# I want to do something new with my hair. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365 "2004-05-16T02:32:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/1 "2004-05-16T02:32:00Z")
My hair has been relatively the same for years. It’s gotten a little shorter, but that’s about all the difference there has been. I have very, very thick, curly brown, somewhat frizzy hair that goes down to about my mid-back. I don’t want to do anything _too_ incredibly bold, but I would like a bit of a difference, because I’m bored with it the way it is. I can’t cut it very short, because then it would be huge and uncontrollable. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/2 "2004-05-16T02:44:49Z")
Make sure you keep it long enough so that you can pull it back off your face in a pony-tail, braid, or bun, or else it will get too hot in the summertime. You could try some pretty clips or combs. If you can tie it up, you can let it down, and that’s always fun! ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/3 "2004-05-16T03:09:40Z")
How about a colour change? I’m sitting here with bleach and a streaking cap on my head right now. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/4 "2004-05-16T03:51:59Z")
How much of a pain are roots to deal with when dying hair? And what are the problems of hair dye on the hair? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2004, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/5 "2004-05-16T04:20:28Z")
If you want to make a big change, the thing to do is: Go for a consultation at your local ritzy salon. In my town it’s Gadabout- the one where all the TV newspeople get their hair done. Then you can explain your wants and needs, your lifestyle, etc. You can either plan ahead for them to go ahead and do it, or you can take their advice and go elsewhere with it. Do not attempt to cut your own hair. This is always a big mistake, no one ever wins. If you feel tempted, call a friend to talk you down. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/6 "2004-05-17T19:16:54Z")
I’m thinking maybe making it auburn, but I’m terrified t let dye touch my hair. ---
**Author:** ![Magickly\_Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magickly\_Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magickly_Delicious)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/7 "2004-05-17T19:46:38Z")
Get some temporary dye and try it out at home. I like Loreal ColorSpa color, myself. The Natural Instincts stuff isn’t bad, either. It lasts for about a month, isn’t too expensive, and you don’t have to deal with roots. I have fine, blond hair and have never had a problem with it, even when I used a shade that was probably too dark. They have a lot of colors for brunettes to try. [See](http://www.lorealparisusa.com/frames.asp?0.34490051557175466#haircolor/products/casting.asp)? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/8 "2004-05-17T20:37:57Z")
> [@monica](#): > > I’m thinking maybe making it auburn, but I’m terrified t let dye touch my hair. I was a bit freaked out about color myself. I was well over 40 when I started with highlights. I think plain color is actually good for your hair. Bleach can take its toll over a period of time, but I do highlights every 4 months or so and I’m cool with it. Highlights are easier to maintain than flat color. Your root growth won’t be as noticeable. You might want to try auburn highlights (if your hair is dark) and see how you like it. If it sucks, you can always go back to your original color. Also, try layers in your hair. It will be cooler and will have more shape to it. You’ll lose all that heaviness you must have with that much hair. This has never been my problem, unfortunately. My hair is baby fine. It really sucks. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/9 "2004-05-17T23:38:51Z")
Don’t be afraid of dye. You have to do a lot of chemical treatments with the over the counter stuff before you do any real damage. Pick a color that’s not too outragous in a temporary strength (sleep on a towel… temp dye always stains my pillowcases). If you like it, you can dye it permanently later. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/10 "2004-05-18T01:02:41Z")
Any color will dry your hair out, so use the deep conditioning stuff that comes with it every week or so. Plus, I have found that if you color with a clean scalp, it tends to burn it a little bit and cause a small case of scalp dermatitis for me, so I’ll try to go 2 or 3 days without washing my hair, first, so there’s protective oil on it. To all dopers with fine hair, I struggled with this for a long time. What I have found is if you have a short haircut, it’s much MUCH better. Long, my hair is fine, limp, and straggly. Short, it has natural wave, body, and shine. It’s a world of difference, really. Also I only use conditioner once or twice a week, as almost ANY kind of conditioner will weight it down. A lot. Usually with short hair, your natural scalp oil is enough to “condition” it. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/11 "2004-05-18T01:18:27Z")
What if I don’t like it? Can I do anything to get rid of the temporary stuff after I’ve tried it? Like, can I dye over it, or something? Or shampoo 28 times consecutively? Also, will it come off on white clothes or anything? What about swimming? ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/12 "2004-05-18T02:39:34Z")
Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh! Don’t do anything!!! Or at least think twice before you do!! My main points: 1. You have beautiful, virgin hair to the middle of your back. Not a condition easily obtained by everyone. 2. I once did too. Then I let hairdressers work on me… not to malign all hairdressers, but…if you wind up in the wrong chair, you may wind up like me, three years later with over-dried, colored hair that only goes just past my shoulders due to having to cut off all the split ends. Waahhhh! And I even went to the expensive place!.. Just my two cents. ---
**Author:** ![Saturnine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Saturnine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturnine)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/13 "2004-05-18T03:16:34Z")
Don’t rule out short cuts too quickly just beause of how frizzy your hair is now (have you had any experience with that before?) My hair is exactly like that, thick, kind of curly-ish (wavy I guess?) and when it was down to about shoulder blade length, FRIZZY. It was basically a terrible uncontrollable thing. I finally got sick of it and had it cut up to around my ear lobes and it’s now not frizzy at all and very controllable (not to mention much cooler in hot weather). It behaves like actual hair! Of course you just really don’t want it short, you can ignore this I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-do-something-new-with-my-hair/245365/14 "2004-05-18T14:25:00Z")
Curly hair can be tough short. Maybe a better stylist can get some control and perk to your curls. A slkight tint does wonder for curls, because the light plays off the diff angles. google ‘curly hair’ under the Google Images tab.