Highlighting

[K. Ayato]

I've told my mom, aunt, and a few friends that I want to get my hair cut and have some red highlights added in time for my college graduation. My friends think it'd be a great idea, but my mom and aunt don't think the same way. Simply put, they don't like the thought of having chemicals put into my hair and are concerned that my hair will become super dry. Is that a good reason (and enough reason) not to do it? They both didn't like the fact I cut my hair short (for some reason they love long hair on myself and my sister), but in time they got used to it. Why should highlighting my hair bother them, aside from the fact that they (except my aunt quite a few times) haven't put color in their hair?

[Stephen]

Well many hair color things claim to be 100% safe. I really don't have much knowledge on the harm of hair dyes. I do know I prefer them not to touch my scalp when I do it...which is why they give you the fun little hat...

[PrincessZelda]

No, it's not really a good enough reason not too. It doesn't really dried out your hair unles you were to bleach your hair like five times. I have purple streaks in my hair, and it's really soft. But it's the first time I've done anything like this. But it's pretty much fine unless you change your hair color like every month or something.

[K. Ayato]

I'm not planning to bleach, just highlight. I'll worry about going back to redo it later on.

[Madeline]

Well, I've never dyed my hair before, but I do know this:

Hair coloring products work by puncturing the shaft of the roots of your hair. It then completely bleaches out your natural hair color, leaving you with white hair. Then, it coats your hair with the color that you have chosen. Now, you have an artificial hair color.

Whether it's a good thing or not? That's for you to decide. Personally, I have curly hair, and wild colors don't look very good on curly hair. Second of all, the only color I would ever dye my hair is brown. I'm a blonde with natural highlights, and I want to keep my hair color. I like brightly-colored hair and punky-looking clothes, but I don't look right when I try to imitate that style. I've tried dressing goth too, and it looks weird on me.

I look best in pastel colors and long, flowing clothes/skirts, so I just go with what is flattering on me.

All I think that you should do is consider your relatives' advice, get the facts, and consider your God-given features. Would red-highlights complement your complexion/eyes/color of your wardrobe? How bright are they going to be?

[Debitt]

I used to highlight my hair on a fairly regular basis (Kokoro's highlights = red dye applied to sections of hair without bleaching).

From what I understand, your hair should be unharmed by just dye - bleaching is another story. I saw a really good article on it once, but I'll have to go dig it up off of google again. ^^; Also, stay away from "herbal" or "all natural" dyes, because I hear they can do some funky stuff to your hair, especially when mixed with irons for hair (straighteners, curling irons, etc.) or other chemical dyes.

EDIT: something else that just came to mind: if you have light hair, dark colors will take a LONG time to come out. >_> So keep that in mind. I think really dark colors, like purple or blue or black stain the hair.

[livewire]

When I first dyed my hair my mom wasn't too keen on it...she still isn't, to tell the truth...she likes my natural color best....
anyways, because of a rather expensive and horrifying sit comish episode with my hair about a month ago I will tell you that if you decide to go through with it...spend the money to get it done proffessionally. NEVER mess with your hair on your own or let anyone else mess with it unless they are proffessionals!!!! Believe me, it costs more to get your hair done at a salon than to do it yourself, but they know what they are doing and the products they use are less damaging to your hair...
anyways, Congrats on Graduating!

[ShiroiHikari]

I don't think a little highlighting is going to damage your hair beyond repair. like others have said, it's bleaching that hurts it. if you do get it highlighted, you might try using conditioner that's made for colored hair, it's supposed to help keep it healthy.

[K. Ayato]

Thanks, everyone. I am still determined to get my hair highlighted, and I am not going to try to do it on my own. Also, thanks for the warning about the "herbal" or "all-natural" types of dye. I'll be sure to avoid them. Afterwards, I'll ask what brands of shampoo & conditioner I can use to keep the color lasting. I know Herbal Essence has products that can be used with permed or color-treated hair.

[Fsiphskilm]

This is true. Bleaching isn't good for the hair,

[Angelchick]

red highlights fade to a lighter color pretty fast. if you want the red to stand out then you should get it highlighted a really red color. you may think it's too bright at first but it will tone down in a few days. i have a special shampoo thats called Bonacure color by Schwarzkopf Professional. it helps the color to not fade as fast. I also use a shampoo and conditioner thats called Self Absorbed from the Bed Head line made by TIGI. it smells really good and makes your hair soft.

[soul alive]

are you going with red-head red or say, fire-engine red? my best friend put fire-engine red highlights in her hair our senior year, and like Angelchick said, it changes color very quickly... she had rather icky looking pink highlights in a very short time. so having a professional job done and using products that will help the highlights stay the right color is a good idea.

although i have never dyed my hair, having family and friends that do, just highlighting will not do anything funny to your hair. bleach is what really messes with your hair, if i remember my high school science correctly, dyes change the color of the hair, bleach actually strips of the outer layer of the hair, permanently changing the hair, and not for the better, it weakens and dries out your hair. (just as a side note, real-hair wig makers will accept dyed hair, but not bleached hair)

and just for a few laughs, a classmate of mine and a few of her friends thought it would be fun to dye their hair blue with temporary dye. the brunettes were able to wash the dye right out, my classmate however, has platinum blonde hair, and it ended up dying it permanently. she had blue hair for months.

[Stephen]

Heh, I had bright red highlights put in...and now there almost orange...

[Scribs]

I am not much of one for changing the color of hair. I have always been of the opinian that people look better if they havn't altered their hair, even old people who dye in order to look less grey; grey is good on old people. I myself have only changed my hair color for theatrical purposes. Spray is good for that. It makes the hair stiff, but it washes right out.

[K. Ayato]

I suppose I'll have to ask them about which shade of red will not only stand out against my dark hair, but will also look as natural as possible.

[K. Ayato]

Oh, and is it true not to wash your hair after the color has just been put in?