Okay, so here we go again. Every other day, someone walks in clutching a phone, thumb hovering over a “hair inspo” photo that’s so filtered I can’t even guess what planet it’s from. Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok—pick your poison. These pics are always lit like an alien abduction and, surprise, the real world has fluorescent lights and actual undertones. Not magic. Still, people expect me to conjure up some icy blonde or pastel shade that only exists in a parallel universe. Why do folks keep doing this? It’s not just me—ask around, every stylist is tired of gently explaining that phone filters and salon reality don’t match. You’d think after the hundredth letdown, we’d all just agree to use natural light for color analysis, but nope, here we are. (Source, if you care.)

And, oh man, the prep disasters. People show up with hair that’s basically a science experiment: old product, mystery “temporary” color, maybe a little dry shampoo cementing everything together. Last month, someone tried to fix a bleach fail with olive oil. Didn’t work—her ends still snapped off like dry spaghetti. Why do people trust TikTok hacks over actual prep? I’ll never get it. Moisturize, clean your hair, skip the weird overnight concoctions. Just… do this.

And the color corrections? Nightmare fuel. I’ve seen green hair, patchy orange, banding that looks like a Neapolitan ice cream. All because someone believed a box dye and a YouTube tutorial could undo months of bad decisions. The science behind fixing this stuff is dull, slow, and depends on the color wheel. Not exactly TikTok-worthy, but that’s reality. (Actual color science here, if you’re bored.)

Why Clients Make Common Color Mistakes

Sometimes I wonder if people collect color correction horror stories like baseball cards. Seriously, the tiniest misstep—skipping a real conversation, guessing at undertones, ignoring basic science—ends up costing more than just getting a professional touch-up. And can we stop pretending a six-week-old Pinterest blonde is a “plan”? It’s not.

Lack of Consultation

Salon chairs aren’t psychic. But you’d never know it from the way people show up: four random screenshots (lighting all over the place), no mention of what’s already on their hair, and definitely zero info about allergies or last week’s product dump. You know how many times stylists say color corrections go sideways because nobody’s honest up front? All the time. (Here’s a pro admitting it.)

If you hear a stylist sigh, odds are someone just dropped an “I want something different” bomb with no details. You wouldn’t let a tailor hem your pants without talking inseams, right? So why do people skip the basics here? Consultation isn’t extra. It’s the bare minimum.

Misunderstanding Color Theory

This one’s almost funny if it wasn’t so painful. “Ash covers orange, right?”—as if the color wheel is just a rumor. There’s actual math, undertone charts, pH levels, all that. But most people treat color theory like a meme. I had a client panic when her warm toner faded to yellow after two washes. She thought purple shampoo was the answer to everything. Spoiler: it’s not. If you start mixing up complementary colors without knowing what you’re doing, you get mud. Not magic.

And the “just bleach it lighter” crowd? Please. That’s how you get fried hair and weird stripes. If people spent five minutes learning about levels, tones, and how developer strength changes everything, maybe I’d get fewer emergencies.

Ignoring Personal Color Analysis

Trend chasers—gotta love ’em. Icy platinum, cinnamon brunette, washed-out pastel, whatever’s on TikTok. Never mind if it actually works with their face. Personal color analysis is a thing for a reason, but nope, it’s all about the filtered photo. “Cool” and “warm” aren’t just moods, they’re actual undertones. I’ll ask if anyone’s done a real color analysis—blank stares, every time. If your skin is olive or golden, some shades pop, others just drain you. Instagram doesn’t cover that. If people just tried personal analysis, maybe I’d have fewer messes to fix. But hey, then what would I complain about?

Mismatched Hair Color for Seasonal Changes

So here’s another one—clients stuck in last season’s shades. It’s July, but they want winter hair. Why? No clue. Skipping shade updates, obsessing over undertones, or just ignoring seasonal color analysis keeps things weird.

Overlooking Seasonal Color Trends

I’m honestly at my limit when spring hits and everyone’s still clinging to dark, moody winter colors. Seasonal color analysis isn’t new—it’s been around since the ’80s. Skin, eyes, hair, they all shift with the light. But try telling that to someone who wants chocolate brown in July. (Stylists agree, if you need proof.)

My skin gets weird in allergy season, humidity wrecks everything, but those heavy shades just keep coming. Nobody wears a wool sweater to the beach, right? Why do it with hair? Sometimes I have to literally show people side-by-side palettes for each season before they get it.

Choosing the Wrong Shade for Summer

Picture me, waving swatches like a mad person, while someone insists on ash brown for “sophistication.” Light changes in summer. Skin tone shifts. That cozy winter color just looks flat. I try to explain (again—here’s a link), but sometimes it’s like yelling into the void. UV rays fade color, turn caramel into brass, and no, toner won’t fix it if you picked the wrong shade to start. My neighbor’s niece went platinum with a fake tan and, wow, total fail. Stick with honey, sandy blond, light auburn—stuff that plays nice with your skin and summer wardrobe.

Ignoring Warm vs. Cool Undertones

I swear, “warm” and “cool” undertones are like abstract art to most people. Is olive warm? Maybe? Depends? I repeat myself a lot: matching your undertone to your hair color is not “extra,” it’s the whole point. Ignore it, and you’ll look like you’re wearing mismatched socks. Or worse, like you haven’t seen sunlight in six months.

One stylist in LA taught me to check undertones against fabric swatches in daylight, then do it again outside. Artificial light lies. But people skip this, chase influencer looks, then wonder why cinnamon brown looks cheap. If you burn, try icy blonde or espresso; if you tan, go honey or chestnut. Even then, humidity can blow up your plan. Sometimes, there’s just no winning.

Meanwhile, avocado toast is still overpriced, but at least figuring out undertones is free. (Sort of.)