Mid-Day, Dye-in-Hair- Check in | The top 5 Questions I get asked about my full head of blue hair...

Yes, I’m sitting here with blue dye in my hair. I can’t do much else than maybe watch one of these final episodes of Breaking Bad that we have left, and give you an update and maybe offer some of the knowledge I've picked up on my personal hair journey.

As I say to my mother when she asks if I have plans to go back to my natural hair color…

It was a bit of a tricky setup today, but I’ve been taking out my creative impulses out of my hair since 15 years old, so nothing I couldn’t handle.

my very first all blue hair dye- November 11 2014

I should have taken photos for you, but the gloves got in the way of that, and I kind-of wanted to just get straight to it, you see it had started to snow by the time I got up the momentum to do it. Mind you, I only re-dye my hair every 3 or 4 months so it’s not THAT big of an inconvenience on my life. and FAR preferable to sitting in a salon chair fr 6+ hours and shelling out a couple hundred bucks.

So while I sit here letting the pigment seep deep into my hair’s strands let me answer the top 5 questions I get asked having blue hair…

5. How Long does it last??

Well, that depends on a ton of factors including the type of dye, the color and how you treat it.

Rule of thumb is, warmer colors fade faster than cooler ones, (reds especially) and even though cool tones do fade, (blues and purples), when they do, It’s a MUCH more preferable faded color you end up with, so that kind-of buys me some extra time. I don’t really mind it faded personally.

*July 18 to Aug 30 fade status of bright magenta back in 2014- reds fade ridiculously fast- DYE-er BEWARE!

Another factor is using heat. Hot tools (curling irons, straighteners ect) will fade color faster, as well as hot water from your showers.

If you avoid hot tools, use dry shampoo instead of washing your hair every day, and have a cool toned hair color- You can expect to get at least 3 months out of your color. (Don’t tell your hairdresser I told you that- I’m not trying to make enemies of folks who know how to wield sharp scissors.

4. Isn’t your hair Damaged??

Well no, and also yes. I do have to bleach my dark brown hair to a suitablely lifted blond in before I go blue, BUT, I only bleach new growth using a low volume developer (meaning the process is slower but more gentle).

)

blue hair. It's a gateway drug folks... here's when I was just dabbling....

I also use a direct dye, which is just that. A vegetable based dye, think concentrated food coloring for your hair. I don’t use any dyes that have any further lifting or bleaching agents like peroxide.

Also, as mentioned above, I use cool water on it always, I don’s use straighteners or blow dryers, chemical processes (other than the first bleach- one a year) and I very rarely curl it.

So yes, while having a mystical magical hair color is more damaging to your hair than “virgin”hair. There are plenty of more damaging things you can do do your hair that don’t even involve dye.

Either way, prepare to condition, in the shower and afterward if possible. I like Argan oil personally...

This size lasts me over a year

(organ oil)

3. Where did you learn how to do that?

In short. Youtube, I did a TON of my own research (as you should too). But also my Mom. You see, before she became licensed as a Dog trainer, she had been (and still is) a liscenced hair professional. She taught me the basics, how to give a straight trim, about bleach ect, and I filled in the blanks with YouTube.

The most important thing she passed down to me is a fearlessness when it comes to hair. She’d experiment on mine all the time with non-permanent stuff and I LOVED it, as an art form, but also as a form of expression. If you ever want to meet a group of folks who aren’t precious about their hair being “too short” or “the wrong color” hang around hair dressers, they change their hair like swapping out a new pair of shoes.

rainbow hair and a narwhal shirt...I told you, it's been EVERY color, you didn't believe me did you...

We used to say, “It’s just hair- it grows back!” It’s never that serious, and never something to get worked up over.

The MOMENT I decide that keeping up blue hair is too much of a pain, I’m OUT. For me it’s about fun, and expression, not vanity or keeping up an appearance.

2. Will You Ever Change it??

Do I seriously see myself laying on my deathbed with ultraviolet blue purple hair… no. But then again, possibly….

I can tell you this. — My hair has never been one color for this long EVER. It’s been about 3 years and counting. I don’t really notice it as blue anymore, It feels just as natural as if it grew out of my head this way, I know that’s odd to say, but that’s the best way I can describe it.

another perk of having bright blue hair, is it's really easy to spot yourself in videos! Here I am talking to the lovely @anahilarski in @mynewlife 's steemfest recap video

I think green could be SUPER cool, like some serious she-hulk vibes, or maybe a lighter more neon shade of green, but truthfully, it’s always got to be low maintenance, nomad friendly, and cheap.

Will I ever go back to my natural hair color- probably not…but who knows.

1. Is it expensive?

At the salon YES. If you have a full hair of dark, medium to long hair that needs to be lifted, you're looking at about 6 hours and $300-500 bucks, and then maintenance every 6 or so weeks.

For me, I buy 2 boxes of dye, because I mix my own shade of blue and purple, but one would do for my length hair. They’re 6 bucks each from Amazon. If its your first time, you’ll have to buy a mixing bowl, a brush and gloves, (and bleach if you have dark hair), but for me, I already have all that stuff. So no. It costs me 6 bucks every 3 months.

Oh did you know they made a plus-size blue haired barbie with green eyes...??! I'm still waiting for my royalty check Mattel....

I hope that I made the best of this time waiting for my hair do suck up all the dye and that you got some value out of this if you’re thinking of DIY-ING (get it???!) Your hair at home.

PLEASE always do your own research, ask your hair stylist what’s best for your particular type of hair and alter your appearance at your own risk. I’ve been doing this for nearly 15 years and I fully accept the consequences of my hair dye OCD ways. ;)

OOH! And NOWW I get to put a pretty green check next to another goal for the month… YAY!!

If you have any other questions about my hair, or at-home hack-job hair dying, I’ll be happy to answer your questions in the comments just as soon as I’m done rinsing this dye out.

May your hair grow ever more magical each day,
<3 Dayleeo