I know you’ve seen the vibrant trendy locks all over your Pinterest page. From Kylie Jenner to Jenna Marbles, celebrities are taking this trend and interpreting it with their own personal style. As a college student, I’m all about finding my own unique voice and standing out from the crowd. In fact, I wasn’t much different as a naïve middle schooler. I dyed my hair bright tomato red, without telling my parents, right before summer camp. It was patchy, it turned my forehead red and it faded to a very light pink in less than a week! I have learned a lot about hair care since then. That is why I want to share the best way to color your hair and have it last, all from your dorm room!
Supplies:
- Gloves (Walmart $1.19)
- Hair Clips (Walmart $5.00)
- Color Charm Powder Lightener 1.1 oz (Sally Beauty $3.99)
- Wella Color Tango 30 Volume Developer 2 oz (Sally Beauty $1.39)
- Vaseline (Walmart $1.47)
- Tint Brush (Walmart $1.42)
- Manic Panic Semi-Permanent Creme Hair Color- in selected color (Sally Beauty $10.49)
- Overtone Daily Conditioner- in selected color (https://overtone.co $17.00)
For colors to appear vibrant, it’s important to start with a blonde base. You can achieve this effect in several ways. The least damaging option is to have a professional stylist balayage your hair for you. This will create an ombre effect on your hair after you add the color. Salons can be expensive for a struggling college student, so when you muster up the courage to bleach your own hair, make sure that you follow these steps. I suggest testing these steps on a small hidden section of hair first to make sure that you’re getting the color you’re wanting.
Step 1.) Divide the hair into four even sections.
Step 2.) Put on your gloves and then Mix 1 oz of Color Charm Powder Lightener with 1 oz of Wella 30 Volume Developer thoroughly until the bleach mixture has a mustard-like texture.
Step 3.) Using the tint brush, apply the bleach to your hair one section at a time. Be sure to apply the bleach starting at the top of your hair and then working to the bottom. This will help prevent your ends from breaking. NEVER apply the bleach directly to your scalp to prevent burns.
Step 4.) Check your hair every ten minutes to see the progress. Everyone’s hair reacts to bleach differently, so be vigilant to avoid over processing. Don’t let the bleach dry on your hair.
Step 5.) Once your hair is the desired shade, rinse all of the bleach out of your hair. Shampoo and condition your hair, then allow it to air dry.
For more in depth instructions on the hair bleaching process, check out https://bellatory.com/hair/How-to-Safely-Bleach-Hair-Platinum-Blonde. Now your hair will be a brassy shade of blonde, and you can add the color!
Step 6.) Divide your hair into four even sections.
Step 7.) Rub Vaseline on your hairline and neck to reduce stains from the hair dye. Be sure to wear clothes that you don’t care about messing up.
Step 8.) Put on gloves and then apply the Manic Panic Semi-Permanent Hair Color from the top of your hair down.
Step 9.) Check your hair every ten minutes to see the color progress. Thirty minutes is the average amount of time people leave on this dye.
Step 10.) Once your hair is the desired shade, rinse all of the dye out of your hair. Shampoo your hair, and then apply the Overtone Daily Conditioner. Leave the conditioner on for three to five minutes, and then rinse it out. Allow your hair to air dry.
For more in depth instructions on the hair dyeing process, take a look at https://www.manicpanic.com/faqs!
Overtone Daily Conditioner is a conditioner that actually adds pigment to your hair every time that you use it. Using it daily will keep your colored hair bright and vibrant with continued use. That means you don’t have to re-dye your hair every two weeks when the color fades like it does with a traditional conditioner.
Step 11.) Use the Overtone Daily Conditioner every time you wash your hair.
Step 12.) Moisturize your hair daily with your favorite hair oil, and avoid clarifying shampoos.
Step 13.) Enjoy your new unique look, and strut around campus with confidence.
To learn more about Overtone Daily Conditioner check out https://overtone.co!
Photo by Elizabeth Lies on Unsplash