Haven't been on the forums for a while but I'm so upset about my latest hairdressing 'experience' that I thought I'd add my comments and ask for advice!

I had to change hairdressers a year or so ago as my hairdresser left the area, I've tried a couple of Toni & Guy salons and while one was quite good, I really couldn't afford to keep going there as I need a colour touch-up every 6 weeks and they do a very hard sell to have hilites every other time, which took the price to Ł140!

So I decided to try a local independent salon, which was half the price. My hair is short and layered, but I'd like to grow it a bit, however, she cut more off than I expected, said it was because my previous hairdresser had 'made a mess of it'. I didn't think that was true, but I let it go as it didn't look too bad, just shorter than I wanted. I had a colour and half head hilites, the colour was OK but the hilites stopped at the end of the first layer, half way down my head, so I effectively had two-tone hair, and as my hair is quite dark brown I thought it looked odd, and my husband hated it. I asked if she could just blend a few hilites into the bottom half of the hair to break up the colour (as Toni & Guy did successfully) but she said it was too short and I'd end up with 'tiger stripes'. I don't understand this but she was quite adamant about it. Can anyone explain this to me please??

Anyway, unwisely as it turned out, I went back this week, 6 weeks later, for a colour touch-up and another trim, and again it's much too short, but this has to be the worst cut I've ever had. It just looks like someone has attacked my hair with a pair of shears, the layers are uneven, don't blend in at all and are so short. The hilites now look so unnatural I'm thinking about buying a hair colour and getting rid of them, but I've never used a home colour before so I'm quite nervous! Is it OK to colour again soon after it's been done? How do I choose the right colour?

Needless to say I'm now on the hunt for a new hairdresser (Kingston-on-Thames area, any suggestions that won't break the bank?). Perhaps if I can perfect the home colour I can just spend the money on a good cut. Don't fancy doing hilites at home, but I suppose I can live without them!