the hair thread

Jeanie

Tone wrote:

$200!? For a single process!? Yikes! I wouldn't pay that either!!!!! Maybe you should jump on a plane and come to NYC... it's only $75 (for a single process) at the salon where I work... sure, you've got the flight to consider but... Spending hours on end at a salon does get frustrating. It's funny, I love my old hairdresser back in Sydney, but I was always looking at 5 hours when I went there... for some reason, it's so much faster over here. Not sure why, but I'm out in around 2 hours with highlights and a cut.

A girl came into the salon last week and went from blonde to brunette, it looked awesome. If you're familiar with hair colour numbers (we use Goldwell), I believe she had a 4 and a 5 mixed... really warm, cause the highlights will start to show through after a few weeks regardless. Alternative to supermarket products, if you're in Sydney, on the 7th floor of the Gowings building is a professional hair products place (I hope it's still there). They generally won't help you, cause you're supposed to know what to get, but they have all the stuff salons use, including all the colours and products you can imagine and it's way cheaper. Otherwise Price Attack in Centrepoint (if it's still there, it's been 4.5 years since I've lived there) is good for cheap salon products (and they'll help you) and probably Priceline too. Good luck

Well it's just been going up and up and up, the price, and I wouldn't mind so much if I walked out and had hair that I was happy with for at least a few weeks but normally after the first wash I can see how well it's been cut and if the color will stay. Used to be that I'd be happy with it for at least 4 weeks till it started to grow that little bit too long but yeah, the girls do a good enough job but meh, I dunno, I'm not loving it for 4 or 5 weeks anymore. Usually after the first week it's looking bleh. Maybe I'm just over it?
Or maybe I just need it done it NYC???

I will check out Price Attack, I'm pretty sure there's one near me and I know we have a Hairhouse Warehouse and there's another that sells professional products, just can't remember their name. Thanks for the numbers.
There's really only a small section that's still blonde as I never had a full head of foils done. Mostly it was only a half head from the part line, so my natural hair colour is showing from the centre part to about the tops of my ears. Around 140cms and then all the hair in the length is my natural colour and underneath all my natural colour, it's really only this last little band of highlights left on the top layer of hair. I'll see how I go I guess. Still could conceded defeat and let the hairdresser do it all.

iluvcats

it's too bad, d2d that you won't post a pic....but I know your feelings on posting pics on here. I would like to see a b4 and after pic...

as for home touch ups of that color/highlights -- watch out. I do not see how you will be able to match it. this is why I do not get highlights professionally. my own stylist told me it's hard for them to get the highlight touch up the same shade.

blonde was not covering my gray well enough anymore. i really prefer my hair blonde. the ends were getting way too washed out. i switched over to brown permanent dye on new growth last year and it is way easier to maintain. when my ends start looked too light, several times i went to the hair cuttery and had temporary color put on. it's way too dark initially so i have to apply more makeup. just had copper brown put on right before the pj concert in DC
it's still dark even though it washes out. Aveda color conserve is a great shampoo that I order online....expensive but worth it. my hair is soft. then i use any name brand conditioner from the grocery store as long as it says for colored or highlighted hair. I too have had several inches cut off. It really helped, I can comb it better when wet.

Heineken Helen

GraySaturday wrote:

I always use L'oreal. Its in a silver box here in America. I have no idea if you have it, or what you may have. I refuse to pay a salon every 3 weeks to touch up color! I pay 7.99 and have really pretty hair! Take it from me, you can do anything with your hair.

I've used loreal diy highlights before... and although I got a friend to do it, lol, not quite diy, it turned out perfect. No probs.

