So the post before last was a little about moving and a lot more about considering switching my current career path. And while I haven't signed up for cosmetology school, I have made a huge change that hopefully will open a lot of doors for me. I left my job.
Now I don't want to sound like I'm bragging or anything, but it really is a choice that I'm happy about. Obviously I am making less money, but with my job on the weekend and money that I've saved up, I'm not too worried at the moment. I've also cut down on a lot of my expenses, which helps immensely.
Sooo many things are changing at this time of the year, and it's all coming together quite serendipitously to allow me some freedom to pursue more fantastical dreams of mine. Alongside having my weekdays free now, I have begun splitting responsibilities for my little Biscuit with his father. Having Julian out of the house has been extremely strange and also breathtakingly freeing. It just started at the New Year but I've already gotten so much done.
That post all about cosmetology school had the right thought behind it, it had heart, but it didn't really have my heart. Yeah, I like doing hair, but just my own because I'm just a DIY kind of person. When I'm truly honest with myself and attuned to my higher self and my intuition, what really comes forth is a desire to create a really fabulous vintage boutique, online or otherwise, and also create wonderful things from secret treasure-junk I find second hand. (If this post is written a little weird, it's because I'm in quite a mood and it's very late at night. Bear with me!)
"Treasure-junk", noun. Weird, old, broken or otherwise unwanted items, which when looked at with an open and creative mind, reveal themselves to be priceless objects with almost limitless possibilities.
So... yeah. In a nutshell, I'm really focusing on my own creativity and entrepreneurship right now. I'm booking modeling jobs daily, trying to get funding for my Etsy shop through Kickstarter (link when it's all finalized) and making stuff to sell or for modeling costumes. Basically since I don't have a job, this better fucking work before I find myself desperate for another job that I won't love.
Like his Holiness Tyler Durden once said, "It's only after we've lost everything, that we're free to do anything."
Ok, at least the first part is true so far. Let's hope the second part works out half as well.
Yours in midnight weirdness,
Lily
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015
How to Get the Raddest Hair Ever: A Tutorial on Cuteness
The past two weeks I've been so anxious to change my hair. I loved the pink, but after six months I was ready for a change. And I took a few photos along the way so I could throw together a bit of a tutorial!
Now, the customary disclaimer: I am NO hairstylist; I never went to cosmetology school. I haven't even been dying my hair for very long. 2014 was the first year I really did it, before I would just cut it myself in all sorts of crazy ways. I have done a lot of research though, and I suggest you do the same. So, as with everything you find on the internet, be cautious and use a little common sense when applying these techniques to your own hair! I'm very artistic, I like trying new things, and I'm not afraid to experiment with my hair (see:bald for a year), so these traits help! But they don't make me a professional. In fact, they probably prevent me from becoming a professional!
Secondly, I would recommend getting the first bleaching (lightening) done professionally. If you're tight on cash, consider a beauty school where they often give discounted services (but be aware they're still students, although there are teachers there that can give professional advice and oversee all the work done). Thank god I went to a beauty student because I was not aware that I would wreck my hair if I tried to bleach it too much. A previous (crappy) dye job meant I had to cut off a healthy amount of length in order to bleach my hair. You never know what products react with bleach, and when you tell your hairdresser, they will be able to determine the best course of action.
Of course, bleaching on your own is totally possible, just do your research and follow the manufacturer directions! I do all the root bleaching myself and I haven't ruined my hair yet ;)
Anyway, enough of that! Show me some cool hair!
Woah! The photo is a little grainy, but ahhhh I love it so much. I went for a combination of blue, purple and a little pink, but really these techniques can be used for ANY combination of colors.
Let's get started... (assuming your hair is already lightened...)
Pick Your Colors
I chose similar colors from the color wheel. If you don't know anything about that, here's the basics.
