Bucket List Update!
#18. Dye my hair a crazy color.
I've done it! I took the leap and bleached my hair for the first time in my life! Yes, I have dyed it plenty before, I've always stayed safe with lighter or darker shades of brown. I had burgundy streaks once too. But, I've always wanted to try something crazy. When I see people walking down the street with pink hair or neon green tips, it always made me feel like you had to be brave to express yourself like that.
Though it might be easy for some, let me tell you that for me, I was having jitters the entire time I was sitting in the seat getting my hair transformed. Once the first layer of bleach was placed onto my hair, there was no turning back. For some reason, knowing that fact made me relax. I placed my hair in the hands of my stylist and whispered a silent prayer that I wasn't ruining my hair. Worst case, I could always cut it and start over.
The foil went on and the timer was set. I had two plans. Either go white or go dark blue. It would all depend on how much color lifted from my hair. I didn't want to over process my hair in order to prevent breakage and dryness. If the bleach took out a lot of color, then I would go white, because in order for the hair to absorb the white well enough, the yellow underneath has to be as light as possible. If the yellow was more towards orange, which is the common results for brunettes on their first bleaching phase, then I would go with a darker color, like royal blue.
When the tin foils were pulled off and we decided the bath to Fairy Princess was the way to go instead of Ice Queen, the color was brought in and the mixing began. The stylist combined Indigo and Royal Blue to give my hair a blueish-purple hue. After four hours in the salon, my transformation was complete. For the best effects, I had to stand in the sunlight, because in doors, it looked smokey black.
Over the course of the last two weeks, every time I wash it, a little less color comes off, so I've entered the brighter blue realm, with a splash of green as the yellow from the bleach is being revealed again. Honestly though, I've loved this color, and now that I know I like it, I'll do a permanent coloring instead of the semi-permanent that I did this time. Another option could be to let it strip out a little more and then try a different color. If I did a permanent I would have to bleach again to go lighter. I have time.
One of my favorite moments during this experience was when I showered. The first time I thought I ruined my moms bathroom. It looked like I murdered a whole smurf village! But after that it's been better, and less color has escaped per wash, but that's probably because most of it left that first day. I'm glad I took the bold step to change my hair into something I've never had the guts to do before, and being candid with you, I do feel better. More confident in my own skin.
Maybe we just need to take more risks, because at the end, you really don't have much to lose when it comes to choices like your hair. There are bigger issues out there, so let's start small. One step at a time.
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