So that fabulous hair color Jessica Alba showed off on the red carpet didn’t quite work out so well for you. That’s OK. It happens. The good news is, you don’t have to live as a strawberry blond/chestnut brunette/fiery redhead for the rest of your life.

Undoing the Deed

The first thing you must do is to take stock of the condition of your hair. If your locks are dry or brittle, apply a deep conditioner the day before you’re ready to change the color to rehydrate them. Adding chemicals to already damaged hair will traumatize you more than looking at those highlights everyday.
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Next, decide whether you want to simply darken the highlights or get rid of them completely. To darken, choose a warm, semi-permanent color that’s a shade or two lighter than how you want them to be. (If you go with a cool color, you’re guaranteed to end up looking like The Grinch – cool colors turn bleached hair green.) Semi-permanent coloring contains no ammonia or peroxide, so, while it won’t damage or lighten your hair, it also won’t last beyond more than twelve washes. Another option is demi-permanent coloring, which contains a small amount of peroxide and lasts about twice as long as the semi-permanent coloring.

Looking for a More Permanent Arrangement?

If you opt to get rid of the highlights completely, choose a permanent color (light or dark) and work it throughout your hair. Leave the product in for no more than 10 minutes, then apply a color sealer (usually comes in the home kit). Because permanent coloring contains ammonia and peroxide, the combination will strip the hair of pigmentation while replacing it with another shade. If the outcome isn’t exactly what you were hoping for, you’ll have to either let the color grow out or start all over. The most that will happen is the color will fade. You sure you don’t like it? Just deep condition before you try again.

Well, It Works for Michael Jordan…

Here’s something to keep in mind: There’s only but so much your hair can take, and over time that permanent coloring can negatively affect the health and texture of your tresses. If you know you’re fickle and sway towards trends, think twice before you go from Pamela Anderson blonde to Lindsay Lohan red to Megan Fox black, all in the same month. Unless, of course, Sinead O’Connor is next on the list.