We know we sound like a broken record, but DIY hair color is a risky proposition. It seems simple when you read the package, but in real life people leave chemicals on for too long, pick the wrong color or mix processes that should always, always be separate, like bleach over henna'd hair.

If it's at all possible, we recommend -- STRONGLY, yes, we're yelling -- that you go to a pro to get your hair dyed. This goes double if you make a mistake coloring your hair yourself. Do not try to fix it at home, get help!

We practice what we preach and see our colorist regularly. In fact, it was under the dryer at our hair salon last week that we read about the latest home craziness: Color Oops Home Color Remover.

Perhaps it was fumes from the color developer, but we got dizzy and had to take several deep breaths to recover our equanimity. This is even worse than Sun-In! Especially because it's the people who screwed up their hair with Sun-In who are going to try to fix it with this garbage.

Supposedly this product "takes you back to your natural hair color" even if you use "permanent" hair dye. People: this is impossible. Impossible!

If you used a product with bleach or anything that lightens your hair, it's never going back to the original color. Your only option is to grow it out. Slowly, agonizingly, let nature repair what you ruined.

While you wait for your locks to return to their former luster, try to internalize the lesson we're always preaching, that people who do their own color tend to make painful mistakes. Then pick up the phone and make an appointment with a trained professional.