stephbg | Curl up and Dye

Dye: A substance designed to colour or tint other substances or objects, whether they want it or not.

I've watched enough Mythbusters by now to surely have learned that small scale experiments do not always successfully scale up to Real Life. Am I missing an eyebrow?

A couple of days ago I tried out some purple Fudge hair dye, in a fit of pre-Swanconopause. I was reasonable restrained, vis a vis the amount of hair, but I could see (if I stood under the light just so) that that bit was clearly purple. I liked it. It seemed like a bit of a bother, but in hindsight (ah, sweet hindsight) I'd let myself off lightly, by avoiding inconveniences such as ears and scalp and nape and hairline.

However, in the two days following, no-one saw fit to mention the purple streak. Not being inclined to carry a mirror I'm not sure if it was the office lighting disguising the effect, or the desire of my companions to avoid an awkward conversational topic. "So, Steph, you've f*&%ed up your hair. Um, doing anything on the weekend? Oh, that's my phone, gotta run."

So, having completed my pre-Easter work deadlines, squeezed in an unexpected vet trip, decided that it would make life easier if I just took tomorrow off completely, figured that Marta wouldn't have objected to me coming to her funeral with purple hair, and placing an unwarranted amount of faith in my experience, I took to the locks again. This time, I said to myself, people will notice.

Well, they certainly might notice the purple fingers, for having set up the bits and piecesI launched in with a bit too much gusto and forgot the gloves. I was quickly reminded why gloves are recommended. I'm down to a zombie shade now, but have nearly run out of nail polish remover, so there I may remain. I needed a bit of skin tone, although I'll accept any sympathy for my obviously recent fingers-slammed-in-car-door accident.

My purple ears? Well, I'm off to an SF con: a perfect excuse for just about anything. Like my hall costume?

*pause for rinse*

At least this time I was prepared for the water wastage guilt, although I couldn't quite bring myself to rinse until the water ran completely clear. I've also claimed the lives of many innocent cotton balls. I hope they were at least bred in captivity. There are so few wild cotton balls left. Well, have you ever seen one outside a zoo or farm? Eh? Eh?

The purple on the hands got a boost but was diffused, so it now looks like I've got early frostbite.

And the hair? Under the bright westering light in my bathroom I can clearly see glints of a deep purplish pink. I must now wait until it dries to see what I've got this time.

EDIT: A couple of hours later (still not completely dry):