At the end of my senior year in high school, I decided I wanted to change my hair. I was tired of it because it was the same length, haircut, and color for my whole life—shoulder length brown hair with layers. So change came in the form of dyeing my hair. It started last July with just dyed blue ends (I wanted to try out the color before committing to it). Then, I did the whole head purple and cut it into a chic bob. Since then, I have been changing colors and trying everything from teal to lavender. It’s definitely something I do not regret what so ever.
With dyed hair, there is a certain amount of upkeep that must be maintained. Since I needed to bleach my hair in order to make it purple, I would have to deal with the constant growth of my roots and doing retouches. I would have to reapply the color monthly to make sure my hair looked vibrant. As someone who decided to DIY it, I needed to make sure I knew what I was doing and that I wouldn’t mess up my hair. But, honestly, it is completely worth it. So here are some tips you made need if you decide to dye your hair.
Adding conditioners and oils to your bleach.
Bleach is harmful to your hair. That’s just a fact. It’s stripping your hair of its natural color leaving it dry and brittle, so it’s important that you add a little something extra to your bleach to reduce the harmful effects as much as possible.
DEEP CONDITION!!
I cannot stress this enough. After you bleach your hair, it’s not cute. I’m going to be honest. To make up for that you need to take care of your hair and give it everything it needs, including conditioner.
Avoid dyes with peroxides.
I know it might be hard especially for more basic colors, but try to avoid dyes with peroxides. The dyes I use are the Adore brands because they have all the crazy shades and no peroxides.
Use shampoo for color-treated hair.
Find shampoos that is safe for color-treated hair. Stay away from dandruff shampoos because those wash out the dye faster. You want to maintain the vibrancy of your hair for as long as possible because you don’t want to constantly retouch.
I DIYed it but you don’t have to.
I dyed my own hair because I honestly was scared that someone would mess it up. Also getting it done is quite pricey. Even though, I did DIY it I did my research to make sure I knew everything I needed to do. But also, don’t be afraid to go to a salon and get it done. Just make sure you have pictures and a good idea of what you want first.
Realize that your hair will not be the same.
One of the most important because there is often a complaint about how your hair changes after being bleached, which is true, but the reality is it’s going to change. Just like how your hair will change with heat, it will change with bleach. I know my hair isn’t like what it used to be, but I also know it’s the closest it can get. Even though my hair is bleached, I still have healthy hair that grows far more than it used to.
Don’t be afraid.
I know that all my previous tips makes dyeing your hair seem daunting, but it’s worth it!
Whether you simply want to go one shade lighter or make it a crazy new color, I encourage you to go for it.
Do it for yourself! Take the risk! As long as you keep your hair healthy, there should be no problems. If you’re still haven’t convinced you, then take a look at these gorgeous Black women rocking their dyed hair in all shades.
