TIME TO DYE: HAIR DYES

Arguably one of the most fun ways of self-expression is dying your hair- an occasionally messy process, but one that can change your entire look within a few hours. 

The problem we can often find is because of the things the more ethical brands use in their products, they don't last quite as long and sometimes they aren't quite as vibrant, but here are some ethical dyes that don't sacrifice ethics and still keep their quality, as well as some tricks to make your colour last longer. We also included some of our favourite looks for inspo!

Making your colour last longer (as a strip)

• Wash with cool water and minimise styling with heat

• Heat causes hair follicles to open up which can cause colour to escape- this means fading and unevenness

• Apply the colour to dry hair

• Wet hair means there's a barrier between the dye and your hair, meaning it won’t absorb as well because it’s not as porous.

• Don’t use anti-dandruff shampoos

• Some hairdressers actually recommend using anti-dandruff shampoos to strip colour from your hair when you’re trying to fade it out!

• Use protective products

• Colour-protective shampoos and conditioners can help keep colour intact because they are sulphate-free and help to lock in colour.

• Wait 72 hours after using dye to wash your hair

• By this time, your hair will have had a chance to seal in the colour, maximising the longevity from the start.

• Protect your hair from UV

• UV Damages your hair, and can make colour fade faster, so wear a hat when you're out with little cloud cover

On to the products:

BLEACH LONDON

£

Bleach London has vivids and pastels in a range of colours, as well as a range of natural colours. These can be found in both semi-permanent (vivids and naturals) and permanent (naturals)- having natural colours in both semi-permanent and permanent in the same range is a great way to test out a colour before committing to it. There are 23 colours in the usual semi-permanent range as well as 3 limited edition colours in a collaboration with Marc Jacobs, with an additional 7 permanent colours as well as bleach and a load of masks and treatments which help with hair integrity and lasting colour. In addition to this, they also have colouring equipment like brushes and bowls, as well as an expert advice section on their website.

LIME CRIME FULL COVERAGE UNICORN HAIR

££ 

There are 27 colours in their full coverage line, plus an additional 14 colours in their Unicorn Hair Tints line, which provide a more pastel look. These are all semi-permanent dyes, however, pastels do fade faster than vivids. Lime Crime also has colour protection shampoo, conditioner, bleach, and hair colour prep kits, so it’s a one-stop shop for everything from prep to dye to maintenance. 

ARCTIC FOX

££

Arctic Fox also has 27 available colours- including 2 that glow under UV light! AF doesn't end their line at dyes, also having nail-related products and hair colouring accessories. They also have an accompanying blog with advice, recommendations and additional product information.

This was written to be assessed as part of my Journalism course. This was in Semester 2 of Level 6 and was for the Undergraduate Major Project, where I created a (primarily) music magazine, aimed at Gen Z. Below is the page design for this article.