Informal Poll

[ladynox25]

For those of you whom I met at the New Year's Social, and those of you I didn't...

Do you think I should keep my hair dyed red or let it go back to it's normal color?

Reasons for keeping it dyed: I've always wanted red hair and I like the color red that it is now. And it seems other people do too. Besides, any attempt to grow out the color is going to look streaky and ugly and it's going to take a very long time to grow out completely, because my hair is very long.

Reasons for letting it grow out: Every few years I donate about a foot of my hair to the Locks of Love program which makes wigs for kids with cancer, but they don't take dyed hair, so if I continue to dye my hair, I won't be able to donate it. Besides, I have to let it go back to its natural state sometime unless I want to keep dying it for the rest of my life. Which brings the added expense of the dye and the risk that that particular dye may be discontinued in the future.

I've been weighing these arguments in my mind, and I really can't make up my mind which is better, so I thought I'd take an informal poll and see what y'all think.

---

Update (01/14/04):

In case any of you were wondering, the product I used was Herbal Essences hair color #44 Radiant Ruby

Comments

[ambitious-wench.livejournal.com]

Here's a thought: When you donate your hair to Locks of Love, how does it make you feel?

How does it make you feel afterwards?

How does that compare to having people compiment you on your red hair, or how you feel when you see the color of your hair in the mirror?

Edie

[texas-tiger.livejournal.com]

I've thought about your questions, and I really cannot come up with an answer, or at least, not with one that makes any real sort of sense.

The best answer I can give is that I don't think that my feelings are really that important in this matter. Like I said, that doesn't make much sense, because it is my hair, after all. But it's the best I can do.

Sorry. :/

[thette.livejournal.com]

I think your original colour would look much better with your complexion.

The only way of finding out for real, would be if you changed back for the next time we meet.

[larabeaton.livejournal.com]

If you're concerned about the growing out process, you could probably find a good colourist to dye it back to its original colour.

That's what I did when I stopped dying my hair red.

[et-alii.livejournal.com]

I think I can offer the best argument. When you wrote that your hair was red, I went *boggle*. I couldnt see the red. I can offer the most objective (and colour blind) assessment that it looks fine if it were (as I saw it) brown-ish with golden streaks.

[annewashere.livejournal.com]

Ha! Always nice to have a color-blind audience give their opinion.

[hoya99.livejournal.com]

My sweetie used to dye her hair, a process I assisted several times... and I hated it. I told her for years that her natural dark blond would look better than the sunshine yellow she used. She finally stopped dying her hair and, lo and behold, I was right!

So my gut preference, without having any idea what you look like, would be to let it go natural. A friend in DC is recovering from chemo following breast cancer treatment and I can tell you that having a wig made all the difference for both her self-esteem and professional life. Donating your hair is a worthwhile, wonderful thing to do and I am very happy to hear that you're so generous. :)

Save your money and let it go back.

[thette.livejournal.com]

Here you can see what she looks like now.

[hoya99.livejournal.com]

Why, thank you. :) Having now seen the hair, I stand by my original comment. But that's just me. Ultimately, it's her hair and she should do what *feels* right for her.

Hope you find a suitable answer, Tiger. This henna thing (what *is* henna, by the way?) sounds like a great compromise.

[thette.livejournal.com]

It's dried leaves from the henna bush.

However, most henna hair colours I've seen have been permanent.

[texas-tiger.livejournal.com]

Permanent? That would be bad, since the whole point is to stop my hair from being colored...

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

In the growing out business you can also use henna, which washes out in three months or so but can give quite nice reds...

[texas-tiger.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the suggestion, but where would I find henna? Keep in mind, I'm living in a small town/rural area, so I'm not likely to have access to specialty shops.

[larabeaton.livejournal.com]

I think they sell it at the Body Shop. Failing that, there are some places online where you could order it.

[texas-tiger.livejournal.com]

I've looked in the local phone directories and I can't find a Body Shop. Where online should I look?

Bear in mind I still am extremely wary of purchasing anything over the web...

[et-alii.livejournal.com]

Almost always available at your local Indian/Pakistani/Middle-eastern store. If not in TX, definitely available on Devon Ave in Chi-town.

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

The Internet might yield some, or I could see if I can find any around here and send the packages over. Some Indian or Arabic shops are bound to have it.

[texas-tiger.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

As long as it's not permanent because the whole idea is to mask/blend the new hair with the old until the permanent color grows out, right? *smile*

[prince-corwin.livejournal.com]

Judging solely on aesthetic principles, I like it red.
But then, I like redheads.

Go figure.

Ultimately, as everyone else is taking pains to point out, it is your hair and no one else's. There was certainly nothing wrong with it in its natural state.

I suppose I should know...

[mauzybroadway.livejournal.com]

...a thing or two about this subject.

I've been dying my hair for about 5 years now. I am a natural redhead who is currently fighting with trying to match my colouring through the years.

Henna is nice, but it's very hard to control the level of red you'll end up with. You have to use it sparingly...it is potent...and I would imagine you don't want to go to the extreme level of fire engine by accident!

But it is vibrantly nice and requires a delicate touch; it is considered permanent because it lasts for longer than a month. I did like the photo of you being a redhead...very sexy and intriguing. I think, though, that you would be happier going the deep strawberry-blonde route and using the temporary dyes that only last for 8 shampoos or so. It's very natural looking, can come with its own highlights, and will afford you the occasional kick in colour you like. I have never used permanent dyes for myself because it would be really obvious (they simply just don't match my natural red...more of a flat red result for me when I need the colour to be broken up a bit).

If you're looking for henna, check most drugstores like Rite-Aid or CVS. Most haircuttery places can hook you up as well.

Re: I suppose I should know...

[texas-tiger.livejournal.com]

Thanks a buch dah-ling! *smile* Haven't seen you online in like, forever. *hugs*

growing out hair coloring

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

There are two ways you can grow it out without looking freaky. First, re-dye it as something close to your natural color, so it won't be obvious when it grows out. Second, use a temporary dye which fades over time. (If you're looking at hair dyes in the store, you want Level 1 or Level 2. Permanent is Level 3.) When your hair is long enough, cut off the permanently-dyed part, and let the temp. color wash out.

I have no idea what you look like, so I can't comment what color is best for you. I myself am kind of fickle, and dye mine a different shade of reddish-brown every few months. I use Level 2 dye so that I never get a two-tone head.

Re: growing out hair coloring

[texas-tiger.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That makes a lot of sense, actually. *smile*

Now I just need to find a temp color compatible with my permanent color (see above).