.
Let's get a few things out on the table here.
1. I haven't seen my natural hair color since I was 15.
2. I still HAVE hair left. (And it looks good!)
3. I don't pay anyone to dye my hair. I am cheap
In the last year, my hair has been dark brown, black, black and pink, dark red, light red, light brown...I may be leaving a few colors out. A lot of people are afraid to dye their hair, and I can understand that. Once you dye it, it can be sort of hard to get back to where you started.
If you aren't afraid to dye your hair, here are some tips for you:
1. The darker you go, the harder it is to strip it. This is not to say it can't be done. You can use Loreal Color Remover ($7.00 at Walmart) or buy bleach at the beauty supply stores. I use the color remover, because it isn't as harsh.
2. If you can cut back on your washing, it will preserve your new hair color. And when you do wash, pick a shampoo formulated for color treated hair. Don't forget to condition your ends!
3. Think of hair color like you do your clothes. Is there a color you won't wear because it washes you out? Same principle here. If dark colors tend to make you look pasty, maybe you don't want to dye your whole head jet black? eh?
4. Your dye came out a shade too dark? Ruh Roh! Get thee to a soapery! No seriously. Hop in the shower and use a bar of soap to lather up. It'll lighten it just a smidge.
If you're just totally unsure where to start, take a trip down to your local drugstore. Look at the boxes of hair color. They usually have guides on the side of the box giving you an approximation of what your color will be if you use that dye. I use those guides a lot! They aren't foolproof, but it works pretty well!
Dye Glossary:
Semi-Permanent - Washes out or fades after so many shampoos. If you're a blonde going darker, this could mean more washing.
Permanent - It's in there until it grows out or you bleach it!
Warm, Neutral, Cool - This principal is based on the fact that everyone falls into a certain spectrum of color. Check out this website for more information!
Henna - Natural dyes. Lucille Ball used to do a henna rinse to get that gorgeous red!
Highlights - Brightens up your hair with shades lighter than your natural or "natural"
Lowlights - Adds depth with shades slightly darker than your natural hair.
--------------------------------------
Hope some of this helped, ladies! Of course, if you get in a pickle...Please go to a salon instead of trying to fix it yourself! (Okay...I'm a hypocrite...I usually fix it myself. I always (ALWAYS) keep an extra box of dark brown dye in my bathroom! )
I love the pink! I've been wanting to dye part of my hair a fun color like that but I am too chicken!
ReplyDeleteMy stomach churned just thinking about dying my own hair. Sorry... not brave enough to color at all, much less to do it myself! I'll stick with what grows on its own!
ReplyDeleteAnd you shouldn't, Jennifer! You've got a lovely natural shade...Plus it would be the equivalent of the national debt to dye your long hair regularly! :P You could try a color gloss. It helps bring out your natural color and shine!
ReplyDeleteYou are tooo cute. BUTTTT i could kill you right now. Im about to be a cosmetology student graduate and ahhhhh i wont lie i used to box color all the time. I totally agree that getting your hair done is sooooo expensive. BUTTT if you know a stylist or have a beauty supply store that allows non licensed patrons, you can get professional color (depending on the brand about $5 a tube which contains two applications and a huge bottle of developer for about $7 which will give you about 15 applications) :o)
ReplyDelete