Here's a simple color wheel. Colors next to each other blend really well. Colors opposite will create a high contrast but might not be the most complementary. "Warm" (red to yellow) will all look awesome together, just as "cool (blues, purples, greens) will. I chose cool colors.
Also consider your current color. Putting blue over orange will make a kind of grey, and that's kind of what happened towards the ends of my hair. I knew that risk but it still worked out well. It helped that I like grey hair. Make sure to get your hair light enough, but be careful! I won't explain it here, but look up "Toning hair" and get an understanding of that. Or get it lightened professionally!
Look up plenty of inspiration and try and get an idea of what colors your hair type can take and what complements your skin tone the best.
Supplies
I used three different dyes: Manic Panic "Rockabilly Blue" and "Ultra Violet" and Sparks "Magenta". You can find Manic Panic at Hot Topic or order online. Sparks can be found in most beauty supply stores. Special Effects is a brand I've heard sooo much great stuff about, but I was too impatient to order it online so I just went to my local Hot Topic. Buy plenty of dye, it's better to have extra than not enough.
You'll also need conditioner to mix with your dyes. I used Tresemme conditioner for color treated hair, which you can get pretty much anywhere. I would recommend a conditioner for color treated hair, it's gentler, and then you can use the rest for your hair!
At LEAST three plastic containers for mixing. You can use cheap bowls, tupperware, or of course hair coloring bowls from a beauty supply store.
Something to mix. I used my comb and a hair coloring brush from a beauty supply store. Some plastic spoons would also work great.
Gloves, 3 Towels, hair clips, wide tooth comb, and some tunes to keep you entertained. Plus at least 5 million hours to work. A willing friend would also be a great addition to the mix!
Oh, and a T-shirt you don't mind messing up! I use this shirt for all my messy projects.
Do It
Cover your workspace with your towels. I put one on the floor under me and another over the bathroom counter. If you're very careful, you can avoid ruining your bathroom. I only got a few small dots around the place. But they will wash out. Have an extra hand towel to wipe your gloves in between colors.
Section your hair. I sectioned my hair before beginning to get an idea of what I wanted, and to stall out of fear.Your hair should be freshly washed and without conditioner. It should also be totally dry. This will allow the color to completely soak in.The more sections you make, the better blended everything will look. It will take longer though. I actually used even more sections than this when I went to dye it.
Basically, there are your three main sections: Your crown (top of the head), middle section (a thin section that goes from one ear to another) and the bottom hair (under your ears until your neck) Sorry that I don't really have a photo of this.
But DON'T worry too much about perfect sections. In fact, having uneven sections and not separating them with foil will only add the the awesome blend of colors in your hair. There are ways to get very distinct patterns in your hair, but Mermaids, Unicorns and Fairies have no time to worry about that stuff. Blended, flowing colors are what we're going for here!
Pro-Mermaid-Tip:
Braid your hair now and wake up with beautiful waves in the morning,
which will show of the mix of colors much better.
Lighting was not my friend today so here's an awkward photo
Now, the customary disclaimer: I am NO hairstylist; I never went to cosmetology school. I haven't even been dying my hair for very long. 2014 was the first year I really did it, before I would just cut it myself in all sorts of crazy ways. I have done a lot of research though, and I suggest you do the same. So, as with everything you find on the internet, be cautious and use a little common sense when applying these techniques to your own hair! I'm very artistic, I like trying new things, and I'm not afraid to experiment with my hair (see:bald for a year), so these traits help! But they don't make me a professional. In fact, they probably prevent me from becoming a professional!
Secondly, I would recommend getting the first bleaching (lightening) done professionally. If you're tight on cash, consider a beauty school where they often give discounted services (but be aware they're still students, although there are teachers there that can give professional advice and oversee all the work done). Thank god I went to a beauty student because I was not aware that I would wreck my hair if I tried to bleach it too much. A previous (crappy) dye job meant I had to cut off a healthy amount of length in order to bleach my hair. You never know what products react with bleach, and when you tell your hairdresser, they will be able to determine the best course of action.
