NationStates Jolt Archive

Are they just for teenagers?

So I've been toying with the idea of dyeing my hair pink or blue or maybe just some unnaturally bright red. It seems like it would be a lot of fun, if only for a little while and well, hair grows back and brown hair dye exists so I could go back whenever I wanted. It might be because I never went through the rainbow hair colour phase when I was a teenager and I figure that if I don't do it before I get a real job (i.e. stop being a grad student) I probably won't do it at all because real jobs sometimes have these expectations for a person's appearance and all this nonsense while I'm already employed here and my supervisor is mostly concerned that I do good work, not that I look normal.

At any rate, what do you think of hair colours that aren't found in nature?

When I was in my 40s, my hair was purple for a time. And when I look at all the women my age who have blue, pink and peach colored hair, I really don't see an issue.

Use a temporary dye that washes out over a period of time. I colored mine purple while I was working for UCRiverside. I was also doing RenFaire and us Fairefolk are weird, my boss did take that into consideration and was ok with it as long as I didn't wear garb to work (There were mostly men where I work - she thought the bodice would be a distraction).

Use a temporary dye that washes out over a period of time. I colored mine purple while I was working for UCRiverside. I was also doing RenFaire and us Fairefolk are weird, my boss did take that into consideration and was ok with it as long as I didn't wear garb to work (There were mostly men where I work - she thought the bodice would be a distraction).
The problem with temporary dyes is that I've got a medium-dark brown hair colour naturally, I have to go blonde before I can do any of this (well, I don't think I've encountered any fun colours that aren't temporary anyways). I mostly didn't impulse buy pink dye today because I don't know much about safe (well, non totally hair-trashing) bleaching procedures.

I don't mind if other people dye their hair unnatural colors, but I don't find it atractive. And I'd never dye my hair. *Hugs deep red hair*

Honestly, I think people look best when they have their own, natural, hair color, undyed, unhighlighted or untinted. It is becoming of them, and fits their own skin tone better than any artificial hair coloration, be it creepy bleach blonde, or any other coloration that they are not naturally.

Meh, up to you. Just be careful with your hair. I've seen some of the bad things that happen when virgin hair means what's supposed to be temporary dye.

I don't mind if other people dye their hair unnatural colors, but I don't find it atractive. And I'd never dye my hair. *Hugs deep red hair*
If my hair was naturally red I wouldn't dye it either. Red hair is beautiful.

If my hair was naturally red I wouldn't dye it either. Red hair is beautiful.

Yes. Yes it is. *Is very vain about his natural hair color*

Meh, up to you. Just be careful with your hair. I've seen some of the bad things that happen when virgin hair means what's supposed to be temporary dye.
I've only seen bad things happen to blondes (one girl in my class in high school bought "temporary" black hair dye for hallowe'en, she had to get her hair stripped until the roots were white for it to even go brown). I've only even dyed my hair red before (it's a faded red with massive roots now... which makes the red dye fading not so bad) and I've never bleached it so this is a bit of a worry for me.

Yes. Yes it is. *Is very vain about his natural hair color*
Well, plus if one has red hair and dyes it pink, the roots will totally clash with everything else.

At the same time, it can be very striking and work quite well to have brightly colored hair. All depends on what you choose to do with it.

I'd say... hey, you can get away with it! Gooooo!

Honestly, every person who does something "odd" with their hair/body/person and then just leads their perfectly otherwise normal life in the public eye helps accustom the world to a little more variation. Sometimes I tell myself that's why I have a great big beard.

At the same time, it can be very striking and work quite well to have brightly colored hair. All depends on what you choose to do with it.

I'd say... hey, you can get away with it! Gooooo!

Honestly, every person who does something "odd" with their hair/body/person and then just leads their perfectly otherwise normal life in the public eye helps accustom the world to a little more variation. Sometimes I tell myself that's why I have a great big beard.
So if I go off and get some facial piercings*, I'll be doing my duty to add variety to the world?


