Tag: red

Virgin hair no more

On August 27, 2010

I finally did it. My hair can no longer wear white to it’s wedding. Instead, it will be wearing red.

Because red? So much better than white. Or brown for that matter.

Today I took the plunge and completed number 23 on my 30 by 30 list. I dyed my hair red.

I go to the Aveda Institute in Chicago to get my hair done. Their prices are lower than even a place like Super Cuts but I feel comfortable with the quality of the products and I’ve never had a bad hair cut there. The last several cuts I’ve had done by the same girl and I heart her. She’s fantastic.

It was fun when they were discussing my color because they kept referring to my virgin hair. They actually use the words virgin hair which of course made me giggle inside. I’m clearly twelve.

Anyway, the process of the dye and cut took over four hours. Apparently my hair is quite thick.

This was part of the way through the process. She had to get more dye. For the third time. Ha!

Side note, I tried cucumber water for what I’m pretty sure is the first time. Not delicious. I like cucumbers but I think they’re better suited dipped in hummus than as a water flavor. The flavor is actually kind of nauseating. Blech.

The whole time my stylist was as giddy as I was about how good the color was going to look. Once it was done I seriously had so many students and instructors come up and say how gorgeous the color was. And they see a lot of dye jobs so you know it was good.

Oh, here’s a question. How do you react when someone tells you you’re pretty? Like, a matter of fact statement, not a guy hitting on you. One of the instructors came to check my hair at one point in the process and after she introduced herself was like “You’re very pretty.”

Hello, ego boost.

At the same time though it’s so hard to just say thank you. I always feel the need to justify compliments. I resist, but I always want to. It’s probably a whole other post on body image and self esteem but it surprised me and made me think. More than anything though it kind of made my day. Because who doesn’t want to be told they’re pretty?

After my appointment I tweeted about how much I loved my new ‘do and planned to post a picture shortly after. Except I hit traffic… on the way to Aunt Becky’s house to hang out. First Twitter friend I actually got together with. It couldn’t have been a better first tweetup. Because Becky? Every bit as awesome in real life as she is online which makes me so happy. Anywho, her and her adorable munchkins totally distracted me from Twitter (ironically) or posting pictures of my hair. I’m officially a giant tease. Sorry.

So, without further ado, the new hair.

It’s not shockingly different and my stupid cheap camera doesn’t do the color justice.

Perhaps tomorrow I can get a better picture in the sunlight. But you get the idea.

Bonus! I got my headband in the mail today from Krust

AH-dorable!*

I’m very happy with it. I think next time I’ll go even more red.

I think the whole fiery red head thing suits my personality very well.

*double bonus, cleavage shot! You’re welcome.

Done with brown

By Abigail

On August 6, 2010

In pictures, thoughts

Number 23 on my 30 by 30 list (have you checked it out yet? You should) is to dye my hair something other than it’s natural color.

I’m a hair dye virgin. The most I’ve used is Kool-aid when I was a kid. It doesn’t work on dark hair by the way. Ten year old me felt so left out of all my pretty blond friends with their electric pink and purple hair. I’ve also used temporary dye so I guess I’m not totally a virgin. But my permanent hair dye cherry has yet to be popped.

There are a couple reasons for this. The first is just plain lack of money. I’ve never been one to spend gobs of money on my appearance and there are so many things I’d rather do with $75-$150 every six weeks or so. I had many friends that did the trendy chunky highlights in the late 90’s and when they decided to grow it out the in between was just awful. That scared me off any kind of hair dye for a long time.

The second reason is, I can’t decide what other color I’d like my hair to be. I have no idea what would look good with my skin tone and have never had a hair stylist that I trusted enough to tell me.

This is a pretty good representation of my current hair color

Don’t mind me, I’m just glowing white and stuffing my face with cotton candy. Also, try to ignore the massive amount of split ends I have. They’re still left over from that hair straightening incident.

As you can see I’m a brunette and proud of it. Before I fried my hair I always got compliments from the stylists when I’d get it cut. What? They say those things to everyone? Shut up.

I do like my hair color actually…. on the right days or in the right lighting. When the sun hits it, my hair has all kinds of natural highlights. As you can see from my skin tone I don’t get out in the sun all that often though.

A lot of the time it’s just blah. Boring. Brown. Mousy even. I’ve been told I look like a mouse before, I don’t need my hair helping out that image. So I want a change. I’ve looked pretty much the same since I was, um, 15? I feel like it’s a very grown up thing to dye your hair. Maybe I won’t get carded at the movies anymore.

If Since I’m going to dye my hair I don’t want to go halfway. I want something dramatic. I want people to notice. Last time I cut my hair the only person that noticed (including my sisters and mother) was my brother-in-law. Sad. I’m thinking red. Not like apple red, more deep, almost maroon red. Obviously I’d search out pictures and find a good color before I just go in and say “Dye it red.”

I’m totally open to suggestions though. The only thing I want is for it to be really different. I don’t just want a different color brown and I’m pretty sure I couldn’t pull off blond. So that pretty much leaves me with red right?

Thoughts? Opinions? Comments? Go!