There are a few things with which I’ve demonstrated I cannot be trusted. For a variety of reasons, not the least of which is “Sharktapus,” the TV remote should never be left in my hands. I’ve also made a few purchases after the realization that I have a steady income, and I’m an adult not living under my parents’ roof. This explains both the motorcycle in my garage, and the fact that I owned the bike for six months before telling my parents about it. And, even then, I got them drunk first. The plain truth of the matter is that I’m basically 15 years old, and sometimes I do, or buy, stuff I couldn’t when I actually was 15 years old.
Keeping that in mind, let’s talk about my hair. Like the annoying Peanuts character, I have “naturally curly hair,” henceforth known as “the Jewfro.” Sadly, my formative years occurred during the period of feathered hair and wings. Doubly sadly, my mother took me to a hairdresser who didn’t realize that the combination of wings and curly hair meant I’d have a pair of pompoms above my eyebrows. I can safely say that my hair during my Jr. High years is the underlying reason for any and all esteem issues I have. The magnificence of my Jewfro was such that it could not be contained by a photo frame. I wore a lot of hats during my teen years. As recently as last year, and even with my shorter style, TSA believed my Jewfro was harboring a terrorist, a bomb, or a bazooka, or some substance that could endanger a planeload of people. They felt the need to have me stand, arms outstretched, as they patted down my Jewfro while Lindsey watched, and our friend Kramer giggled.
During the following years, my Jewfro and I came to an agreement of sorts, and we’ve lived in relative harmony, but I’ve always wanted to do something different to it. With age and experience, I know I can’t do anything different stylewise, but there’s always color. Since I was a young punk in high school, I’ve wanted to dye it blue, green, or crayola red. I knew at that young age that my mother would plotz if I came home with my hair a primary color, so I gave up on the idea, but still dreamed a little dream of it. Until a month ago. Aaand this is the part where childhood me, kicks adult me into realizing, once again, this paycheck thing has perks other than food and shelter.
Lindsey and I were watching the premiere of this season’s Project Runway. Shut up! I like fashion, even if I can’t pick out my own clothes! But I digress. Whatever. One of this season’s designers, Sonjia Williams, has the best. Hair. Ever. It’s black with blue highlights. I perked up. And, rather than comment on her really cool designs, I said, “I love her hair! I think I can pull that off!” Lindsey gave my noggin a critical look and agreed. I could rock that look. Fast forward to a time I’d like to call “Friday Afternoon,” when we found ourselves at Sally’s Beauty Supply. We giddily skipped down the color aisle, but were disappointed to find there was no black with blue highlights. Disappointment turned to joy when we found this:
Oh. Em. Gee. Dark Brown with Purple!
Saturday night, we carefully mixed the dye with the developer, and we shook up the bottle. After donning the latex gloves and snapping them, purely for mad scientist effect, I glooped the mixture onto my head.
No turning back now!
I sat around the bedroom for 30 minutes, periodically checking the mirror as my gloopy head became pink, then purple, then just magnificent. After a long shower and a quick gel and jooge of the hair, I was ready to be unveiled. Look at my noggin and be amazed! Well, unless you’re my mom, whose eyes are rolling while she sighs and utters a short, but pained “Oy gevalt.”
Lookie here! Purple highlights! I’m kind of in love with it.
Rhonda Can't Help You 
Love love love…you’ll become addicted to making your hair tons of colors, I just know it (I speak from experience)! 😀
I love it SOOOO much. It has different shades and intensity depending on the light. Kind of like I have a Mood Head.
And it looks even better in person. 😉
I keep thinking it’s going to go away each time I shower, and that makes me sad. Not sad enough to stop showering, though. 🙂
Really like the look!!
Thanks!
I’ve wanted to make my hair blue again for a while now, but I haven’t since I sleep in other people’s beds all over town–huh, I sound like a whore–and I worry about staining their pillows blue. Anyway, if what you used is like Manic Panic, I highly recommend black pillowcases and old towels.
I think this is better than Manic Panic. It rinsed out really well, and there didn’t seem to be any purple on the towel I used after I washed it out of my hair. So far, there’s been no bleeding to pillows with my hair dry. I’ll keep you posted if that changes. In the meantime, I’ll try to remember the brand I bought (or dig through the trash for the box) so you can see if they have a blue product. They didn’t at the Sally’s near us.
This is WAY better than Manic Panic. We used a permanent dye mixture on Rhonda’s head. As for fun coloring in general: I will never again use Manic Panic. It’s only semi permanent even though they say it’s permanent and it totally bleeds. I use Punky now. It only bled a couple of washes and then never again. I also used an apple cider vinegar mixture to help seal the color in my hair after dyeing it. Sadly, Sally’s doesn’t have Punky. I got that at Ulta 3.
Back in the mid 90’s my husband and I decided to go back to school. We went full time which meant we had no funds….ever! One day while I was day dreaming in class I decided I wanted to die my hair a redish purple color! My neighbor had a friend coming to visit who was a hairdresser! How lucky could I get? My friend checked with her friend and they got this wonderful little bottle of “stuff” and when she arrived she applied it to my head and my wish came true! I loved it! And it went great with my natural skin coloring. So from experience I can say I know how you feel about finding that bit of you. I’m glad you did it after you had the steady paycheck. That will help! lol And I love your new look! It definitely reminds me of the Rhonda I knew in high school! I salute you with the old Arsenio cheer “Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!”
The color of purple…(and i did not make this up…)
Purple embodies the balance of red simulation and blue calm. This dichotomy can cause unrest or uneasiness unless the undertone is clearly defined at which point the purple takes on the characteristics of its undertone. A sense of mystic and royal qualities, purple is a color often well liked by very creative or eccentric types and is the favorite color of adolescent girls.
I reckon the only thing to be said is you … NAILED IT!
HA! “Adolescent girls.” Bring your fab purple hair over here and let’s watch Twilight again!
Um…I’m sorry, I think I’ll be listening to my Beiber albums and reading “Tiger Beat.” Yeah, that’s it.
Well, adolescent me did like purple. Gah! Does this mean I’m going to become a Beiber fan?