First wig purchased!

I’ve finally made the leap to buying a wig after months of feeling uncomfortable with my natural (or poor attempts at colourful) hair due to work restrictions. I’ve had dark reds, gingers and am sporting a faint pink tint over my brown but it won’t make up for the lovely emerald or turquoise greens I want. I’m sure most people don’t feel this attached to their hair colours but I’ve been thinking about it for such a long time that I figure it matters to me. So I have bought this
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I’m going to test it out for a weekend once it arrives to see how I cope with it for long periods and then, if all goes well try it out at work. The intention is, if it feels and looks ok, to get a real hair wig and wear that for work (or even several for some variety) and then do whatever I like to my own hair. I’d quite like dark forest green with a 2 inch cerise streak down one side of my fringe. I’ll show pics once it arrives and see what you lot think. :D

Back to black

So I am fairly limited to how I can have my hair because of my work, as avid readers will be well aware (much to my annoyance) and have been sporting a sort of faded out orange/ginger for the passed four weeks but it was starting to get very light and yellow streaks coming through due to the previous red washing out and the bleached underneath coming through. Faced with the option of putting on another 'amber' permanent dye and it not sticking very well then fading totally after two weeks, I made the drastic decision to go back to my natural black. I couldn't just have black though, where would be the fun in that? So opted to cut in a fringe and have that a dark red (It will fade out lighter and I'm hoping boss types dont bitch too much)
So upgrade? the black is only semi perm so can be removed pretty easily.
The back is Directions Ebony and the fringe is Directions Rubine 

Before                                                                                           After

The story of Red

This is  a little less of a how to and more of a diary of my hair over the last month, its had a bit of a trip!

It started the month being bright red, which I achieved by bleaching roughly three shades lighter than my dark brown/purple and covering with directions poppy red and rose red it came out looking like this.

It was fairly work acceptable and easy to maintain as it was more of a tint than a full colour but it didn't satisfy my need for colour enough I'm afraid and with the upkeep and pain of semi dyed hair (colour rubbing on my neck and pillows etc) it seemed silly not to go the whole hog!

So after a week of this, to get my boss used to it, I went a bit brighter.





I spent the next few days conditioning like mad, using this method of conditioning before bleaching again to strip all the brown out of my hair. Due to red being really pig headed it usually remains after a good bleaching which is great when trying to create a good base for it to stick to. I used the similar colours as above again mixed in three parts.

1 part Aussie 3 minute miracle conditioner
1 part Poppy red - Directions
1 part Coral red - Directions

and achieved this lovely bright colour

Please excuse the horrible picture.

I went for a more orange based colour by using the coral rather than the rose as I think it seemed more work ok than pinky toned hair.

By now, after the cut I had about 6 weeks ago my fringe has grown too long to wear down so I have it pinned up mostly until I get it cut again.
 




I had a few days off to go to a festival (Download if anyones interested) and wanted something a little more fun since I would have a full week of not having to try to play down my hair by tying it up or having headbands and clips in. So I added a little more poppy red and rose red to give a more intense colour at the back and I bleached the front as light a red as possible, this stuff really is impossible to budge!

I have to say that I secretely loved it!


So thats the story of my red hair month.

Why I have dyed hair.

Its often asked why having brightly coloured hair is so important to me, some people don't understand it the same way they don't understand piercings or wild clothing. I have a couple of theories why they might not, stemming mostly from experience and I try to see that point of view when speaking with anyone about my hair in this regard. I find there are three reasons people object, misunderstand or plain old don't like it.

Firstly, they think its a rebellion issue, I want to be different and shun the norm. I want to be seen as different or unique, and whilst I quite like being a little unique (lets face it, who aspires to be a clone?) that isn't the objective.

Secondly, this is normally followed by some reasoning of insecurity if they are of a little more IQ, they lead themselves to the conclusion that I am unhappy with myself and must put on a mask to cope with it. Its unthinkable that I feel like the brown hair I was born with could feel like a mask to me, like its not how i was meant to look.

