How to remove black hair dye
Are you tired of your natural hair color and thinking of dying it black? Or maybe you already did it and now hate the result? Black is a beautiful and dramatic color, but dying your hair black at home, especially if your natural shade is much lighter, is not a very good idea. Black hair dye is so saturated that it penetrates deeper into the hair shaft and, because of that, it so much harder to remove.
That’s why, before dying your hair black, you should always consult your stylist and if you can, have it done professionally. If the damage is already done, however, the best thing to do is to wait for your hair to grown out again and then cut it off.
But if that’s not an option for you and you already hate your new hair so much you can’t stand it a minute longer, you can try it and remove the dye, but the process can be long, frustrating and damaging to your hair. Again, your best bet is to go to your salon and let your stylist take care of it, but if your hair is newly dyed, you could try and fix it at home too. Here’s how:
Chemical Color Removers
Chemical Color Removers are special products that remove color from hair without bleaching it. Instead, they shrink the oxidative color molecules present in permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes so that they can be washed out of your hair. Although you can find some of these products at the drugstore, it’s a lot safer to have it done by a professional.
Bleaching
Do not try and bleach your hair at home, especially if you have never done it before. Bleaching can remove black dye, but the process is so harsh, you can end up damaging your hair even more. Bleaching peels away the outer layer of your hair, making it weak and fragile which can lead to thinning and breakage. Not only that, but bleaching can lighten up your hair unevenly, so that you can end up with your strands being of several different hues! Again, if you need to have your hair bleached, always go to the salon and have it done professionally.
Shampoo
The safest, less harming thing you can do at home to remove black hair dye is wash your hair with dandruff or clarifying shampoos. These are harsher than regular shampoos and will strip some color off your hair with every wash. But this method doesn’t work straight away: it may take days or even weeks before all the dye is completely removed from your hair.
How long it will take depends on the type of dye you used (permanent takes the longest to fade), how many times a day/week you wash your hair and how soon you started shampooing after the dye was applied. If you just dyed your hair and decided you don’t like it, you have better chances of removing a lot of the color straight away, which won’t happen if you wait a couple of days.
Keep in mind though that washing your hair often with such harsh shampoos will also strip natural oil from your hair, making your hair dry and brittle. It is very important to always apply conditioner afterwards to avoid that from happening and make sure your hair will remain in good condition.
Have you ever dyed your hair black and regretted it? What did you do about it?
Source: size8jeans
3 Tricks to Hide Roots
When I was in high school, I used to dye my hair blonde. I thought I was really cool back then, but now when I look back at the pictures I cringe. Blonde hair made me look so washed out! I wish I had realized that at the time, but back then the only problem I had with my hair was the outgrown roots.
Being a student meant that I couldn’t afford to dye my hair as often as I needed to so I had to resort to other tricks to hide my natural hair color growing back again. These same tricks can also be used by people who are battling with gray hair and want to cover it up. Here’s what you can do:
1. Use mascara
Hair mascaras are useful, yet less known products, to touch up hair roots. They come in different shades and all you need to do is swipe the wand on your roots and wait till it dries. If you have brown or black hair, your regular brown or black mascara will do the trick too. Just be careful not to get your hair wet or the mascara will smudge and make you look a right mess!
2. Baby powder
If your hair is light-colored, applying some baby powder on the roots can help to disguise them. If you don’t have baby powder at home, dry shampoo will work just as well. In addition, these powders will also help absorb excess oil and are therefore great for days when you don’t have time to wash your hair.
3. Wear some hair accessories
If you don’t have time to retouch your roots with any products, you can always hide them with a stylish headband or scarf. There are many types available on the market in any color and design, so you’ll surely be able to find something that you’ll love. If you’re spending time outdoors, you can choose to wear a hat instead. The result will be the same: covered roots and a polished look.
How do you cover up your roots?
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3 Tips to Survive a Bad Hair Day
We have all had bad hair days. We wake up in the morning, realise our hair is a complete mess and try our best to make it look good! But no matter what we do, nothing seems to work! And the worst thing is that it always seems to happen when we have an important work meeting or a date with someone we like. What can we do to look good on days like that? Here are a few tips:
1. Wear your hair up
If I’m having a bad hair day and no time to wash it, I usually wear my hair up. I like to throw it in a ponytail or a messy bun and sometimes, I jazz it up by wearing a headband or some other cute hair accessory. This way, no one will notice that my hair is having a bad day and people will simply think that messy but chic is the look I was going for.
2. Dry shampoo/baby powder
Another trick for when I don’t have time to wash my hair is to use a dry shampoo. These contain ingredients like cornstarch or talc that absorb excess oil. I just spray it on my hair, brush it and I’m good to go. My hair may still feel dirty but it’ll look good until I have time to wash it properly. If you don’t have dry shampoo, you can use baby powder. Just rub it on your hair and it will absorb oil while giving you some volume too.
3. Wear a hat
I’m not a hat person but when all else fails or I’m in such a rush that I don’t even have the time to style my hair in a ponytail, I’ll just grab a hat and run out the door. There are lots of different types of hats out there, in different colors and styles, so you’re sure to find a cute one that’ll look fantastic on you. And in the cold winter months, a hat won’t only cover a bad hair day, but will keep your head warm too.
What do you do when you’re having a bad hair day?
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How often do you clean your hair brushes?
Hello ladies (and men too),
do you clean your hair brushes regularly? I try and clean mine about every 10 days but I admit I forget sometimes. Which is very bad of me cos hair brushes collect dirt, product build up and gunk and will transfer all that back to your freshly-washed hair if you don’t clean them properly.
And that’s the last thing we all want right? But if that thought alone isn’t off-putting enough for you, there is another reason why you should wash your brushes often. A good hair brush will last for years if you take proper care of it and you won’t have to rush out and buy a new one every time it gets too dirty.
Here’s how I clean my hair brushes:
1. With the help of a wide-toothed comb, I remove all strands of hair and other visible gunk from the hair brush. I always make sure to do this holding the brush over a trash can to avoid making a mess on the floor or sink.
2. Then, I put some water in a bowl (but you can fill up your sink if you prefer) and add a couple of drops of a gentle shampoo or dish soap, depending on what I have at hand. They both work fine. Now, I soak the bristles of the brush in the water for a few minutes to loosen up the dirt still on it.
3. Using a comb, I go through the brush bristles again to scrub away any remaining gunk and dirt. Once, the brush is completely clean, I rinse it off with lukewarm water. Then, I tap off any excess water and let it air-dry.
Cleaning tips
- Some brushes come with cleaning instructions, so make sure you follow them properly.
- Do not soak wooden brushes in water. That’s because water can be absorbed by the wood and ruin the brush.
How do you clean your hair brushes? And how often?
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Is blow drying bad for hair?
Blow-drying is the quickest and most common way to dry your own hair. It also adds some volume, which is something that my very straight, flat hair badly needs. But I really really hate blow-drying my hair! It is so boring and doesn’t make my hair look better.
In fact, it looks shinier when I let it air-dry, which is what I prefer to do whenever I can. Unfortunately that takes too long so it’s not always possible and I still have to use a blow dryer sometimes. But while blow-drying every now and then, if done correctly, is fine, overdrying causes damage to hair.
Heat damages hair
The heat from the blow dryer can remove too much moisture from the hair, causing it to become dry and brittle. In addition, it can also damage the cuticles. These are the outermost layers of hair strands formed by proteins held together by a glue-like substance. Their function is to protect the hair from damage. But the heat can degrade this “glue”, making the cuticles become weak. As a result, your hair is not only dull, but also prone to be damaged when you comb or brush it.
Blow-drying tips
This doesn’t mean that you have to avoid blow-drying, but doing it every day may not be a good idea. And, if you have to use a blow dryer, keep these tips in mind:
- before blow-drying, blot water out of your hair with a towel
- keep the temperature low
- don’t hold the blow dryer too close to your head. Keep it at least six inches away
- move the blow dryer constantly around your head and lift the outer hair strands while doing so. This will prevent them from excessive dryness.
- don’t use a blow dryer for too long and, if you can, don’t dry your hair completely but stop when the hair is a bit damp.
Do you use a blow dryer or do you prefer to let your hair air dry?