Got me hair chopped at the weekend. Kinda gone for the katie holmes but the fringe isn't as thick and it's swept to the side and has short layers... at the mo... I'm sure it'll be completely different and horrible once I do it myself tonight though :eek: it's a bit shorter than hers too. My hair goes quite dry... so I'm trying to only wash it every 2nd day but it's going greasy . I definitely find if you wash your hair upside down it gives it more volume...and rinse with cold water for shine.

illegal pants

hair... what a nightmare :eek:

after getting my brown locks blondified since about 2000, i've gone back to brunette for the past few months...

i wanna go back but.. i get treated so differently as a blonde, feckin' ridiculous that's a different story...

i'm with you on the hairwashing Helen.. no happy medium with short hair.. when mine was long i was happy to leave a day or 2 between washes, but above shoulder length it must be washed daily or else it's just..

wrong

Heineken Helen

illegal_pants wrote:

hair... what a nightmare :eek:

after getting my brown locks blondified since about 2000, i've gone back to brunette for the past few months...

i wanna go back but.. i get treated so differently as a blonde, feckin' ridiculous that's a different story...

i'm with you on the hairwashing Helen.. no happy medium with short hair.. when mine was long i was happy to leave a day or 2 between washes, but above shoulder length it must be washed daily or else it's just..

wrong

damn... cos it is really dry recently! Although I bought some products on Saturday when I got my hair done... a GHD heat defence spray... and a repairing shampoo... so we'll see.

illegal pants

Heineken Helen wrote:

damn... cos it is really dry recently! Although I bought some products on Saturday when I got my hair done... a GHD heat defence spray... and a repairing shampoo... so we'll see.

a what now? i'm so not a girly-girl :D

i should get off my ass and try something.. can't hurt!! getting my haircut this Sat'day so maybe i'll ask my (scary) hairdresser :eek:

let me know how the products go!

Heineken Helen

illegal_pants wrote:

a what now? i'm so not a girly-girl : D

i should get off my ass and try something.. can't hurt!! getting my haircut this Sat'day so maybe i'll ask my (scary) hairdresser :eek:

let me know how the products go!

will do although I'm sure, like most expensive stylist products, they'll work for a couple of days and then everything goes back to normal :(

illegal pants

Heineken Helen wrote:

will do although I'm sure, like most expensive stylist products, they'll work for a couple of days and then everything goes back to normal :(

*sigh* :( sounds all too familiar

would be easier to just do a Britney, but it's too damn cold here now for that :eek:

patrickredeyes

decides2dream wrote:

i know we have a 'beauty' thread, but it's sooo long at this point, and besides, i want one specific to hair alone. so share your thoughts, tips, etc.


so yes...i caved and went and dyed my hair for hubby. he LOVEs it, which in turn makes me love it. seriously, i do really like it i just don't relish the upkeep. it IS really nice....my natural dark brown with red highlights. however, i would not want to spend that kinda $$$ regularly - so does anyone do highlights at home? any product recommendations, tips, etc? i took a quick look in the store, saw highlighting kits for blondes...but nothing dark, do they not exist?


also got a haircut and man....he took off 5-6 inches! :eek: i wanted off maybe 2. hahaha. it looks good, but yea......at least a year, 1.5 years worth of growth, gone. still long, but man...it's not loooooonnnnggg anymore. c'est la vie, eh?



as to *tips* that i can share:
i do NOT blow dry my hair at home....ever. i always let it airdry, i think it keeps it a LOT healthier. i always use a wide-tooth comb or pick for my hair to untangle, and i always comb thru my conditioner in the shower. i also don't wash my hair daily, i find it too drying. sure, it gets wet daily, but only actually shampooed/conditioned a couple times a week. also, for my dark hair i LOVE john frieda's 'brilliant brunette' porducts, makes my hair uber shiny! also like a few of his finishing products.

Well you and yr hubby like the change so that rocks.

CityMouse

yeah I am having issues with this color upkeep thing too. I just started getting color last year and now it is growing out and fading and I'm really not sure what to do about it now- I don't know if I want to conitunue getting the same color scheme, but whether I do that or get it colored over with my natural color it's going to be $$$. Right now I'm just avoiding the issue by not going for a haircut .