*not something I'm likely to do unless I have to get the mole on my nose biopsied or something in which case it will be replaced with a stud.

I've only seen bad things happen to blondes (one girl in my class in high school bought "temporary" black hair dye for hallowe'en, she had to get her hair stripped until the roots were white for it to even go brown). I've only even dyed my hair red before (it's a faded red with massive roots now... which makes the red dye fading not so bad) and I've never bleached it so this is a bit of a worry for me.
My sister isn't blond, she has brown hair that borders on black, but the braid she dyed ended up green there for a while.

If my job didn't state I had to have natural coloured hair, mine would be pink (like it used to be (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/Hobopea/Me/DSCF0045.jpg)). As it is, I get away with having un-natural red on the underneath layers of my hair, subtle enough that work don't care.

I say go for it.

I have on occasions experienced the temptation to shave my head, paint solid red stripes on my cheeks, get contacts that turn the whites of my eyes black, and sharpen my teeth to points. Inexplicably this does not ever seem to help the situation at hand. (I blame it on the lack of theme music to accompany my appearance.)

Depends. Dark green looks really cool.

So if I go off and get some facial piercings*, I'll be doing my duty to add variety to the world?


*not something I'm likely to do unless I have to get the mole on my nose biopsied or something in which case it will be replaced with a stud.
Mmhm. Although personally, I don't recommend anything that will tear when you sneeze, or give your dentist fits.

I'm a fan. I cut all my hair off, bleached it and dyed it blue my whole first year of college. Never colored it again after, I got it out of my system.

My mom, however, is considering letting her hair grow out silver and highlighting it purple/green/pink/etc bits. She's the kind of person who could pull it off.

As far as professionals and hair color I find that those in the office are to embarrased, or shy, to say anything to you.

As an engineer I dyed the tip of my ponytail bright purple: giving me natural bleach blonde with bright purple.

The ones who said something where the technitions on the line, and they where having fun with it. Its fun if you enjoy having fun with it: of course if your easily embarrassed I'd avoid it.

I'd do it again if I felt like keeping it up.

Mmhm. Although personally, I don't recommend anything that will tear when you sneeze, or give your dentist fits.

Meh. I've had my nose-ring for about 13 years and it's never caused a problem with either sneezing or my dentist.

And, as for the topic, go for it. Different is good. And people are often more tolerant and accepting than you might expect.

My sister isn't blond, she has brown hair that borders on black, but the braid she dyed ended up green there for a while.
She found green hair dye that goes on top of brown hair and actually shows?

If you're not yet 30 you can probably still get away with weird dyes. However, after you pass that point, you've got to be careful that you don't start looking like Mrs. Slocombe.
For the love of God, though, don't dye it multiple colors. I had a classmate in high school who used to do Red/Green at Christmas, Orange/Black at Halloween, etc; it was like going to school with a clown.

Mmhm. Although personally, I don't recommend anything that will tear when you sneeze, or give your dentist fits.
Well, I've considered a tongue ring but haven't done this because of the potential dental issues although apparently most of these issues are solved by having it back far enough and made out of a material softer than your teeth (i.e. better to have the ball of your tongue ring break than your teeth).

The only reason I don't have a nose ring is because I have a mole where one would go so it almost looks like I have one anyways (and getting the other side done would just look silly).

I should also add that I'm probably getting my inner conch pierced whenever I'm not going to be traveling anywhere/won't be using headphones for a while/have time to deal with a piercing that's healing (in the event that there are complications).

If you're not yet 30 you can probably still get away with weird dyes. However, after you pass that point, you've got to be careful that you don't start looking like Mrs. Slocombe.
For the love of God, though, don't dye it multiple colors. I had a classmate in high school who used to do Red/Green at Christmas, Orange/Black at Halloween, etc; it was like going to school with a clown.
I was thinking that like having the back blue and the front pink could be fun... but I'd just do one colour at first.

I think they're fabulous if done right.

