Yellowish/Pink Hair Color Correction

Yellowish hair
Photo: Ushama/Shutterstock
Q: Hi, I have a hair question. Last year around this time, I was fully blonde, but around Christmas, I dyed it a darkish brown. Last night, I decided to go back to blonde, so I used a box of Clairol Born Blonde. Now, my roots and most of my hair have a yellowish tint, and the ends are pretty pink.
 
I live on an island with no beauty supply stores and only one salon, but it’s crazy expensive, and they completely ruined my hair last time, so I’d rather avoid them. What do you suggest? The only store we have here is Walmart, and I’m not sure what to try next. My hair is this weird mix of pink and yellow, and I’m really upset about it.
 
A: I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. It’s frustrating when hair color doesn’t turn out the way you hoped. Based on what you’ve described, the issue is likely a reaction between the dark brown dye you had before and the lightening agents in the Born Blonde kit. Dark dye leaves behind underlying pigments (red/orange tones), and when you lighten over them, they can turn brassy or even pinkish, especially on previously colored ends.
 
Honestly, your best and safest option is to see a professional colorist. I know you mentioned the salon on your island isn’t ideal, but correcting this at home could risk further damage, especially if your hair is already processed. If possible, consider traveling to the nearest reputable salon. I might be worth the trip to avoid making the situation worse.
 
If you absolutely can’t see a professional and want to try fixing it yourself, I’ll be upfront: Walmart’s selection is limited, and you might not find the exact products needed for a full correction. However, if your hair still feels healthy (not overly dry or brittle), you could attempt a second Born Blonde application - but with caution. Focus the lightener on the pink ends first, since they need the most processing, then work upward toward the roots near the end of the development time. This helps prevent over-lightening your roots, which process faster.
 
Another temporary fix (not ideal, but better than pink/yellow hair) would be to use a semi-permanent dye slightly darker than your current color to neutralize the tones. For example, a light ash brown might help cancel out the pink and yellow until you can get professional help.
 
One crucial thing to remember: hair color builds upon itself. Every dye job - especially dark shades - leaves behind pigments that can affect future coloring. That’s why lifting dark brown to blonde often requires multiple steps (and sometimes professional toners) to avoid brassy or uneven results. In the future, if you’re transitioning from dark to light again, consider a gradual lightening process or a color remover first to minimize surprises.
 
I hope this helps, and I really encourage you to seek a pro if at all possible. Your hair will thank you!
 
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See also:
 
Hair coloring and color formulas
 
Signs of damaged hair
 
What the numbers on the hair color boxes mean