Have I left it to late hair

[Youagain2025]

I'm going on holiday on Wednesday. I was going to dye my hair in the hope I won't look in my 90s. But I just read this chlorine can make it go green. Fade etc . That's for permanent and semi.

I also had a brain wave to do reverse perm so my hair his straight for a longer period of time.

So now sure what to do because of timing. And the haot going green and not sure I can even do both.

To note : i can't do it via hair dressers. I'm not using hair straighteners. As a one of I will if I do reverse perm. There are reasons for this but it's to much to go into.

Also if I go for a copper color will is look orange in the white parts of my hair

You may have to apply it to dry hair to get it to cover the greys strongly the first time. The greys may be a bit lighter than your pigmented hair but, if you chose a colour that matches your natural colour, it will blend in like sun lightened hair/highlights.

If it doesn’t look good, you can fix it with a few washes! 😂 It only costs a few pounds. It won’t damage your hair like semi permanent or permanent dye. It’s worth a try 😂

To answer your question about hair growth, your hair is growing now, you just don’t notice it because it doesn’t get any longer. The hair has reached its maximum length. After it stops growing, it eventually falls out but every hair is at a different stage of growth so you always have lots of hair at the maximum length IYSWIM. If you look closely, you will find shorter hairs that are still in the growing phase. If you cut it, it will grow back to its current maximum length.

Whether you cut it or not, your hair will still be growing so you will get uncoloured root regrowth if you dye it with a permanent dye. TBH you will probably get roots with a semi permanent dye as it will fade slower than you hair grows.

So on your questions about growth and colour fade...

Colour
Semi permanent will gradually fade. Its like putting varnish on wood. The first couple of washes you MIGHT see some colour in the water. After that you wont. It will gradually fade on your hair but you don't need to worry about leaving a brown trail behind you in the pool. After how ever many washes (depends on the person) your hair will be pretty much back to the colour it is now. However! With white hair it can stain and may never wash out. If it does stain, it probably wont stain the colour on the box.
Because its a "varnish", it wont lighten hair. The blonde dye you had in your picture wont change the colour of your brown hair.

Hair length
Imagine a reel of cotton. If you were to unreel it all, youd get 2m of cotton. Its never going to get longer than 2m and once you've used it up, you need to buy some more cotton. Now imagine that cotton is your hair. If you don't cut the cotton but keep unreeling (or growing) you will get to the maximum length and that's it, there is no more cotton/hair.

If you keep cutting the cotton as you unreal it, it you keep the amount of unravelled cotton at the same length but it wont affect how much cotton is left on the reel.

So cutting your hair wont increase the maximum length your hair will grow. If you only have enough cotton to reach your mid back, then you only have that.

Does that make sense?

One thing to consider though, is that the ends of your hair are 9 years old. With the best will in the world, they will be battered. So your hair is probably snapping off too so you are effectively getting a "natural hair cut". This could also be contributing to you feeling like your hair doesnt grow. Its why people sometimes say that cutting your hair makes it grow. It doesnt, it just helps to stop the damaged ends snapping off so it gets longer.

I hope that wasnt patronising.

You hair does have a really nice wave to it.
It's a little dry but nothing some good conditioner can't cure over time.

Home hair dying isn't fun of your not used to it and may add to your stress.

If I were you, I'd get myself some really nice sunhats and reduce the stress.

Try being nicer to yourself too - you seem to be very self critical.

My hair is awful, like a fuzz ball.

I condition it with loads of moisturising conditioner every time I wash and tease the knots out with an old-fashioned plastic blow drying brush that only has the odd bristle so it is better than a wide tooth comb. After squeezing most of the water out, I use the Hask argon oil conditioner, some argon oil, then more leave in conditioner, and sometimes some Cantu moose. Then let it dry naturally.

I keep the ends neat, give it some long layering, and have got really good at cutting my fringe since lockdown.

It looks ok on the first day. After that I put it in a messy bun on top of my head, just running my fingers through, and using a cheap scrunchie from Home Bargains. These are great. I keep my fringe tidy by blow drying it round a round brush in the morning, with a bit of protective spray.

I'm going to wear a skirt for the first time in about 20 years. Ahd some thin wide trousers and vest tops with over shirts.

