Talk to me about hair.

SecretAgentMa'am · 10-15-2011, 06:06 PM

So I took the plunge yesterday. I decided to go with dye, and just do the tips so that the part I messed with could be cut off if something terrible happened.

I also decided to go to a local community college cosmetology department salon. Mostly because I've just never been able to convince myself that it's okay to drop $200 to get my hair done.

The good:
I have now established with confidence that I *have* been using the right kind of henna. My hair took the bleach and the dye just fine, and it is not melted or fried.

Because of the way the salon hours work, I wound up having two appointments in one day. I went in the early afternoon for my cut with one student, and then in the evening for my color with another student. There was some confusion about when I was supposed to pay, and then my color took so long that they'd already closed the till when I was done. So I got the whole thing done for $7. So I can't really complain too much about the bad.

I'm going to, though.

The bad:
The student who did my color did not know what she was doing and would not listen to me. When I showed up for my appointment, I made sure my hair was not frizzy and was laying in defined curls. I explained that what I wanted was for her to take individual curls and dye just the last 3-4 inches of each one, so I'd have random patches of color all over. She said she understood and then immediately picked up a huge paddle brush and brushed out all of my curls in three strokes. She insisted that she understood what I wanted and it would turn out like I'd described, so I let her go. Once she was done piecing out bits of hair and applying the bleach, I had 20 pieces of foil in my hair. After 3 and a half hours in the salon, you can't even see any of the purple unless you go digging through my hair looking for it. It's a really bright, vibrant color. Just the shade I wanted. The bits are just so tiny and buried they're impossible to see.

So, now that I've established that the warnings I've heard about dying over henna are overblown, I'm going to get it redone differently. This time, I'm going for a couple of big, chunky purple streaks from root to ends. I'm going to wait a few weeks, though, so I don't damage my hair too much bleaching out parts of it twice in a row. And this time I'm going to just pay the money to go to a professional.

willow · 10-16-2011, 06:03 AM

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you as you hoped but for what it's worth I think it was worth trying out the community college. Have you given feedback? All stylists need to learn the importance of customer service and the biggest part of that is listening to the client. The student didn't do this and it's something she needs to work on.

cuddlyfemme · 10-19-2011, 05:17 AM

I get my hair done at the beauty academy right down the street...its cheaper too So far they've done well but because my hair is so long, thick and heavy its hard to put a curl in my hair so I wear it in layers. As for dying my hair, I do it at home although sometimes I'll splurge and have it done where I have my hair cut

Gemme · 10-19-2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretAgentMa'am

So I took the plunge yesterday. I decided to go with dye, and just do the tips so that the part I messed with could be cut off if something terrible happened.

I also decided to go to a local community college cosmetology department salon. Mostly because I've just never been able to convince myself that it's okay to drop $200 to get my hair done.

The good:
I have now established with confidence that I *have* been using the right kind of henna. My hair took the bleach and the dye just fine, and it is not melted or fried.

Because of the way the salon hours work, I wound up having two appointments in one day. I went in the early afternoon for my cut with one student, and then in the evening for my color with another student. There was some confusion about when I was supposed to pay, and then my color took so long that they'd already closed the till when I was done. So I got the whole thing done for $7. So I can't really complain too much about the bad.

I'm going to, though.

The bad:
The student who did my color did not know what she was doing and would not listen to me. When I showed up for my appointment, I made sure my hair was not frizzy and was laying in defined curls. I explained that what I wanted was for her to take individual curls and dye just the last 3-4 inches of each one, so I'd have random patches of color all over. She said she understood and then immediately picked up a huge paddle brush and brushed out all of my curls in three strokes. She insisted that she understood what I wanted and it would turn out like I'd described, so I let her go. Once she was done piecing out bits of hair and applying the bleach, I had 20 pieces of foil in my hair. After 3 and a half hours in the salon, you can't even see any of the purple unless you go digging through my hair looking for it. It's a really bright, vibrant color. Just the shade I wanted. The bits are just so tiny and buried they're impossible to see.

So, now that I've established that the warnings I've heard about dying over henna are overblown, I'm going to get it redone differently. This time, I'm going for a couple of big, chunky purple streaks from root to ends. I'm going to wait a few weeks, though, so I don't damage my hair too much bleaching out parts of it twice in a row. And this time I'm going to just pay the money to go to a professional.

It was my understanding that, at a school, there's an instructor that keeps an eye on the students so that something like this doesn't happen. Was there not one?