Very sorry, but the first thing I though of was the octogenarian with the blue-tinted white hair..... *ducks for cover*

I once saw a girl in the Village who had her black hair cut short into a pixie cut, and had every other strand dyed teal. My God, was it gorgeous... like a peacock.

I used to have long hair in High School; I used to let the girls play with it during study halls and ended up with hair in a myriad of colors and sparkles and other things. One time my sister and her freindsput 157 braids in my hair and deyed each one either pink, yellow, blue, orange, or red (too mach the bands they used in it). I kept it that way for a week and had multicolored hair for about a month.

I once saw a girl in the Village who had her black hair cut short into a pixie cut, and had every other strand dyed teal. My God, was it gorgeous... like a peacock.

You should have accosted her and demanded pics. Or done the same yourself. Peacockganistan!

if you have to bleach it before you dye it, it can be very hard on your hair. instead of soft and manageable it can turn to straw.

get a professional to do it for you.

if you have to bleach it before you dye it, it can be very hard on your hair. instead of soft and manageable it can turn to straw.

get a professional to do it for you.
I've had bits of my hair bleached before and reading about it it does seem to be a possible issue, but it also seems that as long as you don't exceed the recommended time on the instructions, prep your hair properly and look after it well with some good conditioners (as well as not washing it for a bit to let it recover) and like, wait a couple of days before going lighter then it seems like it shouldn't be too hard. I would have to enlist help though and make a garbage bag shirt or something.

If professionals didn't charge obscene amounts of money to do it or if I had lots of money to spend on my hair, I would probably go that route though.

You should have accosted her and demanded pics. Or done the same yourself. Peacockganistan!
I'm a New Yorker. We're too cool to accost people and take pics of their hair... in New York.

I don't have the nerve, or the coloring, for blue-green. Maybe purple...

When I was in my 40s, my hair was purple for a time. And when I look at all the women my age who have blue, pink and peach colored hair, I really don't see an issue.

Use a temporary dye that washes out over a period of time. I colored mine purple while I was working for UCRiverside. I was also doing RenFaire and us Fairefolk are weird, my boss did take that into consideration and was ok with it as long as I didn't wear garb to work (There were mostly men where I work - she thought the bodice would be a distraction).
Do you also participate in the SCA?


Just as a quick comment-- for the most part, te clothes commonly accepted now as normal would be scandelous durin either the middle ages or Renissance.

Not all dresses were corseted.

On the subject of odd hair colors, mine is currently purple in front and my natural blond for the rest.

i think that a great first try is to just get the tips done. it can be a fabulous look --trendy rather than an extreme statement. especially if you go with all-over blue and it doesnt go with your skin color so you look kinda dead. (just a possibility of course)

I've always wanted to do black with blue, but I look like I belong in a mourge when I do anything tha dark.

For a time I wanted to colour my hair Peptobismol pink. Perhaps now that I´m on holiday, I should try the Gwen Stefani pink look. What do you think?

My uncle is a firefighter, and his whole station will dye their hair green on St. Patrick's Day each year. If I'm visiting, they'll do it to me as well.

That's kewl.

Oooh, I'm wanting to get my hair dyed at the moment. But there seem to be thinks thwarting me at every step. Like the hairdresser saying my hair is too short to bleach, and not being able to find a bleach kit in the shops (to be fair it was a Sunday and I wasn't prepared to trek into town).

But anyway, I have a hair dye called Alpine Green. Nice and dark. The woman who sold it to me said that she often gets people complaining about dyes washing out quickly. She always responds 'do you use an head and shoulders', they invariably reply with 'yes'. Apparently the same chemical that is used to strip dandruff from your hair also strips dye.

For a time I wanted to colour my hair Peptobismol pink. Perhaps now that I´m on holiday, I should try the Gwen Stefani pink look. What do you think?

I don't like pink.

I don't like pink.

And purple?

And purple?

Purple is cool. Especially deep purple. One of my bass guitars is purple.

Purple is cool. Especially deep purple. One of my bass guitars is purple.

Dully noted.

I like my hair's natural colour, but when I go grey, I'm planning to dye it rainbow.

