Hair Chronicles: Hair Update + Blue Grey Tip

It has been months since I posted an update or anything on this blog! The thing is… priorities smacks me in the face. Every. Day. I currently have responsibilities on a certain non-profit organization in line with my career, and at the same time, I’m enrolled at a review center in preparation for the licensure exams next year. 
But guess what I haven’t lost time to deal with? Hair color!

However, no, not really. As you would see on the following photos below, I have almost 5″ long roots. I’ve been busy that long and I did not have the luxury to dye my hair. The very last time before this post would be 2.5 months ago, during the Master Plumbers’ Oathtaking, in which I just covered my hair with Enchanted Forest, without bleaching my (already showing) roots.

Bleached once (which turned out to be uneven/pictured below) and topped with a layer of Bremod hair color tube in Blue mixed with a generous amount of white conditioner. That mix gave me a silver-y blue.

3-4 days after application, daily washing.

3-4 days after application, daily washing.

After application. Bleached once, blue generic permanent dye with conditioner.

I’ll let you in the not-so-secret tip; bleaching a jet black hair would give you a golden brown kind of color, if not bright yellow-orange — then, given that you’ve been taught Primary colors since Pre-school, you should know that yellow + blue would give you green. And digging more into the color wheel, violet neutralizes yellow.

From my experience, overtly neutralizing yellows gives you Silver. Hence, – you do the math.

1.5 – 2 weeks after application, toned roots, hair color back to washed up teal.

1.5 – 2 weeks after application, toned roots, hair color back to washed up teal.

1.5 – 2 weeks after application, toned roots, hair color back to washed up teal.

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Get That Blue Hair for Less than 100 Pesos

Backstory

I stocked up for my hair color supply needs from Quiapo. As per usual: I dropped by so I could get cheaper products that works just the same.

My hair has been through a lot and currently washed out from my previous Manic Panic© Cotton Candy Pink™ (it lasted only for about 2 weeks) over a bleached hair at about level 8 blonde.

I decided to try the color that I’ve long been planning to wear, which is Blue-blue. From experience, these color tubes (which costs around 35-45 pesos/piece) would do the trick. It always depends, of course, on your hair situation!

The process

I just want to warn you about its difference with semi-pemanent jar dyes, which you can put on directly to your hair; because these color tubes similar to these requires developer to process, and developers are oxidizers, and oxidizing damages your hair. Also, developers contain ammonia: it smells so bad that you should work with your hair in open air.

Prepare your tools. Find a well-ventilated room. Call a friend!

Mix 1 part dye with 1 part developer. (1:1) I used 9% (30 Vol.) developer.

    
  

This certain color develops so fast that it will turn Royal Blue before you get to the next section.

After applying it, I let it sat for about 15 minutes and washed it with shampoo (to thoroughly remove excess chemicals, I wanted to fade it out a bit, anyway) and lots of conditioner.

  
  
Because of the yellow-ish blonde color I had beforehand, it turned out to be this wondeful shade of Teal (— I’m wearing teal again) which is similar to Manic Panic©’s Enchanted Forest™ after a few washes.
 

Hair Chronicles: Bleaching Hair for the nth Time Around

Here I am again… Hope ma momma won’t nag me coz o’ this.

First bleach! Using Hortaleza Professional hair bleach powder and 12% (Vol. 40) Oxidizing Lotion:Got these from HBC Robinsons Imus. The sale attendant says that you need 2 packets of bleach per bottle of the oxidizing lotion… which I don’t believe. It’s usually 1 bleach: 2 oxidant. But I just ended up using 1.25 bottle(s) of oxidizing lotion on a single packet. I got all of these for PhP 160.00. So expensive. 

