Six months in S.E.Asia: what to do with my hair? - YouLookFab Forum

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Six months in S.E.Asia: what to do with my hair?

Bagaline

From the 1st of October, I'll be backpacking all over South East Asia for 6 or 7 months. I've been dreaming of such a trip for years and I'm finally doing it. This is my present to myself for my retirement. I don't have much problems with what to pack, it's with my hair that I'm totally lost.

I started graying before I was 30 and since then, I've colored my hair in various shades of blond. My natural hair is now snow white.

One thing is sure, I don't want to bother with coloring while I'm away: bringing bottles and doing it myself in hotel rooms is out of the question and finding a good hair salon in Jakarta or Phnom Penh is way too much trouble. Still, I want to look "ladylike" and well groomed, even with my backpack.

The most practical thing to do would be to go white. I wouldn't mind going white for the duration of my trip (or even after if I really like it). But, and this is a big but, how can I do that without looking like a skunk until my hair has grown enough and I can get some sort of very short cut?

All suggestions are very welcome.

General

18 replies

Latest reply was from lyn67

Anonymous

Have you ever tried those semi permanent dyes that last for a couple of months? They gradually wash out until you are back to your original color.
Another thought is to get your hair frosted or reverse frosted after it has grown out some to gradually phase in the white

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Congratulations, Bagaline! What exciting news.

I have not yet gone grey myself, but there is a website that you might find helpful: http://goinggraylookinggreat.com

Suz

(website)

Veteran

And here is another: http://vancouvermobilehairstyl.....-grey-hair

DonnaF

Veteran

Sounds like your natural hair is quite beautiful! I started using semi-permanent color a few months before I stopped coloring completely. I think others start doing low lights.

Mona

Veteran

This sounds too exciting. What a great retirement gift! How fast your hair grows? Don't get it cut until October and before going try to trim the dyed ends, may be.

Anonymous

What a wonderful trip! Shevia recently transitioned to her natural color and she wore hats for the period that she had a stripe down her part. As soon as her new growth was long enough, she got a short haircut. I love the idea of a silvery cropped pixie for you. It would be so easy to take care of and who knows, you might even like it when you get back home!

rachylou

Veteran

I've seen some new products on the market - touch-up pens and the like. They sound easier anyway.

Bagaline

Thanks a mil for all your suggestions.

Mona: I had my hair cut 7 weeks ago and the roots are about 3/4 of an inch. So if I wait until the last days of September, I should have a 1" to 1 1/2" growth. Would you say that it is long enough to get a pixie cut (as suggested by ClearlyClaire) ? Long enough that I won't end up like and old version of Sinead O'Connor in "Nothing compares" ?

Suz: thanks for the links. The second one is very interesting, but the author suggests a period of 6 to 12 months to go completely natural/gray and I don't have that long: fortunately in a sense, because I's so excited with this trip that I wouldn't postpone it for love or money ... or hair.

In the meantime, I'll wear a hat and to meet my daughter and grand-daughter in Paris at the beginning of August, I will try a semi-permanent colour. I don't want them to see Grand-maman with the skunk look! Tell me, DonnaF, when you used it, did it all wash away or was there some residual colour?

As you can see, I have a round face, a short neck and my second chin is growing a second chin: hard to imagine how I will sport a pixie - I'll go for it anyway. It's not a leg, it will grow back.

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abc

Veteran

I don't have much to add in terms of hair but I wanted to comment that I love your sense of adventure and that neither love nor money nor hair could stop you from realizing this adventure. Please post updates as you can. I love your zest for life!

Anonymous

I wanted to add wishes for a wonderful trip. I love your attitude and sense of adventure. The best haircut I ever had was in Paris. You may want to get it cut there.

Mona

Veteran

i have never had a pixie cut so I will leave the details to experts here. An older version of Sinead O'Connor? LOL! I actually really liked her in "Nothing compares"
Good luck for your trip and we would love to hear details when you get back!

Glory

Veteran

You look fantastic in the photo - so much fun and energy! I have no clue about the hair except to say that is must be as low maintenance as possible. Perhaps some headscarfs or buffs? I am linking to a couple. Also can you discuss with your stylist? Not sure but is there an option to die your hair your natural colour then you will not see it as it grows in?
http://www.mec.ca/product/5023.....ad%2Bscarf
I also really like the old school bandanas:

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froggiebecky

Veteran

I would ask your stylist, but your hair is already light enough you might be able to dye it white/silver all over before you go and skip the pixie cut.

There's a brand of hair dyes called Manic Panic, that trade in unusual and unnatural hair colours (candy apple red, blue, etc.). I'm almost certain they have silver or white. The general process is that you'd bleach out what colour is there, apply a toner, then the dye. This is most definitely not a DIY project. Chemical burns are not elegant. I'm not sure you should settle for less than the best colourist in town.

For the record, I haven't used Manic Panic myself, but have seen the results, and have heard good reviews from others. As far as the process of actually trying to dye hair silver, I've had two friends attempt it (young women), and both were unsuccessful (but one was going from dark brown, the other from black. I have strange friends.)

jurocha

(website)

Veteran

I'm batting for the twiggy/pixie haircut here!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOtN.....n-on-Vogue

Bagaline

Dying my hair white!
Oh Froggybecky, what a fantastic idea ! I didn't know that you could dye your hair white and, in fact, never thought about it since nature was so generous with the white and I spent a fortune covering it.

I don't know if the products you're talking about are available in Ireland, but you can be sure that Tuesday morning I'll be at my hairdresser to check with him if he can do it. This would be a marvelous solution. I would still want a pixie cut though, but I could get one with a bit more length.

A couple of pixie cuts that I love : ultra practical, easy to style and no part showing pink scalp (a nice bonus!) I would mess it up a bit à la Jamie Lee Curtis.

Thank you all YLF ladies who gave me such good advice: what a gracious bunch you are!

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columbine(erin)

Veteran

I don't have any advice; just well wishes for your trip. I hope it's amazing.

MNsara

Veteran

Those pixies you just added are adorable and would look so cute on you!

I think the dying white (or close to your real white color) would give you a chance to play with the cut itself a little before heading out.

What a wonderful trip you have planned!

lyn67

Veteran

Wow, how exciting(your trip and hair, too). Love the ideea of dying it white before your leave! Wish you luck and great experiences all over you travell! You are a brave lady!