I hate hats though I feel closed in. Same with glasses. But the actual clothes thing I'm kind of doing.

Op just use a conditioner and oils to get some hydration in it. Don’t colour, straighten or mess with it, drink loads of water and feel great with hair you know won’t get frazzled by chlorine etc. it’s not as bad as you think it is x

Don't try to do too much all at once. It can be really tempting to do a big make over but if you are concerned you wont keep it up, you'd be better to do one thing at a time, get used to that and make that s routine and THEN add another thing.

You seem like you are lacking confidemce and are very down on yourself. I don't want you to do all this, get overwhelmed, stop everything and be disappointed that it didnt work out. X

I have NEVER looked a anyone and thought they looked like a hag. I genuingely haven't and Id be willing to put money on the fact that not many other people have either.

I need to go to work now but what things do you like about yourself, physically or otherwise? If you cant think of any, what do other people like about you?

No not patronising at all its fine 😁. So i think maybe i have been getting mixed up with permanent and semi permanent avd since it was 5 +years ago I could have easily confused that.

So where the hair colour is have bought says upto 8 weeks lasting colour is that talking about the regrowth ?

@Youagain2025 we have very similar hair types mine looks like yours if I do nothing with it. Dye your hair it will make you feel so much better about yourself, after dying it ask your daughter to cut 2 inches off the bottom, home bargains and boots sell hair dressing scissors cheaply. You have curly hair so it really doesn’t matter if it’s not completely straight but the condition will improve dramatically afterwards.
Try these products, the Boots curl Cream is bloody amazing wash your hair as normal, brush when wet and then rub some on yours hands and through the lengths of your hair, then rub some more on you hands and scrunch you hair and leave it to dry naturally, you will be amazed at the results!
Use the leave in conditioner during the days as a gel while in the pool and beach, slick your hair back into a ponytail, it will help hydrate your hair and dramatically improve its appearance and condition, plus the added bonus of protecting your hair from chlorine damage. The holiday/humidity conditioner is not a must but can help with frizz when you have curly/wavy hair, add it on top of the other products if you choose to use it.

Leave in repair conditioner Frizz treatmentCurl creme

I think you have lovely colour hair OP. As others have said it’s dry and a deep conditioning treatment would help you. I use this mask. Slathers loads on and sometimes I’ll sleep over night with it on. Also I use a hair oil every day. It may make the world of difference for you.

mask-
https://www.allbeauty.com/macadamia-natural-oil-care-treatment-deep-repair-masque-for-dry-and-damaged-hair-470ml/10556775.html?abref=GoogleShoppingCsGoogleUkSandgoogleUkB&utm_source=pla&utm_medium=cpc&ref=%7Badtype%7D&setLocale=1&currency=GBP&country=48&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20613856697&gbraid=0AAAAAC6fvzxU85_k5hAUk1kWaZAzjAyvJ&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqJCP1O3cjQMVgpJQBh26xCWREAQYBSABEgJy2vD_BwE

oil -
https://www.superdrug.com/hair/hair-treatments/hair-care-oils/loreal-paris-elvive-extraordinary-oil-100ml/p/461052?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18158841593&gbraid=0AAAAADp4mz-88LFAldg4xX9ZOCD7plJAv&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt43X9e3cjQMVmptQBh0AoA1iEAQYBSABEgK2KfD_BwE

I have no idea what people think of me probably unkept 🤷‍♀️

It comes across as negative etc but it's kind if not . Because it's about me building on myself. Feeling better about myself. But in a way that I feel safe.

I don't waht to sound like I'm not taking anything on board but when people say forget dyeing it just get it well conditioned etc. I get it needs to be conditioned. But that alone doesn't give me a visual that would help me feel better about how I look. So its not truly about people thinking I look like an old has. Its about me seeing that I look like an old has.

The 8 weeks means that the colour will fade in 8 weeks(ish). So that's a semi permanent dye (there are also things called demi-perminants but they are essentially the same thing). The idea is that the colour fades before your hair grows enough to show any roots.

Permanent colours are designed not to fade. So your hair will stay that colour until it grows out and you get it cut (or not). If you get roots after dying your hair then the dye was probably permanent. Hairdressers tend to use permanent dye as standard.

