New Highlights

Hair color touch up
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Q: I've been getting my long hair highlighted for years by my friend who is a hairdresser. When she did touch-ups using the cap method, my hair always came out looking uniform and natural. Unfortunately, she moved away, so I had to find a new hair salon. The stylist at the new hair salon uses foils instead of a cap, and now my hair has become really uneven with different colors throughout because of all the regrowth. My hair is still in excellent condition, but I'm wondering if I can dye it back to a solid dark brown color and then start fresh with new highlights. What would you recommend?
 
A: It's puzzling that your new stylist is having difficulty achieving even color results with foil highlights, especially since the foil method typically offers more precision and control than cap highlighting. One of the main advantages of using foils is that they allow the colorist to isolate specific sections of hair with much greater accuracy, making it easier to place highlights exactly where they're needed and to maintain consistency during touch-up appointments.
 
The fact that you're experiencing uneven coloring and poor regrowth management suggests that there might be a few things going on. Your new stylist may not be sectioning your hair properly or might be inconsistent with product application and timing. It's also possible that she's not taking detailed notes about your previous highlight pattern or not using a systematic approach to recreate the same placement each time you visit. Some stylists rely heavily on their memory rather than keeping thorough records, which can lead to the kind of inconsistency you're experiencing.
 
Since you mention that your hair is in excellent condition, you're actually in a great position to make a fresh start. Going back to a uniform dark brown base color is definitely possible and would give you a clean slate to work with. This process involves using a darker dye to even out all the different tones in your hair and create one consistent foundation color.
 
Once you've achieved that uniform dark brown base, you'll need to wait at least two to four weeks before adding new highlights. This waiting period allows your hair to recover from the chemical processing and ensures that the new base color has fully settled. When you do move forward with new highlights, you'll have the opportunity to work with your hairdresser to create a highlighting pattern that's easier to maintain and touch up consistently.
 
I'd also suggest being more involved in the consultation process with any new stylist. Don't hesitate to ask detailed questions about their highlighting technique, how they plan to maintain consistency between appointments, and whether they keep detailed records of their work. A professional stylist should be able to explain their process clearly and should welcome your questions rather than dismissing them.
 
Remember that while your hair is currently in good condition, any chemical processing will have some impact, so it's important to maintain a good hair care routine throughout this transition. Using deep conditioning treatments and minimizing heat styling will help ensure the best possible results from your color correction and future highlighting services.
 
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See also:
 
How to color hair
 
Highlighting with foils
 
Highlighting with a cap