Original Content from Abigail Asrina Thread MY
There will be times when you find yourself dreaming of luscious rainbow locks, ombre hair with the perfect gradient, striking highlights or pastel mermaid hair. Whatever it is, colourful dyed hair has become a major form of self-expression among youths, as evidently shown on Instagram and Tumblr. If you have never dyed your hair before, you might feel excited and nervous. But don’t worry, here are the things recommended that you need to know when getting ready behind-the-scenes to achieve your desired mermaid tresses:
1. Get it professionally done at a saloon
Dyeing virgin hair is a delicate task reserved for the professionals. You definitely do not want to end up getting stuck with a mistake. So unless you have done a thorough research to be sure that you want to do this on your own, it is recommended to go to the experts. Besides, hairstylists at the saloons will be more than happy to give you an advice or two about your hair. Once you have the experience, you will feel more confident dyeing your own hair at home the next time around.
2. Bleaching and perming cannot be done on the same day
Before dyeing a certain colour, you may need to bleach your hair. Bleaching is a chemical process that removes pigment from your hair through oxidation which can be damaging to your hair. That is not to say that you shouldn’t get it done at all, as this treatment can result in gorgeous locks if done correctly. For those with very dark hair, you may need to bleach several times (though not all on the same day) in order to lift your hair colour to the desired blonde shade. Very bleached hair often gains a yellowish tint, because keratin (the protein your hair is made of) is naturally a pale yellow. First time bleached dark hair will appear orange.
Perming also requires a chemical process, so most of the time, hairstylists will advise you against getting both your hair bleached and permed on the same day itself. Normally you would have to wait for a minimum of two weeks after bleaching to get your hair strong enough for the perming session. So now that you know, be sure to check your schedule and make sure you have enough time to get your hair done before any events.
3. Bleaching affects your hair dye colour…but that can easily be fixed
As mentioned earlier, if you have dark hair and had it bleached — chances are your hair will gain a yellowish tint, or even orange. So if you are planning to dye it a certain colour, you need to remember that having a yellow tint will affect the resulting colour. This is based on the basic colour theory, choice of colour + yellow = resulting colour. For example, if you want to dye your hair blue, having a yellowish tinted hair will result in a bluish-green colour. If you want to fix this, you need to get yourself a hair tint product (it works just like a hair dye, but usually comes in purple tint to cancel out the yellow). Using this hair tint will significantly improve your desired hair colour. Hair tint is also useful if you are aiming for platinum blonde, as it results in a silverish look.
4. Blue, green and grey colour hair dyes are not as long-lasting
We know! Sad, isn’t it? But don’t let that stop you from getting the turqoise hair colour you’ve always wanted. It is just that blue/green/grey hair colour particles are large, so your hair will not be able to absorb the dye for long as compared to other colours. These colours naturally fade within a month or so.
5. Red, orange and brown last much longer
On the other hand, these hair colours are sure to be longer-lasting. This is because their colour particles are smaller, and easily absorbed by our hair. These colours can last for more than a month and more, depending on how you take care of it.
6. Coloured highlights look equally cool
If you don’t feel like bleaching your entire head, then that’s fine. You can still opt to bleach your ends instead, or selected strands of your hair and dye those parts. The result? You look like a character straight out of the X-Men comics. Seriously, dope. Let your creativity run wild by mixing it up with ombre looks, or multi-coloured locks.
7. Colour with caution at home
If you are tight on budget, or for whatever reason — still insist on colouring your hair at home, then proceed carefully. Research thoroughly on hair products and the required hair set to dye-it-yourself. Look for colour treatment hair dyes or vegan hair dyes, as those are more gentle on your hair than drugstore box dyes. The easiest way to apply color to your hair on your own is with a dye brush, a bowl to mix the product, and some latex gloves for your hands. Put on an old t-shirt as DIY home application can get messy. To avoid staining the sides of your face or skin, apply vaseline cream over the area first. This makes it easier for you to clean up any stains after dyeing your hair.
8. Lastly, remember to care for your hair
No matter what the colour you choose, aftercare is very important. Colour-treatment shampoos and nourishing hair masks will help your hair look and feel better while keeping your colour looking as fresh as possible. Avoid swimming in public pools as the water contains chlorine which can damage your bleached hair. In addition, wear hats or protect yourself from the sun to avoid your colour from looking dull.
Sounds like a lot of work, right? But what is beauty without a little bit of sacrifice? Dyeing your hair requires both time and money commitment, but it goes a long way in improving your appearance. So have you decided to dye your hair after all? Share your experience and comments with me in the section below!