SecretAgentMa'am · 10-20-2011, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemme

It was my understanding that, at a school, there's an instructor that keeps an eye on the students so that something like this doesn't happen. Was there not one?

There were instructors, but I rarely saw them. An instructor was there while I described what I wanted, but walked away before my hair was ever touched. Then the student left me sitting in the chair every 15 minutes or so to go off and ask the instructor a question. Then the instructor showed up again at the very end to tell me what a great job the student had done and how wonderful it looked. That was about it. She never even spoke to me until the very end.

EnderD_503 · 10-19-2011, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretAgentMa'am

So, now that I've established that the warnings I've heard about dying over henna are overblown, I'm going to get it redone differently. This time, I'm going for a couple of big, chunky purple streaks from root to ends. I'm going to wait a few weeks, though, so I don't damage my hair too much bleaching out parts of it twice in a row. And this time I'm going to just pay the money to go to a professional.

As someone who had his hair dyed completely blue from age 14 to 16, I totally support your endeavour

But you really don't need to go to a professional for it... I used to do it at home and I'm not any kind of hair expert, lol. Unless you really don't want to dye your bathtub/shower curtain purple

SecretAgentMa'am · 10-20-2011, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnderD_503

As someone who had his hair dyed completely blue from age 14 to 16, I totally support your endeavour

But you really don't need to go to a professional for it... I used to do it at home and I'm not any kind of hair expert, lol. Unless you really don't want to dye your bathtub/shower curtain purple

I used to dye my own hair all the time, and I dyed my sister's hair for her when we were teenagers as she cycled through every color Manic Panic makes. I was never really happy with the results, though. I'm hoping going to a professional will mean higher quality dye that will last longer. That Manic Panic junk always faded out after a week.

Gemme · 10-20-2011, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretAgentMa'am

There were instructors, but I rarely saw them. An instructor was there while I described what I wanted, but walked away before my hair was ever touched. Then the student left me sitting in the chair every 15 minutes or so to go off and ask the instructor a question. Then the instructor showed up again at the very end to tell me what a great job the student had done and how wonderful it looked. That was about it. She never even spoke to me until the very end.

Well, that sucks.

ScandalAndy · 10-20-2011, 09:37 AM

You can piece your own hair and foil it yourself with bleach and developer, then the dye. Your best bet is to make friends with a hairdresser who will either do it for you on the cheap, or use her card at the beauty supply shop. My sister is a stylist (and she's flipping AMAZING) and has done that for me a time or two.

If you want the pieces to show, i suggest getting them done behind the ears and about 2" back from the forehead. If you put your hair up, the sides show up well, and if you do a part, the ones up top stand out.

Apocalipstic · 10-20-2011, 09:39 AM

I am relieved to hear that your you do not have melted hair Secret Agent!

Best with your hair quest!

SecretAgentMa'am · 10-20-2011, 10:04 AM

I have the best friends ever. I do have a friend who is a stylist, but I hadn't gone to her in the first place because she works in a *very* upscale salon and I could not afford her. I finally asked her about how much it would cost me to come in and have her fix it, and she offered to do it in trade for a jar of homemade jam. She's the most awesomest friend ever. I'll post pics once it's done.

kittygrrl · 04-25-2012, 09:02 PM

I would do a semi-permanent dark blue on hair at the nape of the neck (maybe a quarter of your crown) so it peaks out..that's hot right now..and it'd look amazing also..but it will wash out, so you don't have to live with it if you get tired of it. I'd leave it long in back & do something dramatic with in front but that's just me.

