To dye or not to dye (ADVICE PLZZZ)

Okay so in a nutshell I want to dye my hair BADLY. I have always wanted to!!! Pink or teal or coloured highlights or rainbow, I'd literally love it. I think people with dyed hair are the COOLEST. But I have some setbacks and I hope someone who has been in maybe a similar situation can help!!

Basically I have a severe anxiety disorder so big changes are something that you can imagine feels like dying to me (hehe get it) and even though it's something I really want I'm scared I'll regret it, or it will look bad on me and me specifically. Furthermore, I start University in September, and I feel like time is ticking cause if I want to change my appearance I should do it NOW because nobody there will have known me before.

something that also scares me is the fact people might misconstrue who I am or not hire me when I apply for jobs because my parents say it is unprofessional, along with piercings (which I literally feel the same way about they're so cool oughhhhhh)))

I said I was gonna dye my hair when I turned 18, but I started an internship where dyed hair is not allowed a few weeks after so I feel like it's too late. And what if I ruin or fry my hair because I dye it too?!!! I know nothing about this stuff and I'm so nervy about it.......If anyone can give any advice at all I would be so grateful 

icl the bleach is gonna fuck ur hair u should look at the breakage on mine buttt i have some hair chalk so we could color ur hair in and kinda see what it looks like before you do it i literally just did mine green lol but ihave some pink hehe

I would invest in some colorful clip-in extensions or something you can wash out, like hair color wax, if you really want to avoid dying your hair. 

I've been bleaching and dying my hair religiously for a few years, so here are a few things I've learned:

If you really want to bleach and dye it, I will say bleaching is going to damage your hair regardless, but it won't damage it to the point of it "looking damaged" and breaking unless you overprocess it or bleach it a ton and don't take care of it. If your natural hair isn't super dark, I would use a lightener instead of straight up bleach because it's less harsh on your hair. I would also suggest NOT using box bleach; instead, buy your bleach powder and developer volume separately and mix them (box bleach tends to damage your hair a tad more because the developer volume is usually 40 or 50). For developer volume, the higher the number, the lighter and faster your hair will lighten. My go-to is usually 30 if I'm not planning on staying blonde. 

I personally keep bleach in my hair for 15-30 minutes and occasionally tug on a strand to make sure it's not breaking my hair. Never start at your roots, and always start from the bottom of your hair to your roots. Bleach processes faster when applied to your roots because your scalp naturally emits heat. (Which is also why I put a plastic bag over my hair after bleaching so it could process faster). 

Lastly, for color, I use semi-permanent because it's less harsh on your hair compared to permanent. After bleaching and dying, make sure you deep condition your hair. You don't have to do it religiously (like weekly), but I usually recommend doing it to restore your hair's moisture and make it less brittle. 

For color (if you choose semi-permanent), wash your hair with cold water so the color stays longer. It does heavily depend on the brand you use, but I've been using Adore and Good Dye Young, and I've learned the color does tend to wash out slower when I wash my hair with cold water compared to hot or warm water. 

As for companies not hiring you, it really just depends on where you want to work. Personally, I work retail, and my manager has bright purple hair. A lot of my coworkers (including me lol) have piercings, gauges, and dyed hair. Different places have different rules, so I can't speak for all of them, but most of the time companies don't really care. 

I used to dye my hair pink all the time, even with anxiety. Loved it and I regret ever going back to a more normal hair color :l BUT while bleaching your hair can fry it, there's a lot you can do to avoid it. 

Firstly, have it professionally done, doing it yourself (especially for a first timer) is more risky. Secondly, use shampoo and conditioners specifically for bleached hair, and deep condition every once in a while. Third, occasionally do a hot oil treatment. It's this oil in a tube that you place in a cup of warm water and apply in the shower, it makes your hair silky smooth after your hair's been bleached for a long while and gets rough. Lastly, always do extensive research!! What one person says works well may not work at all with someone with hair more like your hair type. 

You could also invest in a really good wig. A lot of people overlook this because they think all wigs look like the cheap ones you buy as part of a costume. But a really good wig can fool you!! Even if its dyed a wild color. Odds are good you've walked by people with a wig and you never realized because they're not meant to look like a wig. With a bit of effort you can make it look even more natural like plucking the hairline and such. It's a bit pricey and time-consuming, but honestly so is dying your natural hair if you plan to upkeep.. trust me. 

I dye my hair pretty frequently and I say you should definitely do it. Having colored hair nowadays isn't that weird and especially at college nobody bats an eye. All of my hair was purple last semester and either nobody cared or they gave me compliments on it. I also have 3 jobs and never was my hair color a problem. I would do some research on how to properly bleach it yourself but if you're just doing highlights I wouldn't stress much about breakage or anything

i've been getting my hair dyed for 8 years (funny enough my hair appointment is later today) >_< all of my vibrant colours were in high school so now i just do blonde highlights or a balayage now that i'm in university and want to work a more 'conservative' profession. and bc of that i'm also choosing not to get snake bites even tho i've wanted them for 14 years T_T, but i have seen ppl get internships with nose studs and lobe piercings, plus u could always flip a septum piercing

also don't internship policies like that usually refer to unnatural hair colours? or were natural colours banned as well </3

@🖤♥️Princess Peroxide♥️🖤 This is a fantastic idea, thank you so much! I like the concept of like a no-pressure tester form of dying hair. I honestly think this is something I might go with 

i had a similar worry when i dyed my hair a bit after turn 18 !!! kind of? im a but more yoloish but i did worry for my hair health because i dont use heat protectants, invest in a good bond repair from sallys definetly! cuz at first it was great but my bleached parts tangled/frizzed easier, and my ends were seedy feeling 😅 USE ION LIGHTENER INSTEAD OF REGULAR LABLED BLEACH I SWEAR BY IT !!!!! its gentler on hair and the salon care developer works great with it me and my friend use it sm!! my bond repair is bond bar and after ONE WASH my hair was healthier from before 🥹.

theres also london bleach thats very well pigmented and depending on your current shade itd be fine too!! never used myself but the results i saw on my friend was impressive.

so i use colored hair masks sometimes. They give you some color without the commitment. It washes out within 2ish weeks depending on your natural color and how much you wash it. Maybe you could try that to see how you like it?