I never know what is OT in this group , so I added it just in case! I have colored my hair at home off and on for years.  My natural color is an oddly colorless dark blonde (I guess ash blonde is the closest).  I had grown it out to virgin status again, then lightened it about 9 months ago. I then didn't like that and darkened it back to as close as I could get to natural.  6 months go by and I realize that the previously lightened hair has re-lightened and I have dark roots again.  So, I applied a light brown semi-permanent hair color.  RED!!  Except, red only on the previously lightened and then darkened length, so now dark blonde roots and auburn ends.  Naturally   , I opted to correct myself at home with a permanent medium golden brown color, figuring that it would be darker than natural so to cover up the difference in shade, and golden to correct the red.  *cough*  DH kindly called the result kinda goth .  Let's just say that at least now I have a consistent hair color root to end...it's just dark auburn.  On someone else it would probably look great, but I'm a very pale blue-eyed person and this color just brings out the dark circles under my eyes and that's it. I'm tempted to go out and get an ash blonde permanent hair color kit and see if that works.  Honestly, I can't really afford professional color correction , and am too embarrassed to admit I did it to myself anyway.   I've also seen L'Oreal color remover at Walmart, so maybe try that and then a color over it? Any suggestions appreciated....anyone know how many times you can color hair consecutively?  I've done permanent color back to back before, but this would be semi-permanent, permanent and then permanent again in a few days. Ugh! Amy <

Get thee to a hair salon, girl!     I would be very leery about adding one color on top of another within days.  I would try to strip out the color you've put in.  I've never used the Loreal hair color remover but I know that my hair stylist has told me that you can use Palmolive dishwashing soap to strip unwanted color out of your hair. If you are successful at removing the color(s), I would then deep condition the hair.  Hair color can be pretty harsh to your hair.  I'd probably at least call some place like one of those chain hair salons

I'll echo what everyone else said - get a professional involved before you add another witch's brew of chemicals.  You may end up with even worse color, or damage your hair so much it just breaks off in clumps (been there done that, NOT an attractive look!) For future reference,   Ash will mute red coloring, Golden will intensify it.

Thanks all for sounding the voice of reason.    I made an appointment with my hair stylist tomorrow...actually not as expensive as I feared, with rates starting at $56 if it's not TOO bad.  I had started to get used to it, and even got several compliments on it, and then I saw myself in the rear view mirror in natural light.....EEK!!  Even if other people like it, I just don't look like myself.  I don't know what color I'll go to, I'll have to see what the stylist says.  Ideally I'd go back to an ash blonde so that I can go longer between colors (match the roots somewhat), but I can't imagine all this red will go away. Thanks guys for the reality check! Amy<