I can't believe I did this

[Tornerose]

(X-Posted at other hair-forums).

I finally bleached my hair

I've been wanting to do this for... Oh I don't know, since I was 20 or something, so almost 8 years then.
My previous hairdresser didn't really want to do it, so we settled for highlights/stripes for a couple of years. But the last time we did it, the chemicals started to burn quite a bit, so I decided I didn't really want to do it again. That was a bit over 3 years ago now

Eventually I found theese hairforums and heard of all kinds of natural lightining, honey, lemon, cinnamon, etc but noone really had the results I was looking for.
So when I moved up here in the mountains last fall, I noticed they had an organic hairdresser here. After seriously thinking about it for some months now, I decided to go in and talk to them about what options I had, and set up an appointment.

Yesterday was the big day, and I was going to take pictures before and after, but time ran away from me, so I only have very old before-pictures.
Anyways, when I got there the hairdresser said my hair was pretty light already, so she didn't have to use bleach, just lightning.. whatever that means. So we did that, cut off the ends wich looked like something the car threw up, and gave it a cure.

The whole "bleach" process went fine, only slight discomfort when it came near my skin in a "non-hair"-area, but it disappeared one I wiped it off. Hair also feels really silky, wich is weird since she said their products didn't use any 'cones.

Anyways, on to the pictures.

Here's me before, with the top hair layers striped, per the old hairdressers "rules".
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=7786&pictureid=102044

Different lighting:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=7786&pictureid=102045


And then...
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=7786&pictureid=102040
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=7786&pictureid=102041
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=7786&pictureid=102042

What do you all think of the colour? Too light? Too yellow? Just about right? Too dark? Opinions please....

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=6266&pictureid=102035
Here's hands at previous lenght. Please ignore the braidwaves.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=6266&pictureid=102039
Here you can see the U-shape much better. Personally I don't think I like that but ohwell. Easy fix.

And just because swirly photos are fun, here's some more.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=6266&pictureid=102038
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=6266&pictureid=102037
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=6266&pictureid=102036


(PS: The facial shots will be made private or removed later. I'm just adding them in now so you can see the difference against my skin)

[MissManda]

It's so wonderful to hear that you did what makes you happy. :) Your hair looks gorgeous with your new color and waves. Oh, and I love your shirt, too! :flower:

[jasper]

It looks just right to me and it looks like you are enjoying it! (I like your before color too)

[Miss Catrina]

I think it's great. :) It reminds me of the hair angels have in paintings!

[Honestwitness]

I like it! The color is very prettty. I like your pretty top, also.

[Freki]

That's a lovely color! I think it really makes your eyes pop.

[jojo]

It doesnt even looked bleached, it looks so soft and healthy. I love it and your hair!

[Garnett]

yay, it looks beautiful!

[ratgirldjh]

I think it looks very natural :)

[AnnaJamila]

How preeeeeeeeeeeetty!!! I love the color, and you obviously are thrilled!

Beautiful results! :)

[Joribear]

It doesnt even looked bleached, it looks so soft and healthy. I love it and your hair!

I was thinking the SAME thing!!

It looks....cuddly. LOL My youngest nephew likes to cuddle and pet my hair while I'm sleeping (it's his way of waking me up; he's 5 & has Downs Syndrome), and I think he would love to cuddle and pet hair that looks like your's, Tornerose! It's a very special thing; not everyone gets hair cuddles/pets, not even his mom! :cheese:

[racrane]

It's pretty and looks lovely! And I LOVE the swirl-y shots. :D

[Lianna]

I'm so glad for you! Very natural and stunning results! :blossom:

[Mesmerise]

It looks beautiful and very natural! It's great you could get your hair lightened in a way that wasn't so damaging and didn't hurt you, too! I'd love to know what process they use that doesn't involve bleach.

[Lianna]

I'd love to know what process they use that doesn't involve bleach.

Dark blonde/light brown can look light blonde with a high lift dye. Mine did a few years ago. Perhaps that's what they used.

[ericthegreat]

I love this light blonde shade on you! With your natural pale skin and blue eyes, you can't even tell that it isn't your natural color. That stylist did a great job!

And I concur with Lianna. On hair whose starting color is already light enough, say a dark to a medium blonde, a high-lift dye color is usually enough to lighten that hair to a light blonde, thus making bleach unnecessary.

[fairystar32]

The colour suits you, you hair is so pretty and you seem thrilled so Congrats :)

[HintOfMint]

So pretty! I adore it!

[musicallberrii]

looks beautiful and suits you well :) glad you like it!

[CastaDiva]

Really, really beautiful, and very natural looking!! The colour of your hair and your complexion really stand out when you are wearing your lovely blue top:)

[Quixii]

It looks very pretty and natural and really suits you very well. I'm very glad you're so happy with it. :)

[Melanie Marie]

Honestly, I think the new color looks much nicer!!! And your hair is so beautiful! :)

[Avital88]

It looks really natural and not bleached! Good job ,very lovely hair

[GourmetChica]

I love it, I think it's a perfect shade. Sometimes when blondes don't have yellow in them and they are too ash toned I think they look too harsh and kind of aging. Your golden tones are so pretty. What did she use, can you let us know?

