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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to dye my hair a wacky colour like pink or blue or green?

63 replies

HangingBasketCase · 18/04/2015 10:34

Ive always dreamed of dying my hair a bright, vivid colour but have never had the guts for it. I keep seeing more and more women, of all ages, with wacky coloured hair and I'm wondering if it s becoming more acceptable? I know a girl with blue/green hair (she alternates it), and it looks amazing, but she works as a hairdresser in an edgy salon and has quite an alternative personal style so maybe that's why she's able to get away with it?

A few weeks ago I saw an older woman who must have been about 60 at least with pink and blue streaks in her hair. She also looked fab.

WIBU to dye my hair a bright colour like this? I'm thinking maybe starting with something like lilac or pink? Also what do employers think of it? Would they be able to tell me to change my hair colour?

OP posts:
MmeGuillotine · 18/04/2015 20:36

Oh and work wise, I work from home as a novelist and historian and suspect that my blue hair has become part of my brand (wanky term but I'm drunk and can't think of a better one!) so can't change it now. It's handy when I go to press events, exhibition openings and other such historian gatherings as everyone knows who I am (this also has obvious downsides)! Grin

GERTI · 18/04/2015 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mintyy · 18/04/2015 20:39

I think it is so common as to not be wacky at all. Especially in people around the 45-55 age group.

GERTI · 18/04/2015 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MmeGuillotine · 18/04/2015 21:56

I don't think I can win on the attention seeking front as my natural hair is a vivid orang-utan red and used to get FAR more looks and comments than pink or blue get. :/

OrlyIC · 18/04/2015 23:00

I've had every colour hair under the rainbow, my favorite being bright turquoise. I'm nearly 40 and I certainly don't dye my hair for attention. I do it because I like it and it suits me.

The sad thing is that people get all judgy if a non-conventional colour is used. why? why does it make you instantly less professional to prefer blue to blond?

When I first started work blue/green nail polish was pretty unconventional. I remember someone asking me if I was going to work with my electric blue nails...Hmm my face was a picture.

I'd say do-it! And l recommend Directions for blue dyes or SFX for reds, pinks and purples.

MERLYPUSSEDOFF · 18/04/2015 23:02

I did my hair bright pink - think Barbie - for a breast cancer do. Up til then I had always been pillar box red. Not subtle at all. The pink was shocking! I liked it so much I stayed with it for a year. The reception kids I helped out with loved my hair too. I haven't had 'natural' coloured hair for over 20 years. Done every colour except green or black. I don't give a brass razzoo if people think I am a show off (I am actually a weird kind of introvert). It makes me smile (an others too) in an otherwise bleh kind of day.

EmeraldThief · 18/04/2015 23:43

Sazzle, you sound like a right miserable fucker.

LollipopViolet · 18/04/2015 23:57

I saw a post by someone on here who said bright hair is happy hair - I agree :)

I've had purple hair, purple streaks, pillar box red streaks...

I want blue/turquoise but my retail employer said no, natural colours only :(

parsnipbob · 19/04/2015 00:05

Sazzle, FGS, get over yourself.

OP: it's your hair, do whatever you want with it!

timelyreminder · 19/04/2015 00:08

If that's the colour of hair you like, then go for it. Other people's opinions are their problem. It's your hair!

There's no right answer to "what do employers think?" It depends on the employer but most people are more open-minded about appearances these days.

timelyreminder · 19/04/2015 00:09

As for the question of age, well there are plenty of older women with blue rinses...

MeggyMooAndTinkerToo · 19/04/2015 00:22

DD1's hair. She ties it up and as it's dark underneath you can't see the bright colours. This was taken in January. It's now pink, purple, lilac, blue and green.

To want to dye my hair a wacky colour like pink or blue or green?
MeggyMooAndTinkerToo · 19/04/2015 00:26

sazzle. I'll take a pic of mine and upload tomorrow. Mine is currently blue, pink and violet dip dye Grin. I'm 43. Frankly I don't give a fuck what you think. Take the stick out of your arse.

umbongoumbongo · 19/04/2015 02:39

I had dyed hair extensions in mine for a bit; mostly blue with a few pink locks too. My hair is too dark to dye and I didn't want to lose the natural colour by peroxiding. With the hair extensions you can add the colour then just pull them out when they start to fade after a month or two!

umbongoumbongo · 19/04/2015 02:41

By the way your daughter's hair looks great! Colour without looking tacky!

BlueMoonRoses · 19/04/2015 02:52

I've just had my hair dyed to platinum to cover my 60% white. Next stop is lilac, pink and blue highlights. I'm 46 and work in a senior professional job. And I am not attention seeking in any way. Nor am I a judgy, miserable pita. Or so I am told.

MrsTedCrilly · 19/04/2015 08:12

Mines bright pink at the mo, I LOVE it and feel colourful, don't care what anyone thinks. Too much time is spent worrying about the judgement of others.. Life is too short, just do it! Smile If you don't like it it will fade quickly!

MrsTedCrilly · 19/04/2015 08:16

Here is a pic:

To want to dye my hair a wacky colour like pink or blue or green?
bertsdinner · 19/04/2015 10:11

A woman in my office has her hair short, spikyand dyed bright blue. She dresses "alternatively" as well. I'd say she is in her 40s. I think it suits her and she looks great. I would just go for it, if you hate it you can always dye it back to your old colour.

SlaggyIsland · 19/04/2015 10:19

My hair was most recently blue, then purple, now bright red. I can assure anyone who pronounces sniffily that it's "attention seeking" that is isn't. I hate being the center of attention.
I've had a rough time the last couple of years with a bereavement and subsequent anxiety and it's been part of the feeling-better process to just go for it and do things that I really feel like doing without worrying about what other people think. I don't quite feel like me without unnaturally coloured hair for some reason.

ThatBloodyWoman · 19/04/2015 10:25

I did pink,red,orange etc etc when I was late teens,so I don't have the urge now.
Do what you will,op,and do it boldly,armed with the knowledge that some will love it and some will hate it,some will think you're brave,and some think you are a fool.
Think who will see it,and how their (shallow) impression of you may change.
But foremost,remember its only hair,and any doubts can easily be resolved.

Sceptimum · 19/04/2015 11:20

If you want to, Op, go ahead and give it a go. Worst comes to worst, and you get total remorse afterwards, you can just slap a dark natural shade in over it and die it back to a more mundane shade. (But I reckon you'll love it.)

MistressDeeCee · 19/04/2015 12:38

Im 51. My hair is currently cropped very short, and pillar box red (it wasnt meant to come out such a bright red but who cares..I like it).

Ive always loved bright coloured hair, its been many colours over the years. The day will never come when I worry what others think about my choice of hair colour, clothes etc and Im glad to see there are others out there who feel the same. Go for it OP, why not

mothership22 · 19/04/2015 13:20

Unless you have any reason not to because of work or something, i'd say go for it! x