unwanted orange, bright, or warm tones on the scalp after processing.
You can safely color your hair at home by only lightening a few levels.
Going one or two shades lighter than your current color won’t be as drastic as going platinum.
You’ll also have less of a chance for hot roots to appear.
Stick To The Same Brand
An underrated tip is to stick to the same brand of hair products.
For example, buy developer, color, and bleach from the same brand.
Mixing different brands can be a recipe for disaster because the reactions of these formulas are unknown.
Not every hair care brand uses the same developer, color, or bleach ingredients.
Sticking to the same brand ensures that all your products are compatible with one another.
Additionally, there will be a lower chance of mishaps or hot spots occurring.
How To Fix Hot Roots
What can you do when you’re already struggling with hot roots?
Hot roots can often catch us by surprise, even when we believe we’ve taken all the necessary precautions.
So, how can you fix this hot mess hair mishap?
Thankfully, there is no need to panic just yet.
However, if you don’t feel comfortable fixing your damaged roots at home, it’s wise to seek professional help from a color specialist.
They’ll be able to treat your hot roots without ruining your hair’s integrity.
You can incorporate a few tips at home to try to remedy hot roots.
You can test these tips on a small section of hair to ensure you can effectively address this hair concern.
Toner
You may benefit from using a toner (like this one from Wella) if you’re blonde or planning to dye your hair lighter.
Toners are beautiful tools that can help eliminate any unwanted hues from your strands.
Additionally, applying one to hot roots may help neutralize any warmth.
Toners are often used on blonde hair to keep the strands cool or neutral.
Some popular toner colors include blue and purple.
Purple can help if the roots are brighter yellow, and blue can be beneficial if there are more orange undertones.
A toner can temporarily diffuse the drastic effect of hot roots until you decide on a more permanent solution.
Re-Color
Recoloring your hair may be a viable option if your hair is in good standing.
However, depending on your hair’s characteristics and the heat-damaged roots, you may need to wait before applying another color.
Over-coloring can lead to more damage.
Try performing a test strand to gauge how well your new color will look for those who’ve decided to recolor their hair.
It will also preserve the integrity of your hair. Finally, ensure you choose the correct color to match the root to the ends.
Opt For A Darker Root
The roots are naturally darker than the ends.
So, if you have hot roots, it can look quite drastic and unnatural.
It can be beneficial to keep the roots slightly darker than your overall color to achieve a natural and cohesive look.
Additionally, you can create a lived-in, barely-there color that appears to have natural dimension, like your hair.
A darker root will pose less risk if you’re worried about hot roots appearing.
You can create a gradient or blend between the root and midshaft.
Use Low Volume Developer
Another tip that can help if you plan to recolor your hair is using a low-volume developer.
Developers are cream and oxidants that aid in developing hair dye.
One of its primary components is hydrogen peroxide.
A developer helps lift or lighten your hair so your new color can penetrate the cuticle.
Popular developers include 10, 20, 30, and 40 vol.
The number indicates the amount of lift you’ll have. So, 10 vol will lift your hair one level.
Opting for a low-level developer, such as 10 or 20, will help minimize the chance of hot roots appearing again.
Does the Scalp Last
Finally, always color the scalp last.
The scalp requires less time to develop than the strands.
Applying color to the scalp can result in hot roots due to the fast processing time, which explains why the origins may appear warmer, brighter, or lighter.
Starting with the midshaft and ends will drastically reduce the chance of hot roots appearing.
Additionally, creating clean sections and applying color evenly will ensure that the hair develops evenly.
How Long Should You Wait To Fix Hot Roots?
How long you wait to fix your hot roots depends on multiple factors.
First, your hair must be healthy enough to withstand another color or lightening application.
If the strands are too fragile, they can break or snap.
Also, what color service will you be performing?
For example, a bleach service may take weeks or months to recover fully.
However, you may only need to wait a few weeks if you plan on going darker.
Finally, if you plan on fixing hot roots with a toner, you may apply it a day or two after your initial color to eliminate unwanted tones.
Consult A Color Specialist
Consult a hair professional or color specialist if you ever feel overwhelmed or intimidated by trying to fix your hot roots.
Dyeing your hair can be a serious process, and not everyone has the tools or knowledge to correct it at home.
A hairstylist can analyze your hair and see what is needed to color correct it without further damaging its integrity.
They can also safely help you reach your hair goals.
Takeaway
Hot roots aren’t as scary as they sound.
They often occur due to a rogue color service or our scalp’s temperature.
Therefore, apply dye first to the midshaft and ensure that you’ve correctly matched your hair color.
Hot roots can be prevented by using the same hair brand, color-matching, and applying color to the scalp last.
You can fix hot roots by toning or recoloring if your hair is in good standing.
You can always perform a test strand or seek help from a hairstylist if you feel unsure during this color journey.
This will ensure the safety and integrity of your hair. A stylist can also tailor an at-home hair care routine to fit your hair’s characteristics.
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