Hair Dye: The Cruelty-Free Way! August 13, 2008

Posted by Shannon Phillips | Permalink | Comments ( 8 ) | TrackBack

So you want to dye your hair green? Pink? Blue? In a leopard print pattern? I'm here to help! My hair has been a variety of colors, and I've experimented with everything from permanent dyes to hair extensions to change my appearance for fun. The one thing I love about changing my hair is that hair is something that will always grow back, and hair dye will always fade. It's a good way to experiment with a different look with less permanence than piercings or tattoos.

Don't know where to start? Here is what you will need:

1. Your parent's permission. Seriously. If you still live under your parent's roof, the smartest thing you can do in this situation is get permission from your parents. After all, you'll likely be using their bathroom to do this, and permission will help you avoid the dreaded "look of death" from your Mom. Trust me, I know all about the look of death, so heed my warning.
2. Plastic gloves. These can be picked up at your local beauty supply store like Sally's.
3. Small plastic container or a bowl that you don't mind putting strange chemical mixtures in. If I'm using a bleach kit, which contains both powder bleach and developer, this is where I mix it.
4. Tint brush. These can also be purchased at a beauty supply store. This is what you use to apply the dye or bleach mixture to your head.
5. If you're doing streaks or highlights, be sure to have squares of foil to fold around your colored strands, so you don't end up with a polka-dotted head. Unless of course, you want that! Also, the foil becomes warm and helps process the color.
6. An old dark (preferably black) towel. This way, the dye doesn't show up on the towel, and it's one less towel ruined!
7. Your favorite cruelty-free lotion to apply around your hairline. This is for the times that you accidentally dye your forehead. When this happens, you just rub away the lotion with a wet cloth, and the dye goes with it. I don't know about you, but I can live without a purple forehead.
8. A really, really good cleaner to scrub down your bathroom when you're finished. My personal choice is Method's Le Scrub (pictured below) which you can purchase locally at Target. It's cruelty-free, and it smells like eucalyptus mint! When Rachel and I dyed her hair purple in my shower, this scrubbed away every last purple smudge!
9. Last but not least, your choice of hair dye and a bleach kit (if you need it!)

So you have everything you need, but you're still not sure of what dye to purchase? Here are a few cruelty-free suggestions:

• Manic Panic. It comes in every color of the rainbow, is readily available in beauty supply stores, and it's cruelty-free.
• Raw Hair Dye. This hair dye is available at your local Hot Topic, and like Manic Panic, it comes in a variety of great colors.
• Want something more natural? Check out Revlon's hair color. You can likely find Revlon shades at your local grocery store!
• Another natural choice is from one of my favorite companies, Lush. They have a full line of henna hair dyes which are cruelty-free, all natural, and recommended for those of you who might have allergies.

So you've got the tools, you've got the dye, and you're ready to go! If you've never done this before, and you're a little unsure of the process, be sure to check out Manic Panic's hair dye tutorial. They give great step-by-step instructions on how to dye your hair like a pro.

Oh, and guys? Try not to dye your shower curtain like Rachel and I did, okay? Be careful, or you'll have a purple shower curtain for life. Good luck, and happy coloring! - <3, shan.



I'm anxious to see what you guys come up with. If you have ever dyed your hair with these types of hair dyes, post a link to a picture of it!

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