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Bleaching my Hair – Still not CandyFloss Pink!

There is something about hair that changes our entire appearance. I feel that with my skin tone, my eyes and hair somehow adapts. .

They say that dark hair usually hardens your looks, and in some parts it does, but it also depends on the cut and styling.

I have flat eyes so when I cut a fringe, I look full on Chung Li?

When I opt for my natural brunette locks, I feel warm and well… slightly boring..

I’ve had all sorts of colours from red, blonde, blue, pink, auburn, light brown, dark brown to having multiple tones at once. I’m sure you all remember when I was burgundy.. basically Snooky from Jersey Shore and went straight to blonde in a day!

They bleached my hair into oblivion and at first I loved the colour and the slightly warm blonde lowlights. But after weeks that beautiful rich blonde started fading into a slightly burnt orange… which describes both the colour and the texture of my hair! I felt absolutely miserable.

I tried a bunch of treatments to restore my hair to its former lush self, but to no avail.

I eventually decided to go back to brown. I went to my trusted hair salon where she fed my hair with the collagen my natural hair ought to have, but was literally stripped with the bleach. My hair was incredibly damaged! After the darkening and treatments I swore to keep my hair naturally brown for as long as my boredom allowed. I kept my hair it’s natural colour for two years and my hair grew healthier every day. Also with my natural hair, I never really heat styled or blow waved my hair. After the two years, when my hair was healthy again, then I starting to colour again.

Slowly freaked out this first time and I only had highlights put in! I had a total freak-out at the basin, as the foils came out! And when it was done, I absolutely hated it! I was filled with regret and completely upset with myself for bleaching again… but my hair was still healthy and the colour grew on me. The colour actually washed out to a really pretty colour. A light shade of brown which was essentially what I wanted.

I had my hair this way for a couple of months until the regrowth become a little much. I got back to a place of adventure when I decided I wanted my hair PINK. Yes, candyfloss…actual…Pink!

I set up an appointment to highlight my hair in a beautiful unicorn pink… but as the stylist started I didn’t see one foil, and again had a mini-meltdown when I realised they were bleaching my entire head of hair!! I stopped them mid-way enquiring if they can foil the top because I was certainly not ready for a full head commitment… the stylist said she needs to have a solid colour base and that this was the best option… I obliged.

Throughout the process I never felt such pain in my entire life!!! I have bleached my entire head on several occasions throughout my hair journey but never felt this burning sensation.. I asked the stylist on multiple occasions if it was normal to which she applied some more protective cream and left it on my head. The bleaching application took over an hour because of my hairs length and then they left it on for a further hour!

When they finally washed the peroxide off my hair, my scalp, neck and ears were literally scorched! She washed off the peroxide with ice water so cold I got an instant headache! But that tingling was what I needed to settle the burns.

She then applied the actual colour to my hair, which also burned like a mother! Once that came off she blow waved my hair, and realised the huge raw burn on my neck! I also left very unhappy with the colour but my family reassured me that it was a beautiful warm tone. It took a lot of getting used to but I started enjoying it. There was a huge, painful scab on my neck for a week and a half but I just hope that it heals well.

As mentioned the destination was actually Pink, but I wanted a vegetarian colour that will wash out gradually within about two months. I ordered the colour from the same hair salon that done the blonde. We agreed that I will come and do the application at the salon and set a date and time. When I got there she was unable to accommodate me. I paid for the colour and seeing the size of the tube, I knew there was no chance the tube will even begin to colour anything!!! She ordered one tiny little tube and I have so much hair. I ended using a pink box colour I bought from Checkers, mixed a bunch of conditioner and coconut oil with the bright pink dye until it was a beautiful pastel hue.

Once I washed it off, it was an awesome rose gold colour that now washes to lighter shades of pink, some ginger and some warm blonde, almost brown colour. This is how my scar is healing…

I think the reason I decided to blog about this, is not to vent or shame stylist, but for you guys to be a lot more aware of what you are doing to your skin and hair. I always say “It’s just hair, it will grow back” but apart from the huge burnt scar I now have to live with, my hair is becoming more and more unhealthy looking and because I bleached all my hair my dark brown roots are super obvious. I don’t mind the regrowth as much but it’s not exactly appealing.

I bought some hair care products I’m excited to try, and also treat my hair naturally using coconut oil for about an hour before having a shower, about three times a week. Treating your hair overnight it the best thing you can do.

Ladies, look after your hair. Remember that skin cancers are lurking in the bleaching and crazy products and styling tools we use on our hair and bodies.