Halloween Hair: "Getting Colorific"

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. 

Pros: 

• 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. 

This technique has been around for quite a while, most likely because it is the thing that people are most likely to already have around the house if you need it. The good thing about this technique is that it works well for achieving the dip-dyed look that is o so hot right now. This DIY video from makeupkatie95 shows just how easy this technique is to achieve:

Now you're well on your way to achieving the perfect hair Halloween hair color. Keep an eye out for our next Halloween Hair post coming next Friday :)

xo
Quedah

Hair Trauma

Why must we take out our relationship woes out on our hair?! We’ve all been there, it’s our hair that really suffers after a rough break-up or some other equally traumatizing life event that leaves us desperate for “a change.” You can probably name more than a few friends who have chopped off their hair or gone from brunette to blonde for this very reason, and are left to regret their rash decisions and complain mercilessly about it soon after. It doesn’t have to be this way! There are plenty of ways to revamp your look when you “just need something new” that won’t end in a what-was-I-thinking moment or damage your hair in the process. I’m sure one of these 3 methods will suffice…

1) Re-part: That’s right, once you and your significant other part, you must “re-part.” Do you always part your hair the same way? (A lot of people do.) You’ll be surprised just how much of a difference it will make to flip your side part from the left to the right, go straight down the center, or dare we say… no part! It almost seems TOO simple, but think of it like this, your hair is like a picture frame for your face. Try on a new frame.



2) Honey, it’s OK: Put down the bleach! Not that there is anything wrong with choosing to bleach your hair, but once you’ve done it, there is no coming back (chemically anyway). So if you aren’t totally sure about how bleached you want to be, go into your kitchen and grab the honey. Yep, honey has a naturally high concentration of peroxide, meaning you can actually use it to lighten your hair! The process does take some time, but you will gradually see your hair getting lighter after a few honey applications. Here’s a how to video from AndreasChoice, she’s mastered the technique!

3) Chalk It Up:  Before deciding to D(ye).I.Y. which will most likely result in a patchy dye job and stained bathtub, try this quick fix for adding new color to your do. Hair chalking videos have been popping up all over the web of late and yes it is exactly what it sounds like. Chalk rubs off pretty easily onto damp hair, so pick your favorite pastel colors and get creative! Simply wash it out when your done  There is a right way to do it, kandeejohnson shows us how it’s done.

All together now: Lets stop, breathe, calm down… and go have a nice long deep-condition. Our hair deserves it!

images (in descending order) via: dailygloss.com, theberry.com, joannagoddard.blogspot.com