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"Fantasy" or "funky" hair colors, such as pink or blue, are becoming more and more popular. I recently joined the trend and I'm having a lot of fun with it. But there are a few things I wish I had known before I started dying my hair. If you're thinking of dying your hair a fantasy color for the first time- especially if you've never colored your hair at all before- read on!
1. It will probably change your hair texture. A lot.
To get a really pure, vivid fantasy hair color, you usually need to bleach your hair first. For pastels and bright colors, you will probably need a platinum or white base, which requires a lot of bleaching unless you're naturally light blonde. Bleach will damage your hair, which can lead to split ends, breakage, dryness, and frizz. But it doesn't stop there! Bleach can also change your overall hair texture and make it more difficult to style. I even have a hard time shampooing my hair since I bleached it, because of how easily it tangles. Caring for your hair properly will help minimize these issues, but don't expect to be able to avoid them completely. If you decide to bleach your hair, say goodbye to perfect locks.
2. It becomes a full time hobby.
Fantasy hair colors usually fade quickly, so you'll need to do frequent touch-ups and reapply color often. Depending on the color you've chosen and how often you wash your hair, your dye may fade after just a couple of weeks. All that dying is time consuming! But you'll also put more time and effort into caring for your hair in other ways, to help mitigate the damage from bleach and dyes. I'm talking about hair masques, oil treatments, extra styling products, you name it. You'll also spend time browsing online for inspiration and daydreaming about future color choices (or is that just me?).
3. It gets expensive.
This one goes without saying. But what I didn't think about before I dyed my hair was the fact that once you start, you kind of have to keep doing it. Dye and bleach costs can really add up, especially if you have to recolor your hair frequently. Plus, extra hair care products for controlling damage cost $$$ too. And if you're having your color done in a salon, you will naturally be spending even more.
4. If you choose a salon, get to know your stylist first.
Some hair stylists may not like to work with fantasy hair colors, and may not be particularly good at it. But they might still agree to do it for you. I learned that the hard way. When I first started coloring my hair, I was scared to do it myself so I chose a salon. I walked in with a photo of what I wanted, and the stylist agreed to do it. Hours later, I walked out $300 poorer with hair that wasn't what I had pictured. I wished I had taken the time to find a stylist who was really passionate about fantasy hair colors and would take me seriously as a client. If you are going to get your color done at a salon, have several appointments beforehand to really get to know the stylist, and ensure that they are excited about the project and share your vision.
5. If you DIY, have someone help you.
Seriously. You can do most of it by yourself, but even with multiple mirrors, it can be really difficult to make sure the back of your head is properly covered. Hair color processes are time sensitive, so you can't afford to spend an hour struggling to reach that last spot. Don't worry, your assistant doesn't need to be experienced with hair color. They just need to be able to see the back of your head, and help you reach if necessary. This is especially important with bleach, and when you are first starting off and still getting used to the process. I tried to go solo too quickly and I regretted it- I ended up having to fix my hair later, with help.
6. It's like wearing a neon sign that says "LOOK AT ME".
Unusual hair colors are eye catching, so you'll notice more people looking at you. Since dying my hair fantasy colors, I get way more comments and compliments from strangers than I ever did before. This can be fun, but it also means that I worry more about how my hair looks than I used to. Bright hair colors can draw extra attention to damage, frizz, and split ends, simply because peoples' eyes are lingering longer on your locks. Plus, uneven or splotchy hair colors will look super obvious, so it's important to use precision when bleaching and dying. Have you ever been out and about, and seen someone with frazzled and uneven blue or green hair, and thought "Yikes, they obviously colored their hair themselves..."? Yep, I have too. Don't be that person.
7. It takes time and planning to switch colors.
Some colors are easy to switch between. For example, you could apply purple hair dye over light pink hair and probably get a pure purple color. However, you couldn't apply pink color on green hair- you'd get a muddy color. Unless you want to bleach old color out of your hair to bring it back to white before applying new colors (which would be HORRIBLE for your hair), you may have to let your hair fade naturally before making certain color changes. It's also helpful to consider the color wheel. You can take gradual steps along the color wheel in order to get to the color you want, so that you don't have to fade your hair quite as much. For example, if you have blue hair and you want to dye it red, you can change your hair gradually from blues to purples to reds until you reach the final desired color. You are essentially fading the blue out of your hair while applying more and more red so that your color still looks bright and beautiful.
8. It's still controversial.
Even though funky hair colors are becoming much more common, they are still not necessarily universally accepted. Before you choose to dye your hair a fantasy color, it's important to consider how it will impact your career, and potentially your social life. I chose to keep coloring my hair even though I'm currently searching for jobs, but if I start to suspect that my hair color is getting in the way of my career, I plan to dye it back to a natural color. And don't forget to think about how people such as your parents or grandparents might react. Be prepared- a lot of people will love your new hair, but you'll probably have at least a few people in your life who aren't thrilled. That doesn't mean you shouldn't color your hair, but make an informed decision and know what to expect.
9. It's amazingly fun.
I have never had so much fun with my hair before in my life. Using my hair as a creative outlet is incredibly freeing and a constant source of entertainment. I definitely don't regret my decision. If you decide to go with a fantasy hair color, don't forget to have fun with it!
Thanks for reading!
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