Red Panda Color Correction

This client reached out to me via instagram, they said they found me on the explore page. They had gone to a high end salon with apprentices who "go through years of training before taking models in our classes." They sent photos of what they had, some inspo photos, mentioned wanting immediate help.

They had red ghost roots and racoon stripes in the face framing area. They wanted bubble gum pink ghost roots and racoon stripes more back toward the center of their head.

I quoted them $500 for a day rate, whatever I could do in 8 hours. I promised a malibu color removing service, k18 mist and mask, followed by any bleach/color processes after. When asked how much it would be without the k18 and color I let them know I wouldn't do it for any less, as my color correction rate is $100/hr, I wouldn't compromise hair without k18, and I was sure it would take more than 5 hours. They understood and we scheduled for 2 days out.

In the salon I started right away with 3 undo goo shampoos then color disruptor and cpr for 45 minutes, in a hair net and under heat. The color barely budged MAYBE a level lighter. Of course, THEN they told me the apprentice had used a permanent color for the red after worrying the pink wouldn't take lol.

We dried them off, sprayed k18 mist on slightly damp hair, and mixed up 2 bowls. 1st Blondor9 and 20vol 1:1.5 for the roots, 2nd Blondor9, 20vol, and conditioner(momo by daviness) 1:1:1 for the red/previous color to remove in the ghost root zone. Online says use shampoo not conditioner, but I did conditioner to be safe on purpose.

I started in the back, did the nape section first: bleach wash, then the roots, in horizontal sections. Then the top half of the back section, bleach wash then roots. I covered the back with plastic. Then the right side vertical sections going back, wrapped in plastic. Same on the left. We let that process until the roots were ready. Shampooed the back, then the sides, as ready.

Then we dried the hair, k18'd the tails, and I went in using 2 bowls again: 1st Blodnor9:20vol 1:1 for the bleached parts of the tails, 2nd CT 6/0:7/0:6vol 1:1:4 (1oz:1oz:4oz) for the natural color of the tails. Painted onto foils, wrapped in plastic, and rinsed when the bleach seemed as ready as can be.

I towel dried and mixed up 2 bowls: 1st the root, 9V, 9P, 9N(1:1:1) to equal parts gloss to gel. I would have ditched the 9V if I could do it over. 2nd the mids of the ghost root: since there was pink left I wc anted to neutralize the canvas to be as solid as possible. I used 10T and 10N with processing solution. I would have added some warmth to the formulas if I could also go back again. However it gave us the above picture which was still a great feat.

We called it a day after 8 hours, and they came back the next day to do the color which took another 2 hours to apply, shampoo, and blowdry. In the future, I would give them my day rate and mean it. The color the next day should have been charged as a tint. Hence why these things take time. They are expensive. Someone can choose to do it in parts, or all at once if they can afford it. I asked if they felt it was worth it and she said yes!

All in all, I did too!!