Trouble is, old-person complexions don't go with primary colours. But I guess I'll tough it out.

*...tries to remember what it was like to have hair to dye*

I'm a New Yorker. We're too cool to accost people and take pics of their hair... in New York.

I don't have the nerve, or the coloring, for blue-green. Maybe purple...

Woot! Take pics for us!

Purple is cool. Especially deep purple. One of my bass guitars is purple.
Purple would be nice if it wasn't the school colour here. I don't want people to think I have school spirit and then harass me about it (in the way of being like "omg, you totally want to sign up for this and this and this other thing and come watch football or generally bother me). But I like pink or blue better.

At any rate, what do you think of hair colours that aren't found in nature?

I like them, but I'm an otaku. ;)

There's a woman working here with purple hair. I'm pretty sure it's not natural, and the managers haven't fired her yet so I'd say go for it!

DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT!

My hair is black/blue now. It's splendiferous.

I'm in my twenties and still dye my hair blue semi-frequently. I'd say go for it.

I think it's teh sex.

I would love to have silver hair. Very shiny silver hair.

Purple would be nice if it wasn't the school colour here. I don't want people to think I have school spirit and then harass me about it (in the way of being like "omg, you totally want to sign up for this and this and this other thing and come watch football or generally bother me). But I like pink or blue better.

Personally, I'm not fond of pastels, they make me think of old ladies (like me). Unless, of course, it's hot pink, racing pink, electric blue - something that really stands out and screams.

I rather like non-natural hair colors; they look great.

Do you also participate in the SCA?


Just as a quick comment-- for the most part, te clothes commonly accepted now as normal would be scandelous durin either the middle ages or Renissance.

Not all dresses were corseted.

On the subject of odd hair colors, mine is currently purple in front and my natural blond for the rest.

Ooh! SCA FTW! I've been going out to local fighter practices for a year or so(and I'll even complete my armor some day so I can actually authorize), and I've gone to a few events. So much fun! :D

My hair has been... dark blue, purple (various shades), and blood-red, on top of the other, more "natural" colours I've ever coloured it. I enjoyed them all (the blood-red possibly the best), but I'm happy just keeping my hair black now.

I would love to have silver hair. Very shiny silver hair.

I'd love to have silver streaks in my black hair.

My hair has been... dark blue, purple (various shades), and blood-red, on top of the other, more "natural" colours I've ever coloured it. I enjoyed them all (the blood-red possibly the best), but I'm happy just keeping my hair black now.



I'd love to have silver streaks in my black hair.

You'll probably have to do a dye job for that. I have natural streaks in my dark brown hair - I had hoped they would turn silver, instead they're a muddy, yellowish gray. I'm probably going to have to color them silver - hmm, maybe an electric-bluish silver.

I'd love to have silver streaks in my black hair.

I just want pure silver hair.

I just want pure silver hair.

Ooooh, otaku material. Yes, silver hair, like... like... Zero-kun!!:hail:

Ooooh, otaku material. Yes, silver hair, like... like... Zero-kun!!:hail:

:D Indeed. Like Zero-Kun.

Are they just for teenagers?

So I've been toying with the idea of dyeing my hair pink or blue or maybe just some unnaturally bright red. It seems like it would be a lot of fun, if only for a little while and well, hair grows back and brown hair dye exists so I could go back whenever I wanted.

"Only for a little while" is the key.

It attracts lots of attention, including unwanted attention. So after a while, you're walking around scowling at people like "what the hell are you staring at?" because you're sick of what is really pretty shallow curiosity.

But sure, give it a try. Like you say, you can always dye it back.

Personally, I'm not fond of pastels, they make me think of old ladies (like me). Unless, of course, it's hot pink, racing pink, electric blue - something that really stands out and screams.
Oh yeah, nuts to pastel pink, it's going to be bright.

I think I'll wait a bit though since I have a lot of deadlines coming up and then it can be a reward for meeting them/one less distraction that keeps me from meeting them.