Photos of my hair before first bleaching:    Just a little story behind this: so I was cramming all the boards I need for my thesis presentation and I’m working at someone else’s place. Now, I’ve got only a few days left before the day of presentation and I need to color my hair back to BLACK because I was given a warning from the dean’s office (or our SWDB) that I may not be allowed to defend my work if I have the unnatural hair color I am sporting, because it’s against the hair color policy. I need to drop by my place in Cavite (from Quezon City — thank you to my wonderful someone who drove me to and back from Cavite!) to fetch the things I need for the thesis presentation.

I asked my sister to buy me the cheapest Black hair dye she could find at the drugstore. And what she got is this Henna hair coloring powder that made my hair extremely dry. Halfway through the process (I colored my hair right away when we got back) I realized that 2 packets is not enough to cover my entire head. I had no choice but to let the remaining dye work which smells really awful, by the way, like fish. That incident left sections of brown hair on the left part of my head. That was in April 5, ~1.5 months ago.

Anyway, I haven’t washed my hair with shampoo for 2 days in preparation for the first bleaching.  Put on vaseline around my face, behind the ears, and the nape. Some of the bleach went the wrong way and dripped off my back — it stings. Left it on my hair for about 30 minutes.

Here’s a lot of selfies:   
        

Side by side comparison:I was itching to bleach my hair right after the first one because I have ratchet hair!

Aaaaaaaaaaand so I did, the next day: Using Cruset Hair Colouring Cream in Golden Blonde. The box doesn’t contain a leaflet, although the instructions are the box. It comes with the hair colour tube, 12% (Vol. 40) Developer, and gloves.     Poured in all the contents of the tube and developer in the bowl. Mixed it well and asked my cousin to slap it on my head, concentrating on the darker parts first.

After about 35 minutes:It made my hair lighter, but not lifted it that much. Maybe because it’s Golden Blond, and it has a pigment in it, I’m not sure. Thanks to the one who helped me with this, my hair became more even.

And, of course, here’s a side-by-side comparison:At this point, I’ve got massive breakage at the ends of my hair. I gave it a rest for 5 days, with deep conditioning, Olive Oil, and no shampoo.

Watsons 50% Off Hair Haul

I was at SM North EDSA yesterday because I watched Pitch Perfect 2. (It was fine.) I checked out Lolane’s “Headzone” or their free hair color application booth at The Block, I scanned the shelves that had been set up there… And they don’t have P38. So, uh… Why is it all hair brands are limiting their options when they export here in PH? (Luckily we have our trusty online shops to provide us with crazy hair colors.)

Anywaaay, on the way to the booth, I eyed 50% off at this drugstore… And Palty was on display! But then I have to tame my urge to peek at the available shades because I don’t want to bore the guy I’m with. And I’m limiting my expense that day.

Today, I dropped by Robinson’s Imus to finally check out the shades at Watson’s. (Yes, they have Watson’s inside Robinsons.) I WAS SO THANKFUL TO LAY MY HANDS ON PALTY in Cinnamon Churros for only… PhP 249.75! That’s down from PhP 499.75/box! And I bought this CRUSET in A911 Golden Blond for only PhP 94.75 (which is also 50% off from PhP 190~) to lift my hair color because…

I’m going Blonde again!

How to: Bleach your hair + Colisi Bleaching Powder and Lan.Caress Developer Review

Here’s a review on my Quiapo finds last, last month; at the same time, this would be a tutorial/photo diary on how to mix these chemicals or how to bleach your own hair.

DO NOT TAKE A BATH AT LEAST 2 DAYS BEFORE BLEACHING.

Clean your body, except your head. (I’ve tried 5 days.) This is for letting the natural oils of your scalp spread around your head, the natural oils will help lessen the damage that bleaching will give your hair.

You can add in VCO or olive oil, too.