And thirdly, its too fit in with the sub section of society I choose to spend my social time with, ie the alternative, rock crowd types.

These are all massively untrue. I'm quite creative by nature and my body and hair are the only canvas's I feel I have sometimes. Its my way of showing the world this is how I want to look, this is how I feel I should look and how i think I look the nicest. I genuinely thing I look pretty when I have brighter coloured hair, I am more comfortable and happy with it. At first I noticed the looks people gave me and the sneers too sometimes but now I don't notice at all. When you find a look that you think suits you and makes you happy in your own skin, it doesn't seem to matter what others think. There have been times that I have felt pretty in a 'normal' outfit, the sort you go out for dinner with your parents in, and my natural hair colour, but to me that feels like dressing up, putting on a show and not being myself. Fun for a short while, but I prefer being myself.

Its not a mask I put on, its the way I think I should look and look the best, Im showcasing my looks not hiding them which people often misunderstand. I'm also not trying to fit in, its more the case that I have found a place where I do fit in, not that I am trying to be like them. Going to rock clubs and being around others who are comfortable with being a little different, is the place I feel most comfortable myself. If it was more acceptable at work or in non alternative places then I would feel much happier there too.

For all those who still think anyone looks better with their natural hair colour than bright, take a look at these and tell me they don't look stunning.

 I guess this little rant is based on my frustration that by having my hair brighter than normal I am somehow disassociating myself with the rest of the world. If i have bright pink hair at work, this means I am unprofessional because by their standards I look rebellious, stuff what my standards are. In fear of upsetting the minimal section of society who has misguided opinions I am forced to be a clone and fit in with their ways, exactly what some accuse me of doing if I don't.

As a result I have to be uncomfortable, and unhappy with my appearance so I can be taken seriously at work or by some others (usually the older generations). By giving up part of who I feel I am, I am giving the nod to being one of the sheep and therefore acceptable. Even for those who don't particularly care how I look, there is still the stigma that me doing things to my hair outside the norm is some kind of flag carrying act of stick my finger up at the man. It saddens me and deep down makes me feel suffocated.

A little dramatic you say? maybe, but only to those who don't identify with this. I know many a person who has forgone this creative and inherent side of themselves for a pay packet and not to rock the boat. If there was a way to get people to see this, I would be all over it, but alas, some view will never change, so until they do it seems I must be the one to change.

Keeping dyed hair colour vibrant and strong

With the use of the semi permanent dyes a major problem that nearly everyone encounters is the fading effect. With some dyes this can be after a few weeks with a slight lessening in brightness whilst with others it can be as much as after one wash you look like you have had an accident with the toilet duck.

The Trick

Keep your colour looking as good as the day you dyed it by adding a small amount of your colour to a conditioner and using it as often or as little as you think necessary. 

For me, I use it maybe once every two to three weeks when I use red or pinks and every other wash when using blues or greens. The length of time you leave it on is, again, dependent on how much fading you have seen. I would always suggest at least 3-5 mins and the longer the better. Plus, it never hurts to leave conditioner on bleached or dyed hair




Before

I let my hair fade to a light pinky lavendar colour then used the conditioner with a mix of three parts conditioner and one part dye. 

After

This was after two conditions over three days
                                                                                                     

Reviews: Stargazer, Directions, Manic Panic

A lot of people ask which dye they should use and invariable I have to ask in return what type of colour they want to achieve. Each dye, from my experience has its own merit so i have put together a little chart for you to have a look at if you want a quick advice sheet for which to use.

