Damaging Hair Products?:

As I hair dye addict, I hear everyday "Wow you probably have really damaged hair!" And yes, I do. But it is because I bleach my hair.  A common misconception that hair dye is super damaging, when in reality, its not like that at all.  I use "semi-permant" hair dye which has a less harsher pigment. I'm not saying hair dye is healthy but its not the worst. Bleaching is the worst. It took a good 3 months after my first initial bleach job for my hair to feel "normal" again. For most brunettes to get the color I have achieved, must bleach their hair. Blondes, on the other hand, are quite lucky and can get the pastel colored hair with little to no bleach.

Ways to Achieve Hair Color WITHOUT Bleach:

Colored hair has become quite the trend this year so if that is a look you want to rock, there are certainly easier, less permeant and damaging ways to do so!

Chalk- This is best for people with darker hair to get a vibrant color but it is perfect for all hair colors and types. It usually washes out within in a day or two.  Hair chalk is now available in most drugstores and beauty supply shops.

Spray- I wrote a post about this and have yet to try it but according to reviews this is the best for a longer stay and is very easy to apply! Check out the post to read more!

Clip-Ins- For a year, I wore clip-ins and thought they were a great option to keep my parents and myself happy! They act like an extension and are easy to take on and off. The brand I had was Hair Pop and they were relatively cheap.

Colored Mascara- When I was 10, I used to use my Mom's purple mascara to streak my hair. It would stay for about 1 day but it was great way to add color in a healthy, fun way.

Kool Aid- Now I never did this because my hair was too dark but for all my blonde friends they had a blast.  Take 3-6 packets of whatever color you would like and mix them with water and conditioner. After they are all mixed, apply to wherever you want the color and let sit for however long you want the pigment to stay. If you sleep in it, it will obviously be a darker shade of that color compared to if you leave it in for 20 minutes.
Ways to Achieve Hair Color WITH Bleach:

If you are ready to take the big leap into bleaching your hair to get the pastel color, I highly suggest going to a salon to get your hair bleached. Bleach is nothing to just mess around with.  I will admit parts of hair have broken off and fallen out because of bleaching.  If you smart about it, you will be happy with your result.

Once your hair is bleached to almost white (as a brunette you will turn orange before going blonde then white so hold on tight it will happen), use white toner to get all the brassy colors out.  To achieve pastel hair, you must have white hair, anything less than white, the dye will not hold. Leave the toner in for about 15 minutes. I keep mine in longer because I get paranoid about not having white enough hair.

Now the important part! The hair dye (I use Le Riche Directions)! Personally, I choose to mix the dye with conditioner to lighten the pigment and get "lilac" hair, plus it helps condition my hair. If you choose to just apply the dye straight to the hair be sure it is all evenly spread and all the roots are covered. Get a friend to make sure the back of your head is all covered in the dye. Leave in for as long as you would like depending on the shade and wash out with cold water!

To keep the color from fading so fast, put a little bit of hair dye in your conditioner and use it every other day.

If you have any questions about any of these options when it comes to hair dying or the process, tweet me @MavSlade! All photos are from my Instagram!

XOXO -M.S.