How to Get Funky Hair

Previously, I have attempted to transform my average hair into something more on the wild side. Usually this involved a disastrous encounter with a pair of kitchen scissors followed by wearing a hat for a couple of weeks. However, I eventually stumbled upon the idea to dye my hair an eye-catching color to overpower my self-inflicted haircuts. After several attempts, some disastrous, I managed to get the result I wanted.

A word of caution: I am not a professional hair stylist and my advice is not to be taken as a guaranteed result. Everyone has different hair, and dye will work in different ways on different people, so this may not be the guide for you. Also, be prepared for possible failure, because it's incredibly hard to get everything right the first time.

Recommendations

• DO NOT attempt to dye without previous experience. If you really have your heart set on dying please make sure to try temporary dyes before using anything permanent or consult a professional.
• Have someone with you because they can help you and keep you entertained during any wait periods
• Make sure to go over any regulations at your school or workplace to avoid future headaches over dress code
• Check out some sites like Beeunique to find the dye you want and testimonials of people who have used them.

Bingo Dabber Result

The Bingo Dabber

Surely, you must think it's crazy to simply rub some ink all over your hair and assume it will take perfectly. I can assure you that it is rather foolish. You may have seen references to using bingo dabbers, or even Kool-Aid to color hair, but personally I do NOT recommend these methods to anyone no matter how desperate you are for that head of striking hair. It's messy and will run with every droplet of water or sweat that it comes into contact with. Not only that, but it will stain your clothes and skin, so unless you wish to appear like some sort of alien reject avoid this way of dying your hair.

Maintenance

There isn't any way to maintain hair dyed with bingo dabbers, and it will likely come out the next time you wash your hair. The best solution is to use something other than bingo dabbers if you want something that comes out easily. You can find cheap spray cans of temporary hair color that are just as effective and make much less of a mess.

Temporary dye result, 1 month fading

Dying without Bleach

If you are looking for a nice temporary way to have spectacular hair, this is the way to go for you. It requires little time or effort depending on what dye you use and what kind of hair you have on your head. Since you are not bleaching or lightening your hair in any way, it is possible that it will not have the desired effect so don't expect too much. Usually, the best result is with blonde to medium brown hair, because anything darker will prevent most of the color from showing through.

Leaving the dye in for longer than suggested may increase the length of time your hair stays your chosen color. However, make sure to read or research your dye, because some chemical dyes will kill your hair. Don't leave the dye in for longer than suggested unless it specifically states that it is non-chemical, or better yet, a vegetable based dye. Those particular kinds of dyes can be left in for a very long time.

Maintenance

Temporary hair dye is, of course, temporary and won't last as long as more intensive dye treatments. With every wash it will fade until it is unrecognizable from its original color unless touched up frequently. The best way to avoid excessive fading is to stay out of harsh sunlight or swimming in chlorinated swimming pools.

Bleach and dye result

Bleaching and Dying

No matter what your hair color is, dye will always take better if it has been bleached beforehand. This is due to the fact that bleaching lightens your hair and makes it more porous so that it absorbs dye better. Depending on how far you're willing to go for great color there are several levels of bleaching.

1. Lightener ∕ mild bleaching
2. Moderate bleaching
3. Heavy bleaching

*Note that heavy bleaching will cause hair damage.

Once your hair is bleached, you can apply your preferred dye product. It's in your best interests to follow the directions that come with the product you bought. If you want your hair to turn out the shade that is shown on the box or bottle, you should try toner. Bleach makes your hair yellow, and by using a purple or blue hair toner you can neutralize the yellow and prevent any unwanted transformations of hair color.

Maintenance

This form of dying will last longer than anything temporary, especially with heavier bleaching. I recommend that you don't wash your hair immediately after you've done your dying and rinsing seeing as your hair has gone through a lot of punishment by this point and needs time to recuperate. Your hair will stay rather crispy if you have done heavy bleaching, but with enough patience, it will settle down into something manageable.

Additional Tricks

• A shower cap or plastic bag over your hair will intensify the power of the dye
• When rinsing the dye out of your hair the first time, rinse it a second time with vinegar because it will seal the dye in
• Depending on what type of dye you are using, you may leave it in overnight for longer lasting color
• Avoid excessive hair washing. It may sound rather disgusting, but it does prevent fading and helps regenerate the natural oils in your hair after bleaching.
• Chlorine from pools will strip the color out of your hair, so it may be best to not to dunk your head under
• Invest in a good shampoo that is specifically for color treated hair
• Don't use a shampoo with a high PH balance, because it will fade your hair quicker than regular shampoo