A little over a year ago, I made a beauty move I'd been fantasizing about for years: I went from brunette to colorful strands with the help of blue hair dye, by dyeing my hair blue with green at the ends. I walked out of the salon feeling like a mermaid whose inner self was finally out there for the world to see.
I loved my mermaid hair, but it's also been more work than I expected. Because of that, I've since let my hair grow in brown instead of re-coloring it. That said, through my time with colorful hair, I learned a few key lessons. Here are some things I didn't realize about coloring my hair that you should definitely read up on before taking that plunge.
1) It takes a LONG time
It takes a LONG time. I expected to be in and out of the salon in one afternoon, but I got in at noon and didn't leave until after 6:00 PM. Between washing, bleaching, drying, coloring, drying again, styling, and possibly cutting, getting mermaid hair is a time investment whether you go to a salon or do it at home. Basically, don't schedule anything immediately afterward.
Suzannah Weiss
2) Bleach can destroy your hair
Bleach can destroy your hair. If you're not already blonde, you'll likely have to bleach your hair so that the color shows up. Bleach zaps your hair of moisture, which can cause damage, says celebrity hairstylist Kiyah Wright. Be prepared to get a haircut when you go in as well, which is sometimes necessary to prevent extreme damage on the ends.
Suzannah Weiss
3) You can minimize the damage, though
You can minimize the damage, though. The good news is that you can take steps to prevent most of the damage and dryness. Jesse German, a celebrity colorist at Martinez-Samuel Salon in West Hollywood, recommends getting a professional conditioning treatment at a salon a few times a year to maintain your hair's moisture and a trim every few months to prevent split ends. Kiyah suggests using a deep conditioning and moisturizing conditioner or hair mask every week. A recommended option is Leonor Greyl Masque Fleurs de Jasmin for an effective treatment that also boasts the prettiest scent. You should also talk to your colorist about taking steps to prevent over-bleaching your hair in the first place - a good colorist will be able to tell you what's feasible and what's not, and won't damage your hair in order to get your dream color.
4) It fades fast
It fades fast. I didn't realize that even though I dyed my hair blue, those strands would spend the majority of their lifetime green. Within a month, the hair was teal, and within two months, it was a pastel green. Red dye is also notoriously short-lived, turning to copper and orange, says Kiyah. Black and brunette are safer but still fade eventually. Jesse says you'll have to touch up a color about every two months to maintain it. To make this less necessary, he recommends a toner and color-safe shampoo. You can also use a color-depositing conditioner, says Kiyah. (The Davines Alchemic and evo Fabuloso lines are particularly good for this.) In addition to fading, your roots will start to show as your hair grows out. If you don't want to rock grown-out roots, you'll have to go in for touchups. Platinum blonde hair, for example, can require a touchup as often as every 10 days, says Sharon Dorram, master colorist at Sharon Dorram at Sally Hershberger Salon.
5) Certain factors make it fade even faster
Certain factors make it fade even faster. I recently redid my blue hair right before a vacation, only to see it fade again after a few days. I probably have all the time I spent in pools, oceans, and jacuzzis to thank for that. Chlorine and salt water can both add a green tint to your hair hue, says Kiyah. You can get the green out through a treatment mask, clarifying shampoo - or, weirdly, ketchup or tomato juice. To avoid this issue from the get go, try putting on a color-preserving conditioner before you go swimming. Hair products containing alcohol and sunlight can also impact your hair color and make it fade faster. In both cases, a UV-protectant like iThrive Color Vibrancy Color Treatment can help preserve your color in the sun. If you dyed your hair a dark shade, avoid clarifying or volumizing shampoos, since they can remove dark pigment, says Kiyah.
Suzannah Weiss
6) After I washed my hair, I realized I was still leaking blue everywhere
After I washed my hair, I realized I was still leaking blue everywhere. I had to scrub the sink and shower and sleep with a shirt around my head so I didn't get any more dye on the towels or the pillow. Lesson learned: If you have to dye your own hair, let it dry before sleeping so it doesn't get all over your bed. Kiyah recommends splurging on a salon, though, especially if you want a drastic change.
One of the greatest things about hair color is the ability to express yourself in a multitude of different ways, and nowhere is this more apparent than in those who dye their hair in bold and unorthodox colors. If you’ve previously stuck to “safer” colors like blonde, black, and brown, now’s your chance to branch out and take inspiration from a whole rainbow of shades. Have you seen people with blue hair pass you by and had to do a double take because of how cool it looks? No wonder! Whether you want bright blue streaks, a subtle pastel shade, or an all-over color, there is a shade of blue hair to suit anyone. Indigo, pastel blue, teal, navy blue, cobalt, are just a few beautiful blue shades. It's easy to achieve your desired color and transform your look to reflect your unique personality too.
There are, however, a few things to bear in mind before you reach for the dye. If you have dark hair and want a color that is lighter than your current shade, your hair will need to be lightened first. If your hair isn't lightened before you apply the blue hair dye, the color may not look as intense and vibrant as you were hoping. göt2b® Bleach It can help you get there by lifting your hair color by up to eight levels! Once you’ve lightened your hair, it’s time to choose a blue hair dye. The göt2b® Metallics range helps you fulfil your dream of achieving radiant blue hair. We recommend göt2b® Metallics M67 Blue Mercury or M86 Blue Lavender, which not only make your locks shimmer, but provide an anti-fading effect for long lasting color!
