UGH MY HAIR

[breakinglight11]

I am in a dilemma about my hair. It's super terrible right now, way too long and flat and shapeless. I tried switching up my shampoo and conditioner, but it didn't make much difference. That means that the only alternative is to get it cut. It's waaaaaaaay overdue, I know, but I've also been putting it off. At first it was because I didn't want to spend the money, which isn't a super-big problem right now, but now I think I've screwed up the timing.

I want to try dyeing my hair for my Halloween costume this year. I've never done anything like that before, and I want to try changing my hair at least once in my life-- another thing I haven't much ever really done. Growing out my horrible childhood bangs, cutting it down to mid-back-length, and putting in long layers don't really count. So I'm going blonde for my Halloween costume.

It's a pretty drastic change, and I'd love to get it professionally done so it doesn't come out like garbage, but it would cost a fortune, so I'm braving the risk of doing it myself. I'm terrified I'll hate it-- God knows I can't STAND not liking how I look. I might also end up looking exactly like my mother and it will weird me out. But it's just hair. Can always cut it off, dye it back to brown, or let it grow back. It certainly doesn't take that long for me, clearly.

But I hear it's generally healthiest for your hair to get it cut right after you dye it. I don't know if it's a good idea to get it cut in early October when I'm going to need to get it cut again in late October. Paying for it twice-- my stylist is expensive --also doesn't sound good. Hmm. I'll have to figure it out. As mentioned before, I really really dislike when I'm not pleased with my appearance.

Comments

[redfishie.livejournal.com]

So if the questions / advice isn't wanted please disregard the things below?


If you do it yourself, are you going cool or warm blonde or something more neutral ? Going with a shade in the same warmth or coolness family as your own is probably a good idea.

How blonde ? If it's more than a few shades lighter I'd recommend going to a professional. If you can get a friend to help with application so it's even, that's also a plus.

I think if you get it cut you'll feel better about it overall. You might also think about doing all over highlights depending on what you are going for. Or doing a two tone dye to maintain depth of color (lightening hair often strips it of color variation and depth)

Edit to add - I sympathize when I feel off about my own hair everything else feels off. A good cut is really a wonderful thing.

[youareverysmall.livejournal.com]

Any chance you'll be visiting your dad soon? If so, I just got my hair dyed silver-blonde at Eskandalo in Bethlehem; took 2.5 hours, 4 processes (2 times bleaching, one toner to get the gold out, one toner to put in the silver), and it was only $90. Certainly not cheap, but I love how it looks and I never would've been able to do it myself-bleaching is an art! And it was a lot less pricey than my NY salon would've been. Just a thought!

[hazliya.livejournal.com]

Are there any styling schools in your area? I've gotten some great dye jobs/cuts for deep discounts because they were student-done!

Also, if you're going to do the bleach-then-toner-then-color route, I'd like to point you to the existence of 'ColorOops' - it takes out the color, even permanent ones, in hair really well. =)

Good luck - I look forward to pictures!

[redfishie.livejournal.com]

Color oops is awesome stuff, which will fix poor tone on lightened hair but not the lightening itself. It's a great reset tool.

[offside7.livejournal.com]

Just what I was going to suggest -- there's a Blaine Beauty School I think on Moody Street that I used to go to for trims. If you're too nervous to let them do the more important steps of this, maybe just go there for the least important step or two, to cut the cost.

[(Anonymous)]

Color tone is so important. It makes the world of difference.
Try on wigs to test the waters.