Get your tools:

• Non-metallic bowl (for mixing chemicals)
• Tinting brush
• Gloves!
• Vaseline/ lotion
• Hair clips (large mouth clips)
• Measuring cup (optional, you can use any non-metallic scoop)
• Bleaching powder
• Bleaching oxidant or developer (30/40 vol.)
• Hair toner (you will need developers for some toners, or click here for an alternative)
• Hair treatment creams

Before bleaching:

1. Prepare all the tools you need.
2. Set-up your space; make sure the room’s ventilated because the smell would be strong and it can sting your eyes. Use old newspapers to cover up the floor, table or desk, whatsoever around you.
3. Wear an old shirt or top that you don’t care about staining.
4. Remove your earrings and other metallic accessories that you’re wearing.
5. Put a generous amount of vaseline or lotion around your face, behind the ears (and your ears, themselves), the nape, and upper part of your back, (especially when you have long hair.)
6. Mix it uppp! Ratio is 1 part bleach powder:2 parts developer. 

Mix until “batter consistency:”

Part your hair into four sections. Start at the lower back part of your hair.
Get a pinch-sized section of your hair and, using your brush, start at the roots, all the way down to the tips of your hair. This is for an equal distribution of hair bleach on all your hair that will result in even lightening.

Work on the next parting, going up. When you’re done — make sure you did not miss a spot — you can cover your hair with a shower cap to lock-in the heat on your head.

Leave it on for 20-40 minutes maximum. Clean up the mess while waiting!

Rinse it out with running freezing cold water, avoid eye contact, use shampoo (to remove bleach residues on your head) then conditioner. 

Hair is already damaged, do not blow dry. Use deep conditioning for the next 2 months. Do not bleach your hair twice within 2 months — one month, tops. Unless you want to go bald.

Developers: Volume–Percentage Conversion

When watching YouTube tutorials and reviews about hair bleaching, I noticed that in the US, they use the “Volume” of the Peroxide for indicating the strength (amount of Oxygen) of the developer, while in our country, the standards of the developers are labeled with Percentages (3%, 6%, 9%, 12%). (More about it here / Reference)

In case you’re somewhat confused — like me — and planning to purchase developers anytime soon here in the Philippines, here’s a chart of the conversion for your reference:

Peculiar Hair Chronicles: Summer Starter… or Ruin-er?

It’s been a while. Here I am updating this blog before the month ends (I made it!) and I’m on my way in fulfilling my promise of bleaching my hair this summer *horray* then dye it with an unusual hair color.

SO. Without further adieu, I would share how I officially started my summer this 2014, aside from the humiliating (myself) year-ender party of Archinet plus some weird stuff I’m trying — I bleached my hair [again] the night I got back home. Now here’s the back story:

• March 16, Sunday, I honestly can’t remember what happened but I bleached my hair, left it for about an hour, and the usual result of the first bleaching process: Black to [somewhat-dark-and-Orange-y] Brown. 1 Level lighter, that is. The week went on complying with last few requirements we have to pass, then, after 6 days;
• With the block party and org party in between, I got back home, March 22, Saturday late in the afternoon, with hangover, and was thinking, ‘hey, school works are (somewhat) finally over… I can now fry my hair!’ and bleached it. I left the bleach for about 45 minutes and it’s so uneven. My roots are Orange Orange.

NOTE: It is definitely *NOT ADVISABLE* to re-bleach your hair just after a week, wait for at least a month or two -- don't follow my foot steps unless you want to burn your scalp, and have bald spots, and super-ultra-mega damage your hair.

Before going to the next one, I have to share something about the Purple food coloring I planned to use on my hair for toning: I asked my aunt to buy me one and got me a powder food coloring in Violet under the name of Mr. Brown. I don’t know what it means, but when I mixed it with our drinking water, it only turns into Blue; then, using the tap water, it turns Purple, yes, but after some time, I noticed that there are Red-colored bits on the sink, melting just now.