I haven't blow dried my hair for about 20 years, except for when I get it cut and the hairdresser blows it out straight (I'm not coordinated enough to do this myself).

decides2dream

iluvcats wrote:

it's too bad, d2d that you won't post a pic....but I know your feelings on posting pics on here. I would like to see a b4 and after pic...

as for home touch ups of that color/highlights -- watch out. I do not see how you will be able to match it. this is why I do not get highlights professionally. my own stylist told me it's hard for them to get the highlight touch up the same shade.

blonde was not covering my gray well enough anymore. i really prefer my hair blonde. the ends were getting way too washed out. i switched over to brown permanent dye on new growth last year and it is way easier to maintain. when my ends start looked too light, several times i went to the hair cuttery and had temporary color put on. it's way too dark initially so i have to apply more makeup. just had copper brown put on right before the pj concert in DC
it's still dark even though it washes out. Aveda color conserve is a great shampoo that I order online....expensive but worth it. my hair is soft. then i use any name brand conditioner from the grocery store as long as it says for colored or highlighted hair. I too have had several inches cut off. It really helped, I can comb it better when wet.

well as far as color, i don't think a pic would show much difference in any case. the 'before' pic would show uber long, curly heair...and thus my greys didn't really show. now, the most significant difference would be the fact that i got japanese straightening ....and thus have stick straight hair now, with bangs and yea....bout 6 inches shorter. sure, the grey DID show with stick straight hair. personally, i liked my streak...but that's been covered...hubby did not. so a week after the straightening, morning of his bday in fact, i had it colored/highlighted. the color is very similar to my natural color, and the highlights while quite visable in 'real life'...i just don't think they'd show too much in a pic.


as far as 'matching' color, i am unconcerned with getting an exact match to what the salon did. i just wanted to know if there were dark-haired highlighting kits to do at home, and any successes people may've had with em. i am sure color-wise i can get 'close enough' and be happy. it's been 5 weeks, and i already see roots and actually some strands color must've washed out - even tho permanent color. i think that's the issue with greys, very color resistant. there is no way i would pay salon prices for coloring, forget highlighting! THAT often. i most definitely will be coloring, maybe highlighting, my own hair at home...probably before the month ends. i also already just got my bangs trimmed, they were already hanging in my eyes, 6 weeks later. my hair grows FAST.


that said, even with all that...i am HAPPY. i am especially enjoying my straight, striaght hair. it is sooooo EASY. and it's very light. my head feels 10 pounds lighter, especially nice for the summer. it's a fun/nice change. see how long it all lasts, if i want to do it again, etc. so for that, no upkeep....color definitely needs upkeep so it evens out i guess. although sure, i need to get my bangs trimmed regularly, that is evident. that takes all of 5 minutes and $5.....just pop in the salon - which is walking distance from home - so easy enough.

Sian-of-the-dead

I hate my hair atm. :(

I used to have hair to my hips, long black and curly(ish)... now it's mid back, brown (several shades) and curly(ish).

I had the genius idea of lightening my hair from 12 years of dying it black to a mid/dark brown. It didn't work too well. I pre-lightened it using 40% volume bleach... 7 packets of the damn stuff (yes I have THAT much hair) and it ended in a big ginger mess. I then applied 3 boxes of 'chocolate brown' dye. 2 hours, a fit and a possibly broken eye socket later, it came out practically black.

I could've cried.

I tried to lighten it using all sorts of shampoos and it has lightened a little but it's now several shades of brown/gingerish and I hate it. I have 3 boxes of 'dark brown' to put on it next week so that I can at least get it all to one color.

I wear my hair up in a ponytail most of the time when i'm at work as it's easier to manage with my headset, but I love wearing it down or in pigtails and I often get comments about it cuz I have loose curls and so much hair

I do look after my hair, I wash it every two to three days, condition it, don't blow dry (makes me look like an extra from the jackson 5), don't use hardly any styling products (only John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls after wash spray http://www.johnfrieda.co.uk/20_180.asp) and only brush it when it's dry and before I wash it... I'm just not happy with the color atm... I just wish I could get it all to dark rich chocolate brown :(

Anyone got any tips to lighten it more before I put the dye on next week?

Heineken Helen

Sian-of-the-dead wrote:

I have 3 boxes of 'dark brown' to put on it next week .

SIAN :eek: :mad:

Sian-of-the-dead

Heineken Helen wrote:

SIAN :eek: :mad:

What?! The doctor said it was fine

Heineken Helen

Sian-of-the-dead wrote:

What?! The doctor said it was fine

Hmmmm... I'm not sure I completely believe you :cool: if you're gonna do it, make sure you do it outside... mmmkay?

