My mom thinks I am nuts but suggested I write to you for advice
on how to accomplish my short term hair goals. Last year I
saw a guy on the 4th of July with his hair cut and dyed so that it
looked like colored fireworks. I want to do my hair like
that but am unsure how to go about it. My mom thought you
might know. I hope you can help. I don't have much
time left.Crazy in California
Answer
Dear Crazy,
If you're going to experiment with your hair the best time is when you
are young and have the support of your mom.
The best way to accomplish anything with your hair is to have a plan of
action. Creating any type of colored motif on your hair is like
creating any other type of artwork. It takes advance thought and
detailed advance planning.
You will need a pre-planned design for your hair or head. Take some
photos of your head and then sketch some designs that you would like to have
to represent the fireworks of light bursts. You might want to have an
artist help you get the designs drawn.
Once you have the designs worked out, create templates out of cardboard,
figure out the placement of the designs on your head. Use the
cardboard templates to mock up the ultimate design patterns. This will
give you a sense of how well the ultimate style will work.
Then you need to decide if you want to dye the design on top of your
existing hair or want your hair to be cut into precise shapes and then dyed
specific colors. Remember, you are creating a work of art.
Consider whether you want scalp showing or not and how the color of your
scalp will play into the ultimate design.
You did not say what color your hair was but regardless, you
need to start with a blank canvas. In the case of your hair
you need a white canvas which is accomplished with a good
bleach. Manic
Panic makes two formulas of bleach
that will get you to a stark white. Whether you decide to
paint the designs on top of your existing hair or have your hair
cut into shapes and then dyed, you will need a white base to work
from.
If you decide you want your hair cut into shapes or patterns,
take a diagram of your ultimate design to your favorite
hairstylist and see if they would be comfortable with cutting your
hair into the desired shapes. If they agree, make sure that
your hair length is completely consistent in length. You
would not want to have your hair growing out of the design at
different lengths and thus a different rate.
Once you have the shapes cut into your hair or you decide to
paint on your existing hair, purchase some Manic Panic or similar
intense color. Although Kool Aide and Jello color treatments
can work, the colors will fade almost immediately and be
inconsistent. After going to all this work I would strongly
recommend a semi-perm color that those available from Manic
Panic. It is rumored that Dennis Rodman used to utilize
Manic Panic for some of his more outrageous hair color patterns.
Read all the instructions on the hair color. Ask a friend
to help you apply the dye to your hair or head to make sure you
get a consistent application. To prevent different colors
from bleeding separate different sections of hair by a strip of
hair conditioner or foils that you can buy at any beauty supply
store.
Let the color remain on your hair or head for the suggested
time. Shampoo and rinse out.
For a longer lasting color avoid shampooing your hair for the
first 48 hours after you applied the color and stay out of the sun without a hat to avoid
fading.
Your final requirement for this process is to email me a photo
since I am sure the results will be fabulous. For inspiration
check out the Mayhem
Chaos site for some fascinating and very creative designs.
Best wishes & Happy July 4th,
Karen