	Stargazer	Manic Panic	Directions
Brightness	4/5 The reds, purples and greens have excellent brightness. Lighter colours don't soak in as well.	3.5/5 there is a tendency for them to be more toned rather than bold colours.	3/5 Only the deeper shades come out any where near strong. Very watery base feel.
Longevity	3.5/5 On bleached hair they last a good time but need to be redyed every 3-4 weeks for best results.	4/5 Last well, red tones especially. Difficult to bleach out sometimes and fade badly.	3/5 Wash out quickly and easily. Fade to nice colours though.
Running	4/5 Blues and reds will run for a day or two then be fine.	2/5 Never seems to stop running onto clothes and skin.	4.5/5 Not strong enough pigment to run too much.
Cost	£3.50-5	£8-10	£3-5
Value	4.5/5 Includes gloves and an applicator bottle.	3/5 good quality but expensive in comparison to others.	3/5 Cheap and cheerful for experimenting with.  Not for long term use.
Comments	Good all rounder, nice bottle and easy to use, good colour and good price but stay away from the light colours.	Excellent toner to get white but very pricey in comparison. The reds are difficult to remove and not as bright but good for long term use.	Good for people who change colour regularly but not good for the lighter colours like lilac or pale blue as they just don't cover enough.

So depending what you want I hope that helps! If you have any specific questions please feel free to drop me a line and follow away :)

How to remove dye from clothes and skin

The long suffering hair dyer will tell you there are few things more annoying that waking up at a friends house only to look back at your pillow and have to plan how you will get it to your house, wash it, dry it and get it back before anyone will notice. One of the problems with using the bright semi permanent dyes is there inability to cling to your hair yet easy grasp of clinging to every other object they come into contact with, which is why we must fight the good fight to keep our lovely locks lovely.

I personally have lost track of clothes I've had to throw out due to a slight red ring around the collar or times I've awoken to look like vampires have been at my neck all night so after years of scrubbing away and suffering for my hair I decided to do a bit of research into the best ways to prevent or cure this problem.

Firstly, I had to accept that with beauty comes pain and I would never fully eradicate all trace of dye but I can certainly find ways to make in manageable so where they are for you delectable bunch.

1- ALWAYS wash hair thoroughly after dying. This is the first defence we have against the rebellious dyes but the most important. Any residue left coating the hair will try to jump ship onto any destroyable surface at the first given opportunity. That clean bright white shirt you were going to wear to work tomorrow? Its a gonner if this isn't followed very strictly. A good rule of thumb is the rinse until the water runs clear then wash twice before conditioning. 

2 - Condition well, this will help smooth and seal the hair to keep colour where you want it, rather than on you new boyfriends chest after a snuggles. Not the best impression, I think you'll agree. Also, use cold water to rinse out the conditioner as it will help seal the follicles.

3 - Dandruff shampoo is excellent at removing stains from skin. Just apply a small amount to a babywipe or face cloth and rub in circular motions before adding water to rinse away the colour. It is quite strong so be careful if you have sensitive skin to make sure its all removed after. 

4 - Before bed apply a very thin layer of vaseline to your neck, ears or forehead, basically anywhere ther dye tends to run to. I use it on my neck and a bit down the top of my back. Don't cover yourself in it to the point of being uncomfortable, use the same amount as you would a moisturiser but don't rub in in the same way. Just rub it lightly over the skin and leave it, this will create a barrier and hopefully prevent any sticking. Should you find it does stick over night, a simple tissue will wipe it off in one go when you awake from slumberland and you will be good to go. 

5 - For permanent dyes, keep a small amount of the dye and rub that over the area stained with a tissue and it will lift the dye straight off your skin. Only use this with permanent dyes though as semi's will just see this as a way to further win their fight!. 

A few other things I've picked up over my years has been to take a pillow case discreetly with me if I stay at a friends or hotel just in case you ruin something or offend and scarfs are great at hiding those marks you inevitably get for the few days post dye. I have quite a collection now and they are easily washed so no harm done but at the flick of the wrist can be whipped off to reveal a stain free neck. 

Hope this has been helpful to you, please comment if you've got any other tried and tested methods that work for you. And as always please follow if you like my blogs, the more followers the more I post!

Locks x