No time to lighten your hair? No problem! For those who want to experience what it's like to dye their hair blue but without the long-term commitment, there's a solution. Temporary blue hair dye lets you have fun and experiment without worrying about being parted from your original hair color for too long. The main consideration when using non-permanent blue hair dye is the efficacy to which it will penetrate the hair shaft. This largely depends on what color your hair is before you apply temporary blue hair color. For those with blonde hair, a temporary blue hair dye will take very easily and appear bright and vivid. We recommend Color Pop Blue, which will give you a head-turning vivid color.
While blue hair is certainly a great look on almost anyone, a number of adventurous spirits out there have taken it to the next level by using a number of different colors on their hair for a truly eclectic look. For instance, swirling blue and purple hair or dip-dyeing the ends of your blue hair with pink… the possibilities are endless. Be as creative as you want to be and teal the show. Mermaid hair and oil slick hair are just two of the many ways you can mix blue with other colors and end up with stunning results.
Dyeing hair at home doesn’t have to be difficult nor does it require the expertise of a salon-professional to accomplish. Simply reach for an at-home box dye with all the products you need to quickly refresh your color for a trending midnight blue hue. To streamline the process, use the Dark & Lovely Fade Resist Midnight Blue Rich Conditioning Color which leaves hair with a deep black-blue color without the need for bleach.
Below, learn step-by-step instructions on how to dye hair midnight blue using Dark & Lovely Fade Resistant hair dye.
- Part dry, unwashed hair into four sections (or more if you have thick, long hair) and pull the sections out of the way with plastic clips or hair ties.
- Don't forget to put on gloves before mixing any product to minimize accidentally staining skin a midnight blue color.
- Carefully pour the entire contents of the Dark & Lovely permanent hair color into the Dark & Lovely cream developer bottle.
- With the applicator cap secured, place your gloved finger over the open tip of the bottle and thoroughly shake the ingredients together until the color mixture is properly blended.
- On each section, saturate strands with the color mixture beginning at the back of the head and continuing upwards into the hair roots, completely covering your mane.
- With your gloved hands, subtly rub the mixture into strands to the end of the hair for an even distribution.
- Whether you use your phone or a kitchen timer, don’t forget to set a countdown to ensure proper hair processing.
- For relaxed hair let the mixture develop on strands for 20 minutes.
- After your timer goes off, you’re ready to hop in the shower and rinse the color from your hair.
- Add some lukewarm water to your product-drenched head and work the mixture into a lather before rinsing thoroughly until the water runs clear.
- Avoid shampooing your hair in this step as it may wash away some of the pigment you just added.
- Saturate your hair with the included Dark & Lovely Nourishing Care Conditioner, and let it sit for at least three minutes.
This will infuse hair with moisture that you may have lost during the dyeing process.
To summarize: you can experiment with bold blue looks, choose between permanent and temporary options, lightening may be required for vibrancy, and proper aftercare extends color life.
Hair Transformations You Won’t Believe!
One of the greatest things about hair color is the ability to express yourself in a multitude of different ways, and nowhere is this more apparent than in those who dye their hair in bold and unorthodox colors. If you’ve previously stuck to “safer” colors like blonde, black, and brown, now’s your chance to branch out and take inspiration from a whole rainbow of shades. Have you seen people with blue hair pass you by and had to do a double take because of how cool it looks? No wonder! Whether you want bright blue streaks, a subtle pastel shade, or an all-over color, there is a shade of blue hair to suit anyone. Indigo, pastel blue, teal, navy blue, cobalt, are just a few beautiful blue shades. It's easy to achieve your desired color and transform your look to reflect your unique personality too.
There are, however, a few things to bear in mind before you reach for the dye. If you have dark hair and want a color that is lighter than your current shade, your hair will need to be lightened first. If your hair isn't lightened before you apply the blue hair dye, the color may not look as intense and vibrant as you were hoping. göt2b® Bleach It can help you get there by lifting your hair color by up to eight levels! Once you’ve lightened your hair, it’s time to choose a blue hair dye. The göt2b® Metallics range helps you fulfil your dream of achieving radiant blue hair. We recommend göt2b® Metallics M67 Blue Mercury or M86 Blue Lavender, which not only make your locks shimmer, but provide an anti-fading effect for long lasting color!
No time to lighten your hair? No problem! For those who want to experience what it's like to dye their hair blue but without the long-term commitment, there's a solution. Temporary blue hair dye lets you have fun and experiment without worrying about being parted from your original hair color for too long. The main consideration when using non-permanent blue hair dye is the efficacy to which it will penetrate the hair shaft. This largely depends on what color your hair is before you apply temporary blue hair color. For those with blonde hair, a temporary blue hair dye will take very easily and appear bright and vivid. We recommend Color Pop Blue, which will give you a head-turning vivid color.
While blue hair is certainly a great look on almost anyone, a number of adventurous spirits out there have taken it to the next level by using a number of different colors on their hair for a truly eclectic look. For instance, swirling blue and purple hair or dip-dyeing the ends of your blue hair with pink… the possibilities are endless. Be as creative as you want to be and teal the show. Mermaid hair and oil slick hair are just two of the many ways you can mix blue with other colors and end up with stunning results.
Dyeing hair at home doesn’t have to be difficult nor does it require the expertise of a salon-professional to accomplish. Simply reach for an at-home box dye with all the products you need to quickly refresh your color for a trending midnight blue hue.
To streamline the process, use the Dark & Lovely Fade Resist Midnight Blue Rich Conditioning Color which leaves hair with a deep black-blue color without the need for bleach. Below, learn step-by-step instructions on how to dye hair midnight blue using Dark & Lovely Fade Resistant hair dye.