I don’t know if it has something to do with the ‘Hard water‘ thing-y, where you got some Iron or minerals on your water source, depends on your place, which adds to the brassiness of your hair (I made some research, and will definitely make a post about it soon) but if you’re planning to use food coloring to tone your hair, I suggest using the [already] liquid ones, because…

• The next day, March 23, Sunday, I “toned” my hair twice: First, using the food color and lots of conditioner (it has a Blue-ish color, by the way,) and the Second one was mixing the food color to my Shampoo. I realized it was just getting my hair darker and darker. It’s not lifting or neutralizing any Yellow up that much. It was so frustrating that I bleached my hair, again.  My roots are now White and the top of my head is pale Yellow, and from the mid-length to my tips, it’s fucking Orange. And, oh, I have a few skin burns around my neck and poignant wounds on my scalp, plus one patch of my hair where I usually test bleach, easily breaks when you pull it, too brittle: I look like I have a texture of a [Mad] Witch’s hair. Remember the NOTE above guys — I’m such a loser.

I now have an ugly colored hair, without a toner and cannot go out without looking Jeje.

As of March 24 2014 11:47 PM

Grabbed from my Instagram account, which explains why the photo’s very grainy (thanks Apple iPad selfie-cam). Processed with VSCOcam, thus what you see is not the actual hair color I have now. It’s a lot more Orange and full of Yellow tones it’ll kill you when you stare at it.

I cannot go out with this hair color (Hello, Badjao Yellow) unless I want to humiliate myself (to myself) twice within a week. Luckily, someone would run an errand for me and pay for the toner I ordered online… which is Wella Hair Toner T18 and currently looking for more information about it on the internet.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Do your research, plan your process of dyeing, have backups (or stack-ups) of different products for different purposes, ask for a friend to lend a helping hand.

Hair Timeline: The Beginnings

Here’s what tipped the curiosity into dyeing my hair in different colors. As an asian, I have naturally black hair — Jet Black may be the right term —

I just remembered how when I was little and saw my mom applying some Black stuff (which is a cheap tinting dye from China that is common in the Philippines) because her white hair is showing up due to age, I insisted she tint my hair too — remember that I was a kid, around nine (9) years old — and she did; and after that, at times when she does it on her hair, she does mine, too.

I really have no idea about hair dyes, colors, application, the chemicals, etc. the first time I did it. I’ve just been looking up on the internet on how to “lighten” my hair and with a very little research and impatience, I ended up purchasing Dariya Palty Hairdye in Mecha Flash Bleach Sparkling Blonde from an online shop selling Japanese products based in the Philippines.

Dariya Palty Hairdye in Mecha Flash Bleach Sparkling Blonde – Front Packaging

Dariya Palty Hairdye in Mecha Flash Bleach Sparkling Blonde – Rear-side Packaging

This was way back April of 2011. I did not took a photo of it, as I do not have all the resources during that time, but I remembered quite well how it worked for me. (Well, goodbye, virgin hair!)

*Update as of February 2019:
They have re-branded the Bleach lineup. Check it here.

THOUGHTS ON PALTY SPARKLING BLONDE:

The box contains the bleaching powder sachet, developer, conditioning shampoo (or hair treatment formulated by Dariya,) instructions/manual (which is in Japanese characters,) plastic bottle, screw-type comb-like plastic, and plastic disposable gloves.

Sparkling Blonde Bleaching Kit contents – Photo c/o Google Images

I followed the instructions which is in Japanese – Hiragana & Katakana characters – but you can surely comprehend and follow the illustrations, anyway.

Mix up the bleach powder and developer cream (tube) well inside the provided plastic bottle, then attach the plastic comb at the mouth of the bottle. Put on your gloves. Apply to your hair as evenly as possible. I left it for about 40 minutes. Washed with shampoo, then the small packet of conditioner or after-dye hair treatment.

It did lighten my hair, NOT sparkling blonde light, but halfway there. It left my hair undamaged. Quite soft afterwards, actually.

April 2011 / Abu Dhabi, UAE

It is claimed to be made for teenagers; or their target market are girls like me, aged 16 at that time. It does not smell bad — or strong, like your usual hair dyes that stings. It does not leave your hair damaged!