Of course, bleaching on your own is totally possible, just do your research and follow the manufacturer directions! I do all the root bleaching myself and I haven't ruined my hair yet ;)
Anyway, enough of that! Show me some cool hair!
Let's get started... (assuming your hair is already lightened...)
Pick Your Colors
I chose similar colors from the color wheel. If you don't know anything about that, here's the basics.
Also consider your current color. Putting blue over orange will make a kind of grey, and that's kind of what happened towards the ends of my hair. I knew that risk but it still worked out well. It helped that I like grey hair. Make sure to get your hair light enough, but be careful! I won't explain it here, but look up "Toning hair" and get an understanding of that. Or get it lightened professionally!
Look up plenty of inspiration and try and get an idea of what colors your hair type can take and what complements your skin tone the best.
Supplies
I used three different dyes: Manic Panic "Rockabilly Blue" and "Ultra Violet" and Sparks "Magenta". You can find Manic Panic at Hot Topic or order online. Sparks can be found in most beauty supply stores. Special Effects is a brand I've heard sooo much great stuff about, but I was too impatient to order it online so I just went to my local Hot Topic. Buy plenty of dye, it's better to have extra than not enough.
You'll also need conditioner to mix with your dyes. I used Tresemme conditioner for color treated hair, which you can get pretty much anywhere. I would recommend a conditioner for color treated hair, it's gentler, and then you can use the rest for your hair!
At LEAST three plastic containers for mixing. You can use cheap bowls, tupperware, or of course hair coloring bowls from a beauty supply store.
Something to mix. I used my comb and a hair coloring brush from a beauty supply store. Some plastic spoons would also work great.
Gloves, 3 Towels, hair clips, wide tooth comb, and some tunes to keep you entertained. Plus at least 5 million hours to work. A willing friend would also be a great addition to the mix!
Oh, and a T-shirt you don't mind messing up! I use this shirt for all my messy projects.
Do It
Cover your workspace with your towels. I put one on the floor under me and another over the bathroom counter. If you're very careful, you can avoid ruining your bathroom. I only got a few small dots around the place. But they will wash out. Have an extra hand towel to wipe your gloves in between colors.
Section your hair. I sectioned my hair before beginning to get an idea of what I wanted, and to stall out of fear.Your hair should be freshly washed and without conditioner. It should also be totally dry. This will allow the color to completely soak in.The more sections you make, the better blended everything will look. It will take longer though. I actually used even more sections than this when I went to dye it.
Basically, there are your three main sections: Your crown (top of the head), middle section (a thin section that goes from one ear to another) and the bottom hair (under your ears until your neck) Sorry that I don't really have a photo of this.
But DON'T worry too much about perfect sections. In fact, having uneven sections and not separating them with foil will only add the the awesome blend of colors in your hair. There are ways to get very distinct patterns in your hair, but Mermaids, Unicorns and Fairies have no time to worry about that stuff. Blended, flowing colors are what we're going for here!
Mix It
In your largest container, mix the color you'll be using the most. I wanted mostly blue so that's what I added here. I mixed about 1 part "Rockabilly Blue" and one part conditioner, to lighten the color a little bit. Just pretend you're mixing paint colors in 9th grade! If you're not afraid to experiment, this can be a lot of fun.
Then I used the purple as it was. I used the "Magenta" with just a little conditioner. Mix well.
As you go along, you can mix even more variations of these colors. I probably have at least 3 different shades of each color in my hair. Some of these are just one small section, while others are larger sections or in more than one spot.
To create very light colors, start with a dollop of conditioner. Add one very small drop of your color, mix, and repeat until your get your desired color. This can be done the opposite way too; start with your color and add a little conditioner. But you can't get pastel this way, just a little lighter. Start with conditioner first if you want pastel (but remember, you basically need white hair first to get that light).