10-15-2011, 06:06 PM	#1
SecretAgentMa'am Member How Do You Identify?: Redheaded Bellydancing Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: Very married Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Portland, OR, USA Posts: 215 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 84 Thanked 778 Times in 171 Posts Rep Power: 15100837	So I took the plunge yesterday. I decided to go with dye, and just do the tips so that the part I messed with could be cut off if something terrible happened. I also decided to go to a local community college cosmetology department salon. Mostly because I've just never been able to convince myself that it's okay to drop $200 to get my hair done. The good: I have now established with confidence that I have been using the right kind of henna. My hair took the bleach and the dye just fine, and it is not melted or fried. Because of the way the salon hours work, I wound up having two appointments in one day. I went in the early afternoon for my cut with one student, and then in the evening for my color with another student. There was some confusion about when I was supposed to pay, and then my color took so long that they'd already closed the till when I was done. So I got the whole thing done for $7. So I can't really complain too much about the bad. I'm going to, though. The bad: The student who did my color did not know what she was doing and would not listen to me. When I showed up for my appointment, I made sure my hair was not frizzy and was laying in defined curls. I explained that what I wanted was for her to take individual curls and dye just the last 3-4 inches of each one, so I'd have random patches of color all over. She said she understood and then immediately picked up a huge paddle brush and brushed out all of my curls in three strokes. She insisted that she understood what I wanted and it would turn out like I'd described, so I let her go. Once she was done piecing out bits of hair and applying the bleach, I had 20 pieces of foil in my hair. After 3 and a half hours in the salon, you can't even see any of the purple unless you go digging through my hair looking for it. It's a really bright, vibrant color. Just the shade I wanted. The bits are just so tiny and buried they're impossible to see. So, now that I've established that the warnings I've heard about dying over henna are overblown, I'm going to get it redone differently. This time, I'm going for a couple of big, chunky purple streaks from root to ends. I'm going to wait a few weeks, though, so I don't damage my hair too much bleaching out parts of it twice in a row. And this time I'm going to just pay the money to go to a professional. __________________ Change the voices in your head Make them like you instead

10-16-2011, 06:03 AM	#2
willow Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: sugar and spice Preferred Pronoun?: she Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: at the end of the rainbow Posts: 6,782 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 10,477 Thanked 6,730 Times in 1,825 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	I'm sorry it didn't work out for you as you hoped but for what it's worth I think it was worth trying out the community college. Have you given feedback? All stylists need to learn the importance of customer service and the biggest part of that is listening to the client. The student didn't do this and it's something she needs to work on. __________________ Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup! http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs11/i/20...ockAvatars.gif

10-20-2011, 09:37 AM	#9
ScandalAndy Member How Do You Identify?: human femme spitfire Preferred Pronoun?: she/her Relationship Status: it's official! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: east coast USA Posts: 1,167 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,758 Thanked 3,216 Times in 753 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	You can piece your own hair and foil it yourself with bleach and developer, then the dye. Your best bet is to make friends with a hairdresser who will either do it for you on the cheap, or use her card at the beauty supply shop. My sister is a stylist (and she's flipping AMAZING) and has done that for me a time or two. If you want the pieces to show, i suggest getting them done behind the ears and about 2" back from the forehead. If you put your hair up, the sides show up well, and if you do a part, the ones up top stand out. __________________ The joy of discovery is certainly the liveliest that the mind of man can ever feel. - Claude Bernard (1813-78)

10-20-2011, 09:39 AM	#10
Apocalipstic Pink Confection How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, Her, Ma'am Relationship Status: Dating Myself Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Nashville Posts: 4,266 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 17,195 Thanked 11,360 Times in 2,838 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	I am relieved to hear that your you do not have melted hair Secret Agent! Best with your hair quest! __________________

10-20-2011, 10:04 AM	#11
SecretAgentMa'am Member How Do You Identify?: Redheaded Bellydancing Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: Very married Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Portland, OR, USA Posts: 215 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 84 Thanked 778 Times in 171 Posts Rep Power: 15100837	I have the best friends ever. I do have a friend who is a stylist, but I hadn't gone to her in the first place because she works in a very upscale salon and I could not afford her. I finally asked her about how much it would cost me to come in and have her fix it, and she offered to do it in trade for a jar of homemade jam. She's the most awesomest friend ever. I'll post pics once it's done. __________________ Change the voices in your head Make them like you instead

10-19-2011, 05:17 AM	#3
cuddlyfemme Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Stone Femme Preferred Pronoun?: her/she Relationship Status: single Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,271 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 717 Thanked 2,452 Times in 1,270 Posts Rep Power: 11496123	I get my hair done at the beauty academy right down the street...its cheaper too So far they've done well but because my hair is so long, thick and heavy its hard to put a curl in my hair so I wear it in layers. As for dying my hair, I do it at home although sometimes I'll splurge and have it done where I have my hair cut

04-25-2012, 09:02 PM	#12
kittygrrl Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: witchy Preferred Pronoun?: gf Relationship Status: Til you believe Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: wrapped in a shawl Posts: 9,764 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 21,730 Thanked 22,161 Times in 7,228 Posts Rep Power: 21474862	I would do a semi-permanent dark blue on hair at the nape of the neck (maybe a quarter of your crown) so it peaks out..that's hot right now..and it'd look amazing also..but it will wash out, so you don't have to live with it if you get tired of it. I'd leave it long in back & do something dramatic with in front but that's just me.