| Note: Many people will tell you the only "safe" way to | | | | colors can be a bit of a process. |
| dye your hair is to go to a salon and have a | | | | If you have naturally light hair, you will be able to |
| professional do the job for you. If you're extremely | | | | achieve some of these colors without any |
| concerned about damaging your hair or somehow | | | | pre-processing, but the color will not last as long as it |
| messing it up, it is not recommended that you dye your | | | | does on bleached hair. Believe it or not, the damage of |
| own hair. That said, most people should be able to do | | | | the bleach actually helps the semi-permanent |
| the job themselves without much trouble. The advice in | | | | vegetable dyes stick to the hair better, though |
| this article is not from a professional hair stylist, it should | | | | regardless, they will wash out over time. The color will |
| also be noted. It's just from a girl who has been dyeing | | | | also be more vibrant on bleached hair. |
| her own hair every color under the sun for about 14 | | | | The four major unnatural dye color companies are |
| years now. | | | | Special Effects, Punky Colors, Manic Panic, and Raw |
| Dyeing your hair natural colors: | | | | Color. You can get myriad shades of red, blue, green, |
| Aside from Platinum blonde, this is the easiest thing to | | | | turquoise, purple, pink, yellow, and orange from each of |
| do. Most drug stores will have box after box of brown, | | | | them. As for which is better, it is entirely a matter of |
| black, blonde, and red hair dye in every shade | | | | personal preference. |
| imaginable. You can even get some slightly unnatural | | | | Once you have decided whether or not you want to |
| colors such as burgundy or blue-black. | | | | bleach your hair beforehand [follow the directions if |
| Natural hair dye comes in semi-permanent and | | | | you do!] it's time to go for the unnatural color. Applying |
| permanent colors. Semi-permanent dye is less likely to | | | | it is easy. The dyes are either a paste or cream that |
| damage your hair than permanent dye. Permanent | | | | you apply by hand to your hair. One very important |
| dye opens your hair follicles and actually changes the | | | | note: remember how I said semi-permanent dye stains |
| color of the hair, which is why it does not wash out. | | | | your hair? That means it also can stain your skin, |
| Semi-permanent simply stains your hair with a color | | | | clothes, towels, and anything porous it comes into |
| that slowly washes out over a period of anywhere | | | | contact with. Use caution. You can cover your hairline |
| from one to six weeks. If you want to end up with hair | | | | and ears with Vaseline before applying the |
| lighter than your natural color, semi-permanent hair dye | | | | semi-permanent dye, as it will create a barrier |
| will not work, as it stains, and does not change the | | | | between the dye and your skin. |
| actual color of the hair the way permanent dye does. | | | | Apply the dye. Now is a time to ignore the package |
| A note on black dye: | | | | directions. 15 minutes? Not going to cut it. Try 4-6 |
| Dyeing your hair black is a long-term commitment. | | | | hours. Or 10 hours, for that matter. These dyes are |
| While it is possible to strip black dye out, it can be a | | | | vegetable based and will be staining your hair, so |
| very difficult process that often damages your hair. Be | | | | they're not going to do damage. In fact, they will help to |
| sure you really want black hair before choosing black | | | | condition your hair after bleaching, as they coat the hair |
| dye... it's not as easy to walk away from as most | | | | with color and actually make hair look thicker and more |
| other shades. | | | | vibrant. The recommended 15 minutes isn't going to do |
| A note on blonde/bleach kits: | | | | anything, and I know this from experience. |
| Bleaching/blonding your hair can do significant damage. | | | | The most important thing to remember when dyeing |
| It is important to not let the bleach sit on your hair for | | | | your own hair is this: you know your own hair pretty |
| too long (certainly no longer than the box's directions), | | | | well. Does it seem damaged? Is it too dry? Can it |
| and to use a very good conditioner afterwards. | | | | withstand being dyed? If you're not sure... invest in |
| Dyeing your hair unnatural colors: | | | | some good conditioner and conditioning treatments and |
| Seeing as hair doesn't come in all that many colors | | | | re-assess after a week or two. Still in doubt? Consult |
| naturally, sometimes you get the urge to do something | | | | a professional and get his/her opinion. Otherwise? |
| different. There are no permanent bright red, blue, | | | | Have fun! |
| green, orange, or pink dyes, and to achieve these | | | | |