With vegetable based dyes like Manic Panic and Special Effects, you can mix them together too, just like you would with paint. Blue and yellow, green. Blue and red, purple....etc. I didn't mix colors, just mixed them with conditioner. Some brands also sell "clear" which can be used to create pastels, but I haven't read anything that gives me the impression it's any better than conditioner. Just more expensive :/
Dye it!!!
Here's some photos of my hair, before I rinsed out the color. You can get an idea of my sectioning. Large sections around the crown and bottom, with smaller sections throughout the middle and front of my hair.
Start with the bottom sections of your hair. I worked from the right to the left, and I saved my bangs for the end. If you have bangs, I would totally recommend adding a bright color right in the front like I did. It really adds a great pop and stands out a lot.
The basic process for applying color is pretty simple. With your less-dominant hand, hold your section out from your head. With your dominant, or writing hand, take a small amount of the hair color and apply to the roots. Apply color to all sides of the roots. Continue adding color, working towards the ends.
Make sure to use small amounts because you don't want to drip onto yourself or the floor. Rub your hair, work the color all throughout. This is another reason to use small sections, so you don't miss any hair. If you have a large section, break it into a couple smaller parts.
If you have bangs, I don't recommend making them all one color. I used three colors in my bangs. For the pink, I made a triangle section on the right side of my bangs (use a comb and go diagonally from the middle of your head to the front of your hair). The purple and blue is placed on the left side, and they are sectioned horizontally. It's really hard to explain in words, and I'm sooo sorry I didn't take more photos. But I really didn't want to get my phone blue :(
Haha, my poorly photoshopped picture. Whatever, my hair still looks cute! With my little Ariel bow my love gave me for Christmas :) And I had to wear my Unicorn shirt today!
But once again, take this opportunity to experiment! Whatever happens, it will wash out and your hair will grow back and you can try again soon. In one year, my hair went from totally bald to a nice little bob. And if it's completely ruined, well, Pixie cuts are really popular these days ;)
If you have no experience dying your hair, watch some youtube videos to get a better idea of how to apply the color. This can also give you more ideas on different ways to section your hair!
Wait, then Rinse
I
waited a little over an hour to let the color soak in completely. My
hair was almost completely dry. You can go more or less, because with
vegetable dyes it won't damage your hair if you leave it longer. But
don't go less than what it says on the bottle.
When you rinse your hair, forget the tub. You're going to splash colored water everywhere and just have a huge mess to clean the next day. Don't
even look at your bathroom sink either. Head straight to the kitchen
and rinse there. The stainless steel sink is perfect for avoiding mess
and the faucet is usually much higher, allowing you to reach your whole
head underneath it.
Use
cool water and rinse until the water runs clear. Gently run your
fingers through your hair and scrub gently to get the color out. Don't
use shampoo today, save it for when your hair really needs it. Use a bit
of conditioner and rinse again. Ta-da! You're finally done, now go to
bed.
Resources
- Howtohairgirl.com has a ton of tutorials and information on all things hair, like this one! She actually is a hairstylist (aka people pay her) and she is awesome! There's also a lot of information about all natural hair care, like the no-shampoo method which I am going to start trying!
- OffBeatLook on Youtube has a few really good hair dying tutorials and this video really helped me get my pink out.
- This is a super quick and simple video that shows how to get a really pastel pink, which can be done with any color and made darker with a few more drops of color. Note how light her hair already is!
And to finish off, here's a look at exactly how light my hair was to achieve these colors. On the right was when I last dyed it, about 7 weeks ago. The middle was after 6 weeks, when I normally touch it up. The left is most recent, after using a baking soda treatment to remove the color and a gentle bleach bath treatment, both of which I mostly used on the ends so I didn't damage the light parts.
Hey, I know this was very long but thanks for taking the time to read the whole thing (you know you just skimmed it though). Hopefully this was helpful and informative. Good luck on your hair journey, whatever it may be!
Sending out lots of love to all my magical creatures,
Lily
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