[Sundial]

I love the way the color looks on you! It's really pretty :thumbsup:

[Dragon]

It looks good :) Looks very natural

[Chibbylick]

looks great!!

[Malibu Barbie]

Yeah !! I love it, it looks great. Have fun with it!!

[silkheart]

Your new color is gorgeous! :) It is definitely flattering.

[vanity_acefake]

Wow. It looks amazing.
I love the action shots.
:)

[LocustSpawning]

WOW! That looks gorgeous!!

[Ninika]

Absolutely thudworthy! I'd never have guessed this wasn't natural.

[Yozhik]

Very pretty! It looks natural, and I like the color. :)

I especially like the last swirly hair photo! :flower:

[Raekwon]

it's fine.

[mrs_coffee]

The color is lovely and looks very natural. I like it.

[vanillabones]

I love it. And wow you didn't use bleach people are saying?? Even more lovely :) Your hair is so gorgeous. I love the braid waves and the length.

[WaitingSoLong]

OOOHH I love it! But maybe i am biased towards that color ;)

I am a little perplexed by everyone's comments that it doesn't look bleached. As someone who has bleached on and off all my life, the damage from bleach takes a long time to show up, not the next day.

[Maddy25]

It looks so natural and shiney, I like it a lot better than the stripes from before :D It looks great!

[spidermom]

It looks gorgeous! I hope the upkeep won't become heinous.

[firicia]

Wow you look amazing!

[dragonchickx]

Id love to be able to see the pictures I guess I am not at that many posts yet!! ahh!

[Tornerose]

Thank you everyone. :flowers:
I'm glad you all like it. My biggest concern was if it looked bleached/unnatural, but it seems you guys don't think so, wich I'm happy about :)

Personally I think it's too light. it's a HUGE adjustment, I wasn't aiming for such a light blonde, so I hope it darkens alittle. If it doesn't maybe I'll go back to more brunette-ish :p

I see there's some questions about what she used, and I honestly have no idea. I know they're an organic hairdressingshop (is that what you call it?) and that most of their products claim to be organic. Bleach will obviously always be bleach, but since she said she didn't need to use bleach on me, I have no idea what it was.
There was also a haircure involved after the dyejob, and shampoo and conditioner.. and a blowdry so we could get brush through it :lol:

Fun Fact: I told her about LHC, and she has heard of it, she even seemed positive towards us crazyheads here ;) How often does that happend? Especially since she had short bleached hair herself :P


It looks....cuddly. LOL My youngest nephew likes to cuddle and pet my hair while I'm sleeping (it's his way of waking me up; he's 5 & has Downs Syndrome), and I think he would love to cuddle and pet hair that looks like your's, Tornerose! It's a very special thing; not everyone gets hair cuddles/pets, not even his mom! :cheese:
Aww that's so precious. You must feel quite priveledged.

[RitaPG]

Looks gorgeous and suits your skintone beautifully :)

[WaitingSoLong]

Personally I think it's too light. it's a HUGE adjustment, I wasn't aiming for such a light blonde, so I hope it darkens alittle. If it doesn't maybe I'll go back to more brunette-ish.

This is why I stopped highlighting my hair. It is a great color, but too light for me, personally. I know my pics don't show it but I have a ruddy complexion that makes the ligter blonde look unnatural around my face. I really really liked the color, though. I just decided it was not for me.

You will get used to it, too. Eventually, I darkened my hair. Sounds like you had it done the healthiest way, so I would just try to enjoy it! Looks fun!

[Joribear]

Aww that's so precious. You must feel quite priveledged.

I'm very privileged and I know it! That's the one thing I "get" from him that is ALLLL mine! :)

Of course, if he saw your hair, I think he'd knock me over trying to get to you! :)

[Alvrodul]

That looks goooood!! :D

[Tornerose]

Thanks you guys :)


I'm very privileged and I know it! That's the one thing I "get" from him that is ALLLL mine! :)

Of course, if he saw your hair, I think he'd knock me over trying to get to you! :)
Haha aww, thank you.


This is why I stopped highlighting my hair. It is a great color, but too light for me, personally. I know my pics don't show it but I have a ruddy complexion that makes the ligter blonde look unnatural around my face. I really really liked the color, though. I just decided it was not for me.

You will get used to it, too. Eventually, I darkened my hair. Sounds like you had it done the healthiest way, so I would just try to enjoy it! Looks fun!
Yeah I suppose I will get used to it. If it darkens alittle over time/with washes too, it will probably get even better.

Your colour looks very nice in the pictures though. Not too light, not too dark.

[Rocket22]

I agree with everyone that is looks very natural

[IcarusBride]

It looks soooo beautiful! I think she got it right on the mark! Congrats on your very successful hairdresser visit!

[jojo]

if you want to darken a little try some apple cider vinegar rinses or a marigold rinse.

[Tornerose]

Thank you.

jojo: wont ACV make it more reddish though? I want it darker, but not more yellow or red... (yes I know I'm picky :P )

[Quezie]

It looks wonderful, and completely natural. :)