Sian-of-the-dead

Heineken Helen wrote:

Hmmmm... I'm not sure I completely believe you :cool: if you're gonna do it, make sure you do it outside... mmmkay?

I will

I bleached my housemate's hair for her last week and I was fine but trust me, that stuff is never going near my head again.

Tbh, I want to leave my hair to grow out as I kinda like my natural color but it'd take the best part of 2 years and I have my brothers wedding in three weeks... I can't have 12 different shades of brown/ginger in my hair AND mousey roots for the pictures!

justam

I've always kept my hair fairly long and easy to take care of. I do not have the interest or time to fuss with a style that requires much attention.

decides2dream

justam wrote:

I've always kept my hair fairly long and easy to take care of. I do not have the interest or time to fuss with a style that requires much attention.

i've always been the same. low maintanence. however, i have had uber short hair too....and that can be extremely low maintainance as well, just more frequent haircuts is all.

in the past i've colored my hair just for fun, and then just let it grow out, or dyed it back as close as possible to my natural color, never 'maintained' a color before....so yes, most definitely getting into a 'maintainence' issue now. eh well. hopefully it won't be too big of a pain in the arse. i just hope i can do a good job of highlights at home. coloring your hair one color is easy/quick enough.....but the highlights, which i do really like, we shall see if it's doable. if it's not, eh well, i'll just stick with one color and hope there's some dimensionality to it, b/c NO way will i pay salon prices on a regular basis.



sian - i am pretty much a novice with color, so i don't really know. wish i could help but perhaps one/some of the ladies who dye their hair regularly will be able to offer some advice. i would think dying it all one color would do the trick, but from your experience it's sounding not.


and i hear ya on the loss of length! i've never been one too 'attached' to my hair...would grow it, chop it, etc......but i guess b/c i grew it the longest ever, was sad to see those 6 inches go. i think too b/c i am older and know i probably won't keep uber long hair that much longer, was looking forward to having stick-straight LONG hair....so a bit of a bummer. i was thinking i may chop it all when i turn 40, but i am really enjoying my straight and long hair...so maybe i'll let it get very long again, enjoy it....see how it goes....and maybe go for the big chop at 45. :cool: buy myself some time, haha.

Sian-of-the-dead

decides2dream wrote:

sian - i am pretty much a novice with color, so i don't really know. wish i could help but perhaps one/some of the ladies who dye their hair regularly will be able to offer some advice. i would think dying it all one color would do the trick, but from your experience it's sounding not.

I've been dying it various different colors since I was 12, literally everything from Black to pink, green and blue, and I've never had a problem til I tried dying it a 'normal' color. I'm just at a loss :(

decides2dream

MyHandsBound wrote:

I'm growing out my perm...yep I'll be all naturale...I've been thinking of doing this for a very long time - since Britney shaved her head, I'm glad she did it and not me. But I'm sure her hair has grown quite a bit since then.

This is going to be so new to me because I've had some kind of perm for so long I'm not sure I know how to handle my natural hair so this will be a learning process for me...I've been skimming hair magazines but nothing had a really good article that focused on this need....right now I have about a half inch of new growth .....I just hope it grows in nicely and quick:)

awesome!



next time we see each other, we probably won't recognize each other due to all the hair changes..... haha. i bet you will look awesome with your hair natural!

Sian-of-the-dead wrote:

I've been dying it various different colors since I was 12, literally everything from Black to pink, green and blue, and I've never had a problem til I tried dying it a 'normal' color. I'm just at a loss

not to laugh at your obvious predicament, but it is rather funny that going for 'normal' is proving so difficult. perhaps it's a sign?
i used to love to dye my hair when i was younger, when it was just for fun. the idea of doing it to cover my greys, not so fun. perhaps when i hit 50 hubby will be more accepting of it. i was enjoying it and wanted to see how it would look. eh well. so yes, i am trying to see the *fun* in color again, perhaps why i like the highlights so much. definitely more fun!


good luck on getting 'normal'.......:D