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Might dye my hair for first time (red)...what do I need to know?

So, I have never ever dyed my hair. I have long, yellow-blonde hair that I get cut twice a year and I brush it daily. That's pretty much all I do to it.

Just for funsies, I'm thinking about dyeing it red. Not auburn or chestnut, but RED, like Anne-of-Green-Gables red or Nicole Kidman red. My stylist said to just pick out whatever color I wanted from Sally's Beauty Supply and bring it in to her, and she'd do it for me. But I'm a little scared.

Is there anything I need to know? I've heard (variably) that red sticks to your hair and takes longer to get rid of, that red washes out faster and is harder to keep, blah blah. I don't want to be a redhead forever, I just want to try it once and see how I like it. Like I said, I have long hair, so it would take a LONG time to grow out if I made a mistake. I really like my natural color, so I'm a little nervous about changing it, even temporarily, in case something goes horribly wrong (Anne did turn her hair green, after all).

Any brand recommendations? General advice? Horror stories?

Sacrelicious asked in Hair/Body Care about 1 year ago | Report

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  • Summer-october_2011_906_small
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    Aislinn

    Don't use permanent dye your first time (and don't bleach or lift your hair). Semi-permanent dye has come a long way, and can deposit a surprising amount of color, especially on naturally light hair. On virgin, non-heat-damaged hair it might wash out a little more quickly than you'd like, but it will not damage your hair, your roots won't look as bad, and it's easy to reapply if you want to keep it.

    The best high-pigment dye Sally carries is Manic Panic (I suggest this one for what you're looking for; the bad review sounds like someone who didn't leave the dye on long enough), though I've mostly used Special Effects (this site shows the color on hair, unlike the company's site. I've used a few of them, and a combo Hot Lava/Blood Red came out pretty cool).

    You'll want to have some crappy towels for the first few washes post-dye, and a crappy pillow case that you won't mind getting some dye on. Wash your tub right after showering. Don't wear white shirts. These minor annoyances are worth 1) intense color and 2) not having to permanently commit to a crazy change.

    The only "horribly wrong" thing that can happen with semi-permanent dye is an allergic reaction or the color not fully depositing and being too-orange or too-pink, depending on the base of the red.

    If you LOVE it, then consider a permanent color and bleaching/lifting your hair. Bright red is a high-maintenance color - even permanent color will look dull/washed out if you don't take care of it, and roots are a constant concern. It's also really fun and attracts tons of compliments from strangers. Post pictures when it's done!

     

    Aislinn answered in Hair/Body Care about 1 year ago | Report
    2 comments by Sacrelicious and Aislinn…
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4 Other Answers

  • Sacri_ordines_by_charism_small
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    Anything you need to know?

    A: Yes, how terribly hawt it will look - there are redhead junkies in the world, and they will come out of the woodwork, perhaps to your surprise, perhaps to your delight. Reds are rare here compared to some other places on the planet.

    also: you may want to cut it shorter once you're red. Long, MarshaBrady locks arguably look good in blonde or BettiePage black, but Red begs for curl or cut (IMO).

    p.s. Anne of Green Gable FTW - she rocks almost as much as Pippi Longstocking.

    Rev.Enant answered in Hair/Body Care about 1 year ago | Report
    6 comments by Amy W., Sacrelicious, and Rev.Enant…
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  • Shack_small
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    Do not go to this stylist. You should bring in ideas/pictures for a hair color, but it's her job to know what exact shade is going to bring our your best features. The wrong shade could make you look washed out, or too dark, or too sallow

    I've never noticed a difference between red and other colors washing out faster.

    Remember that you can always dye your hair back to your original color if you don't like the color.

    If you have dark hair that you need to get bleached in order to get the color you want, the texture of your hair will change. How much it changes depends on the kind of dye you use.

    But above all, don't do it yourself. It's just way too messy. But maybe I'm just not that coordinated.

    emily answered in Hair/Body Care about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Spaceship_small
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    Couple of pointers.

    Hair color drips. Assemble towels that will become discolored and won't cause a problem. You might even dispose of it.

    Second, it's hard to see the back of your head. You may want to enlist a friend to help you. Plus, it's so much easier to be able to jump into the shower with a minimum of delay or clothes that must be handled. So you'll probably want to be nude or nearly naked. Certainly that makes it a close friend.

    Third, normal hair color fades with every shampoo. Therefore, you may want a color-safe shampoo that is not as strong, and to shampoo twice a day, if hair texture and appearance is going to be important to you.

    Fourth, most hair grows at a rate that your roots will certainly be visible a month after your dye. So, you need a plan of what you're going to do. Touch up? Change colors? Re-dye? Cut it off? Ignore it??

    O my captain answered in Hair/Body Care about 1 year ago | Report
    1 comment by Sacrelicious…
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  • Fourth_of_july_small
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    If you go get it done in a salon make sure you tell them you have never dyed your hair before.

    ashley.leigh answered in Hair/Body Care about 1 year ago | Report
    3 comments by Sacrelicious, ashley.leigh, and ashley.leigh…
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