The Truth about Orange Hair.

In my case, Orange is the new Blonde. Since first starting on Instagram – approximately 153 weeks ago – I have been sporting statement bright ginger locks. Little did I know, with such locks came great responsibility, with a plathora of FAQ’s headed my way related to my Barnet. From which dye to use, to how to keep it bright, natural hair colour enquiries and general how is it not fried already-ies?! I thought it was high time I told my story of how I became a brighter shade of ginge.

Let’s face is, when your life is in a rut, generally so is your hair. When things just aren’t going right in the day to day, what you really need to do is take a deep breath and grab life – and your hair – by the balls! There’s really nothing like a new dramatic cut or colour to catapult you into a new world of confidence, so when I came out of a long term relationship, it was exactly what I did!

Being a natural light blonde my entire life, I always managed to behave and listen to my mum’s cries to “LEAVE YOUR HAIR ALONE”. Even during my awkward teenage goff years, I managed  to stay clear of boxed dyes and only went far as the ‘bright coloured tips’ trend. Then still got grounded for it. Safe to say I embraced the blonde after that, only tinkering with the idea of going ginger when I lusted after every red / orange haired girl that crossed my digital or literal path. Although I may come across as fearless when it comes to fashion, I am a bit of a whimp when it comes to major hair life choices. After almost a year of thought, I took the plunge and headed to Rainbow Rooms, George Square for the initial transformation. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Although the initial unveiling was a bit of a shock to me, I absolutely LOVED what being Orange did for my complexion. Clothes looked better, make up clashed brighter and heads certainly turned! Although I knew I was in the right family of colours, I felt that this dye was a little too highlighter, and not quite as rich or deep as I wanted. I yerned for a true orange. An orange that glistened yellow in the sunlight that would never have to be paired with bleach. After trying many, many brands from accross the internet to the high street, I couldn’t quite find the colour which was ‘the one’  so then came the mixing.

Mixing hair colours can be a tricky and dangerous business. You can get your levels wrong, end up with a colour you hate or even worse, mix potentially harmful concoctions of liquids together that could result in, ye know, death by dye. I may sound like a hypochondriac, but it is for this reason I do not like to disclose my dye mix. All of the ones I use are from the high street and make a pretty pungent smell when put together. Yes it works on my hair, but that doesn’t mean it will work on yours. Every hairdresser I have been to have complimented me for having ‘right good hair’ so I put it down to that and a whole bunch of TLC I give it when not dying it.

Betty’s Top Tips for Coloured Hair

• Find your mix. Your hair and individuality deserves better than settling for a colour straight out the packet
• Get a good stylist. I have had so many hair nightmares I am so glad that I have a hairdresser who I trust thanks to the girls at BLOW, Finnieston. I wont go four years without a cut again!
• Don’t wash it. I wash my hair on average about once a week. If your a regular washer, your hair will get greasier quicker if you do, it’s about perseverence and when your hair gets used to it and with time so will you. It also helps you experiement with styles closer to the end of the week. I swear by Lush Cosmetics Dry Shampoo powder to see me through the week
• Invest in good shampoo/conditioners. As I only wash mine once a week so a good shampoo and conditioner last forever. My hair has been kept in wonderful condition thanks to Ojon’s Moisture Rich Clensing Shampoo and Conditioner
• Treat yo self. The longest my hair will go without a treatment is 4 weeks, but I do aim to treat my hair every other week. Depending on the condition at the time, I’ll use the matching Ojon rare blend deep conditioner or the Damage Reverse Restorative hair treatment if my hair needs some proper TLC (like glitter roots!) If using the Restorative hair treatment, make sure you do it on a night you have nothing on the next day, your hair loves it but does need a thorough wash after
• Top ups. I top up my hair every 6-8 weeks. Once your hair hits the 6 weeks mark you can remove stagnent excess dyes by giving your hair an anti dandruff wash. Something in the chemicals in an anti dandruff shampoo all dye hates so yes it may make your hair look a little to peachy or dry for your liking but it sets up your hair for the next dying session. Fresh as a daisy, or a sunflower as the case may be…

Changing my hair energised me in a way I desperately needed.  After almost 3 years of living the tangerine dream, I still get excited by it every morning. It may sound crazy because, hey, it’s hair, but changing your hair feels like it transforms you. It gave me the courage to take more risks in life and pretty much gave me a new found identity. It pushed me forward with this blog, which then led me to meet my business partner. Who knows what I’ll do in the next rut, but bangs have been on my list for quite some time now! Letting go of the old and making way for the new helps move you toward a fresh tomorrow. So,stop standing in the way of potentially could be the best hair day that will last a lifetime.