Regrettingly, I dyed

Hey Guys,

Are you alright? Because, I am not. First of all, Ignore that ‘regrettably’ you’re seeing there. Theinkz

So, last two weeks, I uninstalled my protective style (word for losing your hairstyle in the natural hair community) and the inches I had gained left me shocked. Even my front hair decided to add some inches too. There was no reason not to feel like a Rapunzel.

True Rapunzel

                   

I decided to be abit adventurous by adding a bit of colour to the tips. When I meant tips, I didn’t mean one quarter or a fraction smaller. Just a tiny portion of the ends of my hair so, incase I decide to trim it off in the nearest future, I can do it with a bat of an eyelid and not feel sad like the previous dye. I meant tips just like this.

esh_naturalchic 💖

I decided on the colour ‘orange’ because, I tried brown last time and, I do not like the common gold and red dye. I initially wanted silver but my mum discouraged me because, 8she felt I would look way older than I really am besides, I think orange is a vibrant and daring colour. Whenever I found myself infront of a mirror, I imagined how beautiful orange dye would look on my hair. Nothing would prevent me from dyeing my hair this eye catching colour not even the possible damage it could cause if not properly maintained. NOTHING.

I was to go with two of my friends. One wanted to wanted to dye her hair blue while the other wanted to pierce her nose. I actually wanted to pierce mine too but after thinking carefully, I realised I actually have nowhere to go to when I’m kicked out of my father’s house for being a wayward child. Not like it has left my bucket list tho because, daughter of Zion must get her nose pierced whether the world likes it or, yes.

After some days of scheduling, things coming up and reluctant re-scheduling, the agreed date arrived bringing much excitement to me. When classes where I struggled to focus instead of hair daydreaming ended that day, it was finally Showtime but, my friend who wanted to dye her hair too advised we wait till the next day as my other friend that wanted her nose pierced was busy. I could have agreed but, I have been agreeing to reschedules in the past. I felt as though if I didn’t dye my hair that day, something might happen to me. I was that anxious.

At around few minutes past two P.M, I left alone with my last card in search of a professional that would change my looks. I couldn’t wait to pepper people with my future new looks. I mean haters will surely melt. I was really excited until I entered the first shop and the stylist chased me away with his price. What did he even mean? Ordinary wear waterproof gloves and apply dye to the ends of my hair and he was calling the price of an arm and leg. Was it not just last year I paid a thousand naira for both the dye and workmanship? Imagine rada rada o. I walked out immediately and he didn’t call me back to bargain at a lower price. I didn’t care too. Haba! I went straight into the next shop.

It was also a barbing salon. The barber’s price was fair a bit although not as fair as I thought but the problem was he doesn’t accept payment through bank transfer so, he suggested I transfer the money to any of the guys awaiting their turn for a haircut in his salon in exchange of the equivalent in cash. The guys present were not looking friendly. Besides, I did not want someone that will claim not to have received alert from his bank when I make the transfer. I have no strength to argue and fight ejoo so, I suggested I transfer the money instead to the shop owner of wherever he’ll be buying the hair dye. Atleast, the person will not abandon his shop and disappear with my money even if he claims not to see my alert for the next two weeks.

I smelt a rat when he disagreed to my suggestion claiming it was unwise to carry his customer to another shop. He said stuff about not wanting to stress me. And even when I tried to make him understand that I like such kind of stress, he still maintained his stand talking plenty on how he offers the cheapest service around and I should hurry as others that came after me were waiting on their turn. After some minutes, I pretended to answer a phonecall and left his shop for the next which happened to be a hairdressing salon. Luckily enough, they had knowledge on how to dye hair and their price was unbelievably cheap. It turned out that the price at which he will purchase the dye was half of the price the barber at the last shop told me little wonder he didn’t want me to ‘stress’ myself.  So, he wanted to play smart on who? Me? Interesting.

Now the real problem that surfaced was the unavailability of an orange dye. The man that sold dyes claimed mixing red dye with gold dye would give an orange result. That should have been the right time to turn my back and finally accept the fact that world people are out to see me fail. But, nope I must dye my ends orange that particular day or, something might happen to me was what the devil (Yes! The devil or, who do we rather put it on?) was drumming into my head. I went online and google affirmed to the idea that a mixture of gold and red could actually give orange. So many shades of orange popped up and I expressed my concern over the fact that I might unlikely get the shade I desired but, the guy that sells the dye reassured me that about 30% of red mixed with 70% gold would give me what I wanted. I actually bought that idea! Whew.

Two girls that were in his shop couldn’t mind their businesses as they kept on asking me why I wanted orange, if it wasn’t too shouty, if dyeing one’s hair wasn’t already out of style and other silly questions. One even had the guts to suggest I dye my own hair purple instead. I just couldn’t understand why it seems hard for people to mind their damn business I mean, haven’t Simi’s ‘mind your business’ not reached their ears? I really wish people looked a year or two older than their age for everytime they gave unneeded amebo advice. I actually know some people that would look a hundred and forty years with deep sunken eyes, saggy skin and visible veins at just the age of twenty-one.