Threads such as these are horribly inconsiderate. Won't somebody think of the bald people?

Dakini, I love unnatural hair colors. I want to dye my bangs bright hot pink, but unfortunately for me, that would not be a good idea because of work.

Threads such as these are horribly inconsiderate. Won't somebody think of the bald people?
You could wear a wig.

Threads such as these are horribly inconsiderate. Won't somebody think of the bald people?You could wear a wig.

And then dye it...

Someone I know has this amazing shade of purple in her hair.

Do it.

For a time I wanted to colour my hair Peptobismol pink. Perhaps now that I´m on holiday, I should try the Gwen Stefani pink look. What do you think?Only if the drapes match the curtains?

I've had bits of my hair bleached before and reading about it it does seem to be a possible issueReminds me of how i tried dying my sister's eyebrows yellow and blue, alternately. I was using a piece of tape on each brow, and it was starting to work, i think, until an itch made her barely wake up and she rubbed the tape across her face in a few huge green swaths. It was all i had to not scream out in hideous laughter about it. Then i fell asleep, and heard her screaming awake later, and then my mom screaming. I hid under a bed until i could dive out the window later and spend the day dodging everyone at school and in the bowling alley.
...

i think the're pretty, but chainging them often kills hair. i know someone who was into that a lot, and now they have this really dead gray hair, like someone, from the back you'd think they were like an old man of 70, and the're only in their twenties, so, like a lot of other things in life, there's a tradeoff involved, and which ever side of it someone wants more, well this is one thing, its not going to make the world a better or worse place for anyone else, so to each their own. also like anything else though, nothing is ever quite exactly free.

so i think its pretty on whoever wants to do it to themselves, and i don't think it makes me any better or worse or anything, but my own preference, i'm 60 and i'm only starting to grey, just a little tiney bit arround the edges, and i've never colored my hair in any way at all, and i don't see planing to.

(but i DO like the way it looks on anyone who wants to. well pretty much anyone. some appearances don't benifit from calling attention to themselves, but otherwise, yes, anyone, any age.)

(pps: pink is an ugly color, but turquosis, purples and limes. there was an artist, magenta bob, i really liked what he did, magenta with narrow pumpkin streaks)

i think the're pretty, but chainging them often kills hair. i know someone who was into that a lot, and now they have this really dead gray hair, like someone, from the back you'd think they were like an old man of 70, and the're only in their twenties, so, like a lot of other things in life, there's a tradeoff involved, and which ever side of it someone wants more, well this is one thing, its not going to make the world a better or worse place for anyone else, so to each their own. also like anything else though, nothing is ever quite exactly free.

Dyeing your hair only damages the hair you dye, it does nothing to the new growth. If your friend waits long enough then they'll have normal hair again, unless there's some genetic reason why their hair gets screwed up at such a young age.

so i think its pretty on whoever wants to do it to themselves, and i don't think it makes me any better or worse or anything, but my own preference, i'm 60 and i'm only starting to grey, just a little tiney bit arround the edges, and i've never colored my hair in any way at all, and i don't see planing to.

You lucked out genetically. My mom's the same, although she has sporadically dyed her hair (mostly highlights though... I think) I'm hoping to take after her instead of my dad in this respect.

Only if the drapes match the curtains?
I think you meant carpet matches the drapes? ...and they have special dye for that too. Not that I'd do that.

I think you meant carpet matches the drapes? ...and they have special dye for that too. Not that I'd do that.
I suppose drapes matching curtains would properly refer to dying your roots ^.~ Interesting misstatement.

I'd love to have silver streaks in my black hair.I could help with that.
:D

I think you meant carpet matches the drapes? ...and they have special dye for that too.You're right, i needed more sleep when i typed that. Kinda like now, 'cept i'm a smidge more cognizant at the moment.
Not that I'd do that.Why not?

^.~ Interesting misstatement.Wow, it sounds a smidge creepy when i rethink it. Not really what i meant.
I suppose pink would work for that though. :p