DD wants to dip dye her hair - lots of questions!

[Vicky13]

My 11 yo DD (Y6 primary) wants to dip dye her hair. All her friends are doing it (apparently!)

Firstly - is it too young? It feels it. I've already said she absolutely mustn't do it on her own (not that she really would get an opportunity to) and that it must be cut out before going back to school in 2 weeks. I don't really see any harm if I do it for her, and she cuts it out before school. I know hair dyes can have harmful side effects, but as it won't touch the scalp I'm not too worried. Is this reasonable?

She has light brown hair and it's very long - below shoulder length. She can afford to lose 3-4 inches after new year, in fact it would do it good.

Next question - what dye to use? She wants it bright red at the ends (like Jessie J on this link)

www.haveagreathairday.co.uk/tag/dip-dye-hair/

Would she need to bleach it first? and sorry to sound dim but do you literally dip it, or do you brush it? Have looked on youtube but not sure which one to go with.

Any other things to consider?

I would go to the hairdressers to get it done. My 11 year old had the ends of hers lightened and the hairdresser said if she wanted colour they would add that after. I used to use Directions hair dye when I was younger. Lots of great colours.

I would check with the school first! At ds's school the kids must not have dyed hair at ALL.

I think 11 is too young (sorry)

No do it and then cut it out! If its light brown a red/ purple semi would probably show up- not as bright as Jessie's though. Try castings or similiar?

I don't think 11 is too young. I had my hair permed at the hairdressers at 11 (when it was all the rage) and was styling it with gels and hairsprays like all my mates. I started dying it all sorts of colours myself from 15. I've turned out okay.

check with the school first.

I'd take her to a hairdresser to get it done. Jessie J's looks really good in that pic. Until you've mastered the art of doing it, I'd get a professional to do it.

I think 11 is too young.

Hi,
I would have the initial lot done by the hairdresser as it will involve bleach. It is relatively easy to maintain with Directions or other stuff as she will be able to see exactly where to put it (or you, depending on how multi coloured you are happy to let your bathroom get). I've had hair like this on and off for years.
It's only hair, it will grow out or get cut out and isn't touching the root or scalp. If the school are okay with it, then I would let my DD do it at that age.

You need to check with the school. Dd did it last summer and then had it cut out before term began.

I think 11 is far too young but that's for my kid not yours

Just out of interest Laurie, what was your DD's school policy? I think you live quite close to me!

OK thanks for all your comments. I've done a bit more online research now and have decided to let her do it, if she faithfully promises not to make a fuss about it being cut out the Sunday before school.

I definitely won't be letting her go to school with it done, so no issue with reapplication, or with school policy. It's a very strictly school holiday only hair colour.

I do think it will look great though for Christmas events and I have also been having my hair permed since the same age and I dye my hair all the time so would feel a bit hypocritical if I said no.

Good idea about the hairdresser. Would take a lot of worry out of it. Not sure if I'll get her in now though.

Anyone who's done any dip dying - do you still need to do a skin test?

It's not really hypocritical if you have it done- you're not 11 and in junior school.

I've had a dip dye done at the hairdressers, and didn't need a skin test.

Seems a bit of a waste of money - £££ at the hairdresser and then cut it off in a couple of weeks.

For the future you could consider letting her do it with hair chalks, which seem to be a nice compromise. DD is only 9 and has wanted coloured streaks in her hair for years (because I do it I think) but knows I won't let her for a good few years. I saw them on someone this week and they looked pretty effective, so I've ordered a set from Ebay

Google Images makes it look fairly impressive

Meh. That first link talks about using artists chalks - we've ordered ones specifically to use on hair (although I'm not sure if there's a big difference except with packaging)

I dip dyed my daughters hair during the summer. I bleached about 2/3 inches (it was down to her bum) then dyed it pink. She LOVED it. Then we cut it out for school. She was younger than your daughter. so shoot me

School policy is NO unnatural colours at all

Yes Vaga - have just phoned and it is indeed £££! And that's our usually cheap local salon. Never even spent that much on my own hair!

Thanks Mrs D - I like the look of chalks. I'm off to Superdrug now so will see if they have them.

Cheers scrumpkin. I bet it looked great.

Have suggested to DD that I should do mine as well, just to make the pack of dye better value for money, obviously! She's horrified! Maybe this is the way to put her off!

I dip dyed my 13 year old DD's hair red in the summer, along with her best friend (with her parent's permission!). I can't remember the name of the dye, but we got it in Superdrug and it was the only bright red temporary hair dye from what I can remember. My DD has light brown hair and her friend has blonde hair, and it worked really well for both of them, though came up slightly different shades. The colour lasted a couple of weeks, and a trip to the swimming pool pretty much eradicated any remaining colour!

I laid a large piece of tin foil across their backs and fanned the hair out over it while they leant over the kitchen table. I then painted the dye onto the hair (make sure the front bits get painted to the same length as the back), and folded the tin foil over the painted hair while the colour took - this stopped any dye getting onto the top of their hair, clothes, walls etc.

They did it for a sporting competition that their club was competing in (red is the club colour), and it looked great!

If you bleach it yourself you could then use directions hair colour on it. I used to use it many years ago in my punk days. They do a bright red & it washes out gradually. I've just googled it & it still exists after all these years. Tempted do do mine but in too old

Thanks Laurie!

I dip died my hair using the loreal home kit on Sunday. Never does my hair before, but it was so easy and I didn't leave it on too long and looks very natural.

thursdaynight No such thing as too old!

FWIW anyway, Directions/Stargazer etc are very good at livening up a permanent colour if it's just faded a wee bit and you don't need to redo for roots.

I used to dye my hair with food colouring when I was a kid. Washes out easily. I have dark brown hair and it showed up fine.

mrsdimitri. Where did you buy chalks from/which ones? The effects look really good.

I was also going to mention food dye- I think it does a pretty good job- no chemicals and does fade out- thou if you're happy to cut the ends off before she goes back to school, it won't matter anyway!