Color/Dye

Guess what I did?  I dyed my hair.  I bought the box of dark & lovely cinnamon brown dye about a week ago.  I hated those grey hairs although everyone said you could hardly see them I could and so could hubby.  I think it just spoilt the look of my lovely sisterlocks.  So the Sunday before May day bank holiday Monday feeling a bit miserable (work problems) what better thing to do to lift up your spirit than do your hair.

So I went for it.  The first thing I did was band and braid in small parts as I wanted the dye to go through.  Then I mixed up the dye and shook it as instructed and went for it.  I started at the front putting a little bit on at a time as I didn't want to run out.  But there was more than enough.  I went over each section until it was covered squeezing the dye into the hair so it would penetrate my locks.  I didn't even put any vaseline around my hairline to protect it I just went for it and prayed it would be alright.  I was ready to pay any extra I needed to on the next retightening.

I won't put the picture of me in my braids with the dye on as it is a bit scary looking but you can imagine if you have braided and banded your hair how it looked.

The instructions said 30 mins for natural hair.  I left it on for an hour.

OK here goes. I remember from the many YouTube videos I had watched before taking on this task that rinsing was the big thing.  So I rinsed and I rinsed and I rinsed, rinsed and rinsed until I thought the water was clear.  Then I shampooed with the sisterlock shampoo as I thought if it was going to change the texture then this might help.  Still more dye in it so I rinsed and rinsed again.  I did use the conditioner in the box as again I remembered dryness being a big thing when I investigated.

Done. Well so I thought.  I took out my braids but as I was taking them out the back still felt slippery like it had dye in it and there was a strong smell of dye.  So this time I got in the shower and just let the water run through the back I had taken out the braids so I concentrated on just the back as my front hasn't locked yet.  I rinsed again.  Then I thought well if it isn't all out now tough.

I squeezed out what water I could and then wrapped my hair with a towel and blotted out the excess water out and just left it to dry.  Oh I did put in a bit of leave-in conditioner (I got this from a hair specialist). Images of my hair being overprocessed ran through my head as I could still smell the dye but there is no way I was getting wet again!!

About an hour later it started to dry and I must admit it did look a bit dry at the ends but I think it actually made it lock a bit more.  But because I was concerned with dryness I rubbed some organic root stimulater in my hand and rubbed in on my hair and before I went to bed I twisted it. 

See above for result before twist and below for result after twist.   Not bad hey!!!

I will be washing and conditioning again this weekend just to make sure it doesn't get dry.  There are a few grey hairs left which I have noticed (but noone seems to see them) but that's OK and that is expected at my age!!!