Permanent colour is better at dealing with greys or if your hair has lots of different colours because it tends to be stronger. You will get regrowth/roots with permanent colour. BUT although it is a permanent colour, things like hard water, some shampoos and chlorine can cause the colour to change a bit eg in my case I use to use perminant colour to dye my hair brown. Over a few months that brown would fade to a sort of brassy/ginger colour. The dye was still there, just "weatheted".

Neither a semi or a perminamt will make your hair lighter. You can only stay the same colour or go darker.

If you do dye your hair, please, please, please carry out a patch test (the instructions will be in box of dye). They are really important

Thank you. Could you do me a massive favour and pullet point what I need to do and the products I need? Sounds stupid but obviously I can read it but I get lost within the words.

Also do i need to wash it every day if I'm using them products ?

I get you.

But honestly, don't underestimate the difference a good conditioning treatment will make on how you hair looks and feels.

Also, do look into cutting your own hair. Its easier than you think if you take your time and get some proper sissors (Boots fir about £15). Again, that will make a huge difference to how your hair looks and feels.

I know when my own hair needs cutting because I just feel like I have to wear it up all the time. I don't know why and cant explain it but it feels like it looks a mess to me if I wear it down (although other people can't tell!). A cut makes the world of difference.

You have lovely thick hair, I think a little TLC can go a long way. Do you have enough time to give your hair a deep condition and comb to get a good idea of the length? I would then try giving your hair a small trim just so it feels a bit fresher for you. Do you want to have coloured hair? If so you may need 2 boxes for full coverage. You will need to part your hair and take your time putting colour through it. Have a look on YouTube, there’s lots of tutorials on how to do it. The white parts will look more vivid then the rest of your, just something to bear in mind. You may want to try a temporary colour or wash in colour to see if you like the look first.
I also dislike the hairdressers and try my best at home! Lots of good advice on here too :) good luck!

Look at Brad Mondo hair cutting videos. He does unicorn and wolf cuts too. But what is really helpful is that he tells you why you need to do certain things eg pull your hair in a certain direction.

You're not going to get hairdresser results the first time you do it but after practice, you'll be fine.

If you do decide to cut it, have a look at a few different videos and take your time.

Good point about the number of boxes! Id say you'd need at least 3. You need to make sure every hair is covered.

As lomg as they aren't open, you can return them.

I will probably get some from amazon because I avoid shops as much as I can. I'm guessing i cut when when wet. I will definitely condition

Depends on the cut and your hair tbh.

Have a look at some videos.

If you do cut wet, remember your hair will bounce up when it is dry so that that into account when deciding how much to cut off.

If you are buying dye from Amazon, make sure ut is a legitimate seller.

I wouldn’t be too worried if you’re in and out of the pool/sea etc but if it’s for going out in the evening why don’t you just get one of those touchup colour sprays and then think about it when you get home? What you want to do? Colour wise and style wise?

So if its semi permanent which makes sense from what you said I thiigjt the same whu does it say this. See pic

It has an asterix. What does that say? Its probably on the side of the box.

@Youagain2025

1. Dye hair your preferred colour
2. Get your daughter to trim 2 inches off the bottom, section you hair into about 4 separate sections trim the underneath section first, then take the next section down trim to to seem length using the underneath as a guide etc etc.
3. Wash and conditioner your hair as normal, towel dry to remove excess water by squeezing and patting do not rub your hair with the towel, then brush your hair.
4. Using the boots curl cream rub a 50p sized amount in your hands and spread through the underneath of your hair, repeat for the mid section and then the top section. Then rub some more through your hands tip your head upside down and scrunch your hair. DO NOT BRUSH AGAIN UNTIL ITS NEXT WASHED.
5. At home when not swimming etc the curls will last a few days so wash on your usual schedule and don’t brush it at all as it will make your hair frizz. On holiday you will need to wash every evening due to swimming/beach do as above then in the morning tie your hair up using the leaving in conditioner instead of gel/hairspray.

Hopefully that makes sense, feel free to say if it doesn’t.

Boots curl cream

leave in conditioner
Leave in conditioner, I like this one but any one you pick will work to hydrate your hair.