Don’t you hate it when
you rack your brain thinking of the perfect Halloween costume, only to realize
that it requires you to have blue hair/green tips/rainbow highlights/or any
other crazy hair color combo! Luckily
there are many temporary hair color techniques.
Spray on Color
You waited until the
last minute (as many do) and you now need to go from blonde to blue in the next
10min or else your Halloween costume will be a total bust. The solution for
this scenario can only be found in a can. This quick-fix technique is pitted
with pros and cons.
Cons:
- Don't expect the color on the can to look the same once it's in your hair.
- Chances are your color won't only end up in your hair. If you plan on dancing the night away, you'll have to do so without sweating in order to keep the color from running everywhere.
- Accuracy can be tricky with a spray nozzle.
- With a steady hand you can actually achieve quite a cool effect with the spray can.
- Great if overall hair coverage is what you're looking for.
- As you can see, Nicki Minaj took this technique from pre-school to super-cool, so it's totally Halloween acceptable.
Hair Chalking
You have a bit more time
on your hands, and you're looking to add some pops of color to your hair, that
won't melt away before the night is through. We recommend hair chalking. Kelly Osbourne committed to a full-on dye job for her infamous lavender locks, but if you're looking to emulate her look for Halloween this is the perfect technique for getting the pastel shades that are super trendy right now! The
process is quite simple (but one of the messier ones, so grab a towel and an old t-shirt before you begin):
- Pick your favorite chalk colors and apply to damp hair
(the chalk allows for a much more accurate application).
- The beauty of this method is that you can seal in the
color. Spritz with a bit of hair spray, something like the Amika Obliphica Blow-Up Spray works well because it also acts as a heat protectant for the next step. Apply heat with
a flat iron or blow-dryer. Once the color is locked in it's a lot less
likely to rub off on your adorable costume, or run down and ruin your
makeup.
- And if you're a bit weary of putting chalk in your
hair, makeup is another alternative. A high pigmented eyeshadow is a quick
way to add some strategically placed color to your hair, especially faux-highlights. You many not get as vibrant of colors, but the technique is
pretty much the same as with using the chalk.
Kool-Aid Coloring
BE WARNED: This is a semi-permanent hair coloring technique. It will fade, but expect it to take more than a single wash. For all of you lucky ladies who's natural color is dark, don't think you have to reach for the bleach in order to add some color to your hair, like Vanessa Hudgens' purple tips. What's so amazing about the Kool-Aid coloring technique is that you can get a really pigmented color that will show up on dark hair by simply...
- Playing around with the Kool-Aid to water ratios. The Kool-Aid isn't a harsh chemical so feel free to add as much as you like to get a more pigmented dye. (But make sure the mix is able to fully dissolve in the water.)
- Double dipping, it's ok for once! Dip your hair, then let it dry for a few minutes before dipping it again.
- Like with any semi-permanent color, try not to shampoo directly after coloring.
xo
Quedah