He made a joke which I was yet to discover wasn’t really a joke when he said I shouldn’t hold him responsible incase the colour doesn’t come out as desired. My dumb ass laughed to the stupid joke. Don’t blame me though. It’s the same as not reading terms and conditions that comes with application software on your phone (App my darlings). Finally, I would be carrying orange hair.  
  
 Guess who ain't in your level.                                                     

Finally

I had to wait on my turn as a lady came before me. When he was done styling her hair, it was finally my turn. Hallelujah. He instructed I put my hair into a puff for easy application of the dye and I did so.

He mixed the two dyes until he got the ‘appropriate’ colour and then started to apply it on my hair.  I was deeply annoyed when I looked up from my phone and through the wall mirror facing us, saw that this man was not dyeing just the tip of the tips (if you know what I mean) but dyeing about two third of my hair. I was angry, I was vibrating in my spirit and revaluating why I actually wanted to colour my hair. I could do nothing because, the deed had already been done. I told him how I felt but, he insisted that was what I instructed him to do. Arguing won’t solve anything so, I tried to sit pretty consoling myself that it wasn’t the end of the world till he was done.

I was in deeper shock when the dye on my hair turned pink. PINK

Cry with me please

The hairdresser assured me that the dye was still processing and will slowly turn orange. I saw some sense in it because, the last time I dyed my hair, it turned different colours before settling at brown. I was already regretting my actions when he offered me a waterproof bag to cover my hair  because it was drizzling and, to minimize stares. He told me to wash out the dye after three hours. I paid him and by a few minutes past four P.M, left to buy foodstuffs for vegetable soup not before he gave me his WhatsApp number for me to forward the end result to him.

By the time I returned from the market and was done with preparing my soup, three hours and some minutes had elapsed yet, no sign of orange on my hair. It was still baby pink. Now I realised what the man that sold the dye to me meant by not being responsible however the dye came out. I felt like crying.        

I was really annoyed when after two more hours yet, no sign of orange. The battery of my android phone was flat so, I used my smaller phone to call my Bestfriend so, he’ll help me ask google if I could leave the dye till the next morning as it was already late and, I was feeling sleepy but still hoping the dye would still turn my hair orange. He called back saying I could actually leave it on till the next morning without waking up bald as I had feared.

I still had my hair in the waterproof nylon to avoid messing up my pillow and bedspreads. I had a pretty restless sleep and eventually woke up around One A.M.
Looking at a mirror and finally realising I would never see my hair orange from that particular dye left me heartbroken. I dashed to the bathroom and washed my hair thoroughly of any trace of dye making a mental note to properly wash it with hair products and all at dawn. I tried not to freak out at the quantity of hair lying around the bathroom floor. I gathered them and flushed. If I didn’t have a full head of hair, maybe I would have gone bald. I wrapped my dripping hair with my towel and managed to go back to sleep. I was really scarred.

At daybreak, I couldn’t recognise my hair again. It wasn’t just the colour but the shine, the volume, the bounce, the elasticity was gone. And I couldn’t actually understand what it meant by whenever I stick my fingers into it, chunks of hair followed. I resolved to cut it and start afresh if after all the hair treatments and it still falls like that.

I took some of my hair products and went to my friends’ house mainly for moral support peradventure the hair continues to fall out. At the sight of my hair, my friend changed her mind on dyeing her hair. Who wouldn’t? They advised I don’t cut my hair entirely but, trim regularly until all the colour is gone and, I’m really sure it would take months if not years. Needless to say, more hair left my head by the time I washed and did the necessary hair treatments.

I partially lost hope and stopped moisturising and, sleeping without my bonnet. I would run my hand in my hair and if I discover a tangle, I would angrily yank at it. As a result, the hair around the sides that come in contact with the bed and pillow as I sleep which comprises of the hair around my nape to the ones around my ears matted and tangled so badly. When I eventually healed from all the anger and slight depression, I decided to put the hair in twists. That was when I saw the level of damage neglecting my hair had caused me. On a normal day, twisting my hair takes me from eight hours to a whole day depending on how micro they are.  But this time around, it took me days, enough endurance, patience and plenty moisturising conditioner to carefully detangle and twist up the whole hair. Within those days, I had to be wearing headscarves to school and answering so many questions.

When I was done, I actually felt happy but now, I know I would have to take extra care while handling my hair as it’s not as resilient as it used to be. I would hardly put it in buns or, puff because, there’s actually no volume to show off now (I’m in tears).
  I was surprised my friends and coursemates who saw the hair after it was twisted didn’t notice the massive loss of hair. Many admired the new colour that actually looks like trash to me while a few criticised it with their own unneeded suggestions. I would be having my first trim before I remove the hair from twists.

The irony of this whole situation is, when my hair fully recovers from this disaster, I would be dyeing it again. Yes, you read that right dear.  if not my beloved orange, I might go for purple but, I would be doing it myself because, there’s actually no hard work in it. I mean, I wash my hair myself, I twist and style it myself so, this one is a piece of cake.

Peace✌

So, let’s talk. What do you think about the new colour? Are you on natural hair? Is it dyed? Would you consider dyeing it even after reading about my experience?

Till next time. XOXO