P.S. I bleached my hair a few days before our flight to UAE, and knowing that it’s the Middle East during summer, it’s extremely hot. Direct exposure to sunlight, aside from damaging your hair and skin, may cause the fading of the color right away, so my mother bought me a L’oreal Shampoo and Conditioner for colored hair (which is quite funny because she was against the act of my bleaching my hair,) that was supposed to help in maintaining the color of my hair until I went back to the Philippines. I think it barely did a thing.

That’s it for my first time. Mind telling me your history?

Quiapo Finds: Colisi Hair Bleach and Lan.Caress Developer

People living in Metro Manila knows where/what Quiapo is, for those who, I’m afraid, does not, it is a home for every product you need, with of course, a reasonable price.

We were originally looking for Instax Films for my friend, Winona (after we’ve left my prescription eyeglasses, for a while, for replacing its lens with the graded ones — you can buy cheap eyeglass frames and prescription ones at Paterno street). We swept the whole Hidalgo street looking for the cheapest film for their trip to Beijing. It is when we stumbled upon a shop filled with hair-related products.

I haven’t had the time to take note of the shop’s name, but it was just along Hidalgo street, along with the photography-stuff shops; this one’s near the plaza already. It has shelves and shelves of large bottles and tubs for hair care and some cosmetics and nail polishes along the aisle. But long story short, I picked out a hair bleach and a developer. After-all, I was planning to buy and use Hydrogen Peroxide to lighten my hair by summer, hence my plan of a blue/pink hair by that time.

This is LAN.CARESS Create Perfect “Fashion Professional Peroxides Milk” which is a Volume 30 (9%) Oxidizer — which I got for only Eighty-five pesos (85 Php) only!!! That’s for a Thousand milliliters (1000 mL) already!

I was thinking about getting a 6% oxidizer, unlike the last ones that I have been using, which is a 60mL Volume 30 (9%) Oxiding Emulsion Cream by Mondes Professional — which, by the way, I got from a Hortaleza branch at a nearby mall for about Twenty pesos (20PHP) — because I wanted to try a less damaging bleaching process, which can be achieved by choosing the lesser percentage…

But I ended up buying a 9% anyway. I’m afraid 6% will not work its magic on my hair.

It has a nose for its opening and has a poorly printed Manufacturing/Expiry date at the bottom of the [big] bottle, that I cannot even read it, much less guess the date, but most probably this’ll be good for 3 years after its manufacturing year, 2013… I don’t know if that’s September.

I’ll just probably use it all up — or share it with a friend — before 2015 ends. Anyway, in estimate: 1000mL / 60mL = 16.66 bottles, rounding it off to, say 16, which costs around x 18Php/each = that is 300 Pesos for a thousand mL. I get to save 200+ in my pocket.

And this is so much steal! Colisi Hair Bleaching Powder, 450~500 grams for only Seventy-Five  Pesos (75 PHP)!

I looked up the brand’s name on the internet – just now – because I’m not quite sure if it’s ‘Colisi’ or ‘Coilsi’, and found out that this is made by Sophia Marie — I haven’t had a thorough review on their products but I will make my own, anytime soon.

I know you have this idea that both products are China-made. We both know it. All of the things we own are Made In China, but you can check out the ingredients on both products, printed and labeled. I don’t know with Colisi, but it has different languages on it, Chinese isn’t one. The Manufacture/expiry date are clear on this one, at the bottom of the tub.

The powder is sealed inside a plastic bag with a “bread ring” as I call it (an easily-fold-able metallic wire wrapped in a Gold-colored plastic material) just like so in the photos.

It is Blue in color, just like the ones I’m using to bleach my hair. Can you believe that I am buying that exact same thing before for Ninety Pesos (9o Php) for only a hundred grams (100 g)?

Both products just made me look at my friend, mouthing the words “score!” For these are bulk products, which I strongly think is being used at local salons, the amount I got for a little amount of money is way too exciting but maybe you’re thinking quality-wise, I’m going to try it on myself and make a documentation about it soon.