'I smelled like a bacon sandwich': Trainee nurse is left with GREEN hair after using purple dye - and has to use a very unusual remedy to get rid of it

• e-mail

A trainee nurse was forced to smother her hair in ketchup after purple hair dye turned her blonde locks sludge green.

Mortified Carol Gray, 25, from Keith, Scotland, claims her hair took on an emerald hue two days after using Colour Freedom purple dye to tone down her brassy blonde highlights.

The mum-of-one bought the £4.65 'Indigo Night' non-permanent dye in Superdrug's Elgin store in north Scotland and used it the same night.

Scroll down for video 

Trainee nurse Carol Gray, 25, from Keith, Scotland prior to using Colour Freedom's Indigo Night dye to tone down her blonde highlights 

But when the first year nursing student washed her hair two days later, she claims her blonde highlights turned green - meaning she was forced to rub ketchup into her locks in a bid to alter the shade.

A spokesman for Colour Freedom, who manufacture the dye, said the product can turn hair green if it is applied to a darker base than light blonde.

Carol, who is mum to Lucas, three, said: 'I had done the strand test which was fine, then left it on for 15 minutes and washed it off, as the packaging instructed. It toned down the yellow beautifully.

'Then on Wednesday evening I washed my hair. Once it was dried I thought it looked odd. All my highlights were coloured green.

The mother-of-one said her hair took on an emerald hue two days after dyeing her locks 

'I was mortified. I actually had green hair and it was really noticeable.

'I tried scrubbing the green out as soon as I could. If I'd left it in any longer I think it would have turned pure green.

'Using purple dye is something I do a couple of times a month to keep it from getting brassy, and it's cheaper and better for your hair than getting it bleached lots.

'It's the first time I used this brand and it's safe to say I don't have much confidence in Colour Freedom now, and anyone thinking of using it I'd tell to prepare themselves.

Carol with her locks slathered in ketchup after taking advice from a hairdresser friend

'Green hair as a student nurse is a look I wouldn't even come close to considering.

'I've been advised against anything like that for working, so at least it has happened before I start my placement.'

After washing her hair, University of Stirling student Carol claims she scrubbed her locks forcefully but the green shade still remained.

A panicked phone call to a hairdresser friend revealed an alternative treatment - ketchup - which did tone down the shade but didn't remove it completely.

Carol has used a variety of dyes on her hair over the years, but this was the first time she had tried one by Colour Freedom 

And now Carol's green glow is the talk of her course, with friends and family constantly asking her if the colour change has been a bold statement for Halloween.

Carol said: 'At first I thought my friend was joking. So I was there with my head over the bath. 

'I was actually gagging with the smell. I just smelled like a bacon sandwich, it was disgusting.

People have been asking the trainee nurse if she's died her hair green in advance of Halloween 

'But it did get some of the green out. I'm still left with a green tinge now, though.

'I've had so many jokes and comments about it. Loads have people have asked whether I've dyed it that colour for Halloween.

'I've been dying my hair for the majority of my life, and I've tried different shades of brown and black, but I've never dyed it an odd colour like green.

Carol's hair straight after she used the purple hair dye. Initially she was pleased with the results after using the product to tone down her brassy blonde highlights 

'I can see the funny side of it now, but at the time I was mortified.'

A spokesman for Colour Freedom said: 'Colour-Freedom Indigo Night is a semi-permanent shade that can only deposit colour.

'Like all fashion shades on the market, it is designed for application on blonde and pre-lightened light blonde bases.

'If any blue fashion colour is applied to a darker orange base, the shade will look green - because the orange and blue molecule combine. 

Despite her efforts with the ketchup, Carol says there's still a slight tinge of green in her hair

'Indigo night is a predominately blue based purple. This is why it's crucial the base is light blonde to begin with.'

'Because Colour-Freedom shades can be more technical than traditional natural colours, we are always happy to advise and help.'

And a Superdrug spokesman said: 'We are sorry that Ms Gray is not happy with the result of her recent hair colouring.

'Unfortunately the dye used was designed for use on blonde hair which is why she had a different result than she expected.

'We advise all customers to read instructions of hair dye before use and also do a strand test, this will ensure they get the result they are looking for.

'We've asked Ms Gray to return the product to her local store and have offered a full refund.'