Lather, Rinse, Repeat!

“Oh Lordy!”

These were the first words out of Jessica’s mouth this afternoon when I walked out of the bathroom, and shook my hair out. It was DEFINITELY not the look we were going for! But let me back up a little bit first.

If I had to pick one thing I like best about myself it would have to be my hair. I am a redhead. We’re a rare breed, and some sources say a dying breed. It’s like being part of an exclusive little club. My favorite Disney movie as a little girