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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by tabitha on August 15, 2004, at 21:14:03
In reply to Re: Hair coloring is an art » tabitha, posted by gabbix2 on August 15, 2004, at 16:48:43
I put brown henna on it, right before discovering some dire warnings about henna on top of highlights. But.. miraculously I think it looks better. The bozo orange is darker red, and the rest is darker brown. It isn't dry yet, but it looks promising. Oh and I deep-conditioned with Nexum Humectress and my normal texture came back.
Maybe I just wasn't meant to be blond.
Neutrogena fake tan is what I used-- but the lotion, not the foam. It said it was gradual build-up tan, so I figured it would be safer. Maybe I should've exfoliated first? It isn't too bad looking though. I swear, the girl I saw who had used it looked gorgeous. I couldn't tell it was fake. She had it all over.
Posted by gabbix2 on August 15, 2004, at 21:43:04
In reply to Re: well this is interesting.., posted by tabitha on August 15, 2004, at 21:14:03
Oh I'm so glad the Henna worked, I thought about it and realized that henna has probably improved
drastically in the 20 years since I used it
on Highlights, and it had warning on the box to not use it on highlighted hair which I didn't see until after I used it. So if your box didn't have the warning, it probably wasn't necessary.
I'm glad it worked out!
Posted by Jai Narayan on August 15, 2004, at 22:21:33
In reply to Re: Hair coloring is an art » Jai Narayan, posted by tabitha on August 15, 2004, at 16:23:44
You are so darling. I know it!
Posted by tabitha on August 15, 2004, at 22:21:39
In reply to Re: well this is interesting.. » tabitha, posted by gabbix2 on August 15, 2004, at 21:43:04
I read on the internet that it can turn your hair green or black if it's been dyed with certain types of chemical dyes.. but I was feeling adventurous. It looks a little unnatural, but I like it anyway. It's got 3 different colors in it. Reddish gold, reddish brown, and some plain brown.
This just validates my whole do-it-yourself approach to hair care.
Plus I used my special one-chop haircut technique. I put it in a ponytail at the nape of my neck, then put elastics about every inch down to the desired length, then hack off the end.
I feel pretty, oh so pretty...
Posted by Ilene on August 16, 2004, at 14:56:22
In reply to Haircolor experts?, posted by tabitha on August 14, 2004, at 23:21:41
I've been thinking about getting my hair colored. It's getting dull and gray. I hate seeing women with gray roots, though. It looks so tacky. I don't want to commit to visiting a salon every week.
The other thing is that my hair is getting so thin! I've been using generic Rogaine (from Target) for about three weeks. I realize it'll be a few more weeks before I see any results, if any. I feel ugly every time I look in the mirror. I don't know if hair color will make me feel any better. My hair used to be extremely thick.
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on August 16, 2004, at 21:05:26
In reply to Haircolor experts?, posted by tabitha on August 14, 2004, at 23:21:41
I am not an expert by any means. What I know about some highlighting kits - it's almost pure peroxide Most are for someone with dark blonde going blonder. Peroxide is really hard on the hair. Hair color is achieved in stages of what they call lifting power or how much peroxide is in the mix. It depends on how much peroxide is in the mix and how long it was on the hair to get to a certain level of lift. Also, in hair salons they will put someone under a hair dryer to speed up the time it takes for the hair to turn lighter. Once you lift color out of your hair, you hair will be more delicate. You will need to use color treated shampoos and conditioners. A deep conditioner should be used directly after lifting color from the hair.
Today's latest tread of styles are calling all colors even the darkest of brunette to put pale streaks in their hair. A brunette with darkest hair coloring would need a high lift to get a pale blonde streak. They would strip the color from the hair. The color goes through all the brown, reds, red-oranges, orange, yellow, yellow-oranges, then to the pale blonde.
But even with lets say Pamela Anderson's hair, her hair is a two step process. They lift her color to the lightest they can get her natural medium brunette hair, then they apply a blonde toner. Her hair color would be hard to achieve at home.
It it common for singers like Britney Spears to have highlights and color. In other words, they color all of her roots one color and then put in hightlights on top in other areas. Of course, they use hair extentions of an another blonde shade woven in for depth and length.
You mentioned your hair has red in it. Now, I don't know if your hair is red-brown? But, if you are trying to get to a blonde, a hairdresser is going to lift the red out of your hair until they get to a blonde level. That may be 3 levels or 5. It depends on how dark your hair is. Also, they choose a base color to put in highlights - (ash), (yellow) or (neutral). The bases are mixed with the percent peroxide (lifting power) to blend in with your particular skin tone. Some hairdressers just say, "I am going to mix up your hair color". What they are doing is picking a color like you wanted. They mix it with a percent peroxide lift depending on how dark your hair is. They may add a little color with a gold, ash, or neutral base to get the shade just right for you. They come out with it in a bowl. If it comes out okay, they right their receipe down on a card for you. Sometimes, you can get a hairdresser to tell you the name of the color and the lift they used. But, not usually.
I would go to a hairdresser to get the look you desire. I don't care for those comb in kits, because they can bleed through to other areas. The foiling that the hairdressers do prevents that.
Posted by tabitha on August 17, 2004, at 0:32:53
In reply to Haircoloring, posted by Ilene on August 16, 2004, at 14:56:22
I hate thinning. I'll take gray over thinning anyday! Mine got really thin, I think from meds, but it's mostly came back. It still isn't as thick as it used to be. I just couldn't imagine myself sticking to 2x daily rogaine for life, so I'm just living with it. I cut it shorter and added some layers in front-- that helps it look fuller.
Posted by tabitha on August 17, 2004, at 0:38:49
In reply to Re: Haircolor experts?, posted by Shadowplayers721 on August 16, 2004, at 21:05:26
yup, it was a learning experience. My hair doesn't like peroxide. It sure is impossible to get nice distribution with those comb-in kits. Maybe the kind with the cap with holes in it would do better, but I hear those can leak too.
I'm just not enough of a salon person to commit to regular coloring.
For now I've gone back to henna. I'm going to see how unnaturally bright red I can get it. The good thing about henna is that it isn't damaging. Plus it smells like spinach or hay instead of ammonia.
Posted by Ilene on August 17, 2004, at 12:06:59
In reply to Re: Haircoloring » Ilene, posted by tabitha on August 17, 2004, at 0:32:53
> I hate thinning. I'll take gray over thinning anyday! Mine got really thin, I think from meds, but it's mostly came back. It still isn't as thick as it used to be. I just couldn't imagine myself sticking to 2x daily rogaine for life, so I'm just living with it. I cut it shorter and added some layers in front-- that helps it look fuller.
I also hate the thinning more than the graying. It's possible the thinning is from meds, but the derm said "female pattern baldness" was more likely. I'm having a hard time living with it. It really contributes to my feelings of depression and loss of self-esteem. The rogaine is worth it even if it just stops further loss.
Posted by Dinah on August 17, 2004, at 14:47:06
In reply to Re: Haircolor experts? » Shadowplayers721, posted by tabitha on August 17, 2004, at 0:38:49
> I'm just not enough of a salon person to commit to regular coloring.
>A very timely thing for me to read. I was about to call my salon and tell them I'd commit to whatever it took if they could manage to get my hair the right shade of blonde. But I'd just be kidding myself. I'm not enough of a salon person, either. It's another baffling ordeal to me, not to mention a big money commitment.
They probably couldn't manage it anyway. I don't see that soft young girl blonde on many adults who do or don't go to the salon.
For the time being, at least, I'll stick with the auburn semipermanent.
Thanks for saying the right thing at just the time I needed to hear it. :)
Dinah
Posted by tabitha on August 17, 2004, at 23:33:37
In reply to Re: Haircolor experts?, posted by Dinah on August 17, 2004, at 14:47:06
I always feel inadequate as a woman at salons, like I'm supposed to chatter away to the person working on my hair, and I fail. :-( Plus I hate hate hate having to sit facing a mirror for so long. Then they always want to blow it out, and I end up with TV anchorwoman helmet hair. My hair really needs to dry naturally. The only good part about the salon is the shampoo, and getting to wear the cape.
I've found my solution for now-- I used henna twice and now my hair is bright orangey red. I enjoy the henna process-- it's kind of like playing with mud. Very do-it-yourself, retro-hippie. Perfect for me. I wonder if I can get it even redder, more like ketchup.
And once you've henna'd, it isn't safe to use chemical dye-- so this should discourage any further unwise experimentation.
Posted by tabitha on August 18, 2004, at 0:38:21
In reply to Re: Haircoloring, posted by Ilene on August 17, 2004, at 12:06:59
>
> I also hate the thinning more than the graying. It's possible the thinning is from meds, but the derm said "female pattern baldness" was more likely. I'm having a hard time living with it. It really contributes to my feelings of depression and loss of self-esteem. The rogaine is worth it even if it just stops further loss.I hope the Rogaine works for you. I got really upset when I had a lot of loss, and also became quite obsessed with scrutinizing my hairline and other women's hair. I wasn't brave enough to go to a derm. I almost didn't want to know the truth. Now that it's grown back as much as it seems like it's going to, I'm still afraid to look at old pictures of myself. I know my hairline is different.
I've always been kind of invested in my hair. It was the one feature I was consistently proud of, and I didn't expect it to change that much as I aged.
Posted by gardenergirl on August 18, 2004, at 3:10:36
In reply to Re: Haircoloring » Ilene, posted by tabitha on August 18, 2004, at 0:38:21
Funny that you should mention hair changing as you age...mine has become curly. It was always very straight with cowlicks and a bit of a useless wave if it felt like "acting out". Now it is thicker (wish I could share with y'all) and curly. I attribute the thicker to pre-natal vitamins, but what's up with the curly? I like it though...I can wear it both ways. I told my T early on that my hair was bi-polar. Now I think he checks out my hair like a barometer for my mood! ;) Of course it actually depends on what it wants to do after I wash it...nothing to do with mood.
Now here's my color issue. I see my T for the first time since he's back from vacation this afternoon and I've got gray roots an inch long. I just have to color it. I can't go in there like this. Isn't that silly? I feel like he will know how depressed I am if I go without being well-groomed. But then, I'll talk about it anyway, so why not fit the look to the mood? Ack!
Also lunch with girlfriends, so I really have to get busy this a.m. Pedicure looks awful, too.
I'm such a high-maintenance girl.... sigh
gg
Posted by Jai Narayan on August 18, 2004, at 8:23:07
In reply to Re: salons » Dinah, posted by tabitha on August 17, 2004, at 23:33:37
> I always feel inadequate as a woman at salons, like I'm supposed to chatter away to the person working on my hair, and I fail.
**I just close my eyes and rest deeply while she cuts my hair. I also have to put in ear plugs because the hair gets into my ears and causes problems....
> Plus I hate hate hate having to sit facing a mirror for so long. Then they always want to blow it out, and I end up with TV anchorwoman helmet hair. My hair really needs to dry naturally.
***I ask her to let my hair dry naturally so she doesn't blow dry my hair.
> I wonder if I can get it even redder, more like ketchup.
***I have seen that color on African tribes men and it's amazing. I loved using Henna but now my hair is so white henna turns it a slight pink. Ugh.
Posted by Dinah on August 18, 2004, at 10:24:41
In reply to Re: salons » Dinah, posted by tabitha on August 17, 2004, at 23:33:37
Yeah, that's how I feel about them too.
Plus they're just confusing places. I go to a very large salon with an excellent reputation. But it's a bustling place, I always have to give my shampoo lady a tip right after my shampoo because I'll never figure out who she is again. Tipping as a whole, in anything but restaurants, intimidates me. In restaurants, you just add it to the bill. Everywhere else, cash must change hands. :( I have the feeling my stylist, while perfectly polite, doesn't think much of me. I'm not sure I think much of her after hearing her use racial epithets last time. I really like a smaller salon.
After last time with the bad haircolor, the uneven ends to my hair, and the racial epithets I promised myself that I wouldn't go back there. But I want two inches off my hair, and guess where I'm going. :(
The idea of finding a new salon is just too overwhelming. Someone at the office gave me the name of her place, but it's her sister. What if I don't like it? Then I'll be insulting her sister by not going back. A relative cuts my family's hair, but they have this huge embarassment around tipping and don't feel right about *not* tipping, and that's even worse - plus what if I don't like them?
Sigh. The best person I ever found was by asking a complete stranger on the street. I stayed with him till he retired. But I'm not sure I'm up to asking perfect strangers.
Posted by AuntieMel on August 18, 2004, at 10:37:34
In reply to Re: salons » tabitha, posted by Dinah on August 18, 2004, at 10:24:41
I always had problems finding a good place, too. I had found a girl that did highlights prefectly. She changed shops twice and I tracked her down. Third time I couldn't find her. Ugh.
Then I spent a very long time just going for cuts. My hair was almost to my tush at the time, so it didn't take any great skill.
Finally I got lucky. I knew a guy from some volunteer work we were both doing and I knew he did hair, but I wasn't comfy going to him because of the tipping thing. I finally did go there, though, and it turned out to be one of the top places in town. He cuts great and is brilliant with highlighting. They blend in so well I can go for months without touchups.
Sure hope he stays healthy!
Posted by Ilene on August 18, 2004, at 11:38:14
In reply to Re: Haircoloring » Ilene, posted by tabitha on August 18, 2004, at 0:38:21
I find myself looking at other women's hair, and spending too much time in front of the mirror seeing how much of my scalp shows through. I don't think it's noticeable to other people, but it's obvious to me. A pony tail is awfully skinny. The texture has become very fine. It feels silky, which is nice, but I'd much rather have my thick hair back.
It'll be months before I can see results, if any, from the Rogaine. BTW, Target sells a generic that costs about half as much.
Posted by Jai Narayan on August 18, 2004, at 20:25:04
In reply to Hair loss, posted by Ilene on August 18, 2004, at 11:38:14
I hated it when I was losing my hair. I know how you must feel.
I did everything to get my hair back. I did sublingual 1000 mg biotin, vitamin B complex, washed my hair less often, didn't blow dry it, got my blood tested for thyroid problems...etc. I freaked.
My hair loss turned out to be the product that I was dying my hair with...duh!
I understand why you are using Rogaine.
Is Rogaine expensive?
There are many herbs and vitamins that can help.
Posted by Ilene on August 18, 2004, at 23:13:40
In reply to Re: Hair loss, posted by Jai Narayan on August 18, 2004, at 20:25:04
Rogaine costs about $50-55 for a three month supply. The generic (available at Target and probably other places) is about half that.
Posted by Jai Narayan on August 19, 2004, at 9:15:51
In reply to Re: Hair loss » Jai Narayan, posted by Ilene on August 18, 2004, at 23:13:40
does the generic brand work 1/2 as well?
The herbs and vitamins I took were good for my skin and bones as well.
Horsetail is one of the plants. Biotin and vitamin B complex.
Do you take these?
Posted by TexasChic on August 19, 2004, at 11:01:13
In reply to Re: Haircoloring » Ilene, posted by tabitha on August 18, 2004, at 0:38:21
I know you've already colored with the henna, but I thought I'd tell you anyway that there are shampoos for the brassiness that work really well. There are different brands and the shampoo itself is dark purple. Its what they use on little old lady's white hair to make it bright white rather than a yellowish white. From what I can figure out, it deposits some type of shimmery white stuff in your hair to tone down brassiness. You don't have to use it everyday, but you do have to keep using it periodically or it will wash out. I don't know if it would help with your current situation, and I've never used it on my hair since I've dyed it red. But when I was using SunIn and over the counter lighteners, the shampoo kept it more of a beige blond than orangey blond.
Posted by Ilene on August 19, 2004, at 11:52:42
In reply to Re: Hair loss, posted by Jai Narayan on August 19, 2004, at 9:15:51
The percentage of active ingredient is the same in the generic Rogaine, so it should work the same.
I take vitamins and minerals, but no herbs. I have to be careful about what I take because I'm on an MAOI.
Posted by tabitha on August 19, 2004, at 13:37:16
In reply to Re: Haircoloring » tabitha, posted by TexasChic on August 19, 2004, at 11:01:13
Posted by Dinah on August 21, 2004, at 11:12:18
In reply to Re: salons » Dinah, posted by tabitha on August 17, 2004, at 23:33:37
Wow. I'm impressed. I didn't think they liked anything not done in their salon. But she said that I was right in thinking I couldn't achieve the color of my youth. Now why do you suppose with all the scientific advances, that they can't make a soft little girl blonde hair color? And she said she liked the depth and the auburn color, and that you can't really go wrong with the semi-permanent colors for do it yourself coloring.
So I guess I'll stick with auburn for a while.
Posted by tabitha on August 21, 2004, at 15:44:52
In reply to Re: My stylist likes my haircolor!, posted by Dinah on August 21, 2004, at 11:12:18
Great! Speaking of little-girl hair, my mom actually saved my first couple of haircuts. So I've got a single little red curl that was cut off my baby head, then a lovely clump of strawberry blond silk that was cut off my 5-yr-old head (terrible home haircut there-- mom what were you thinking?). Little girl hair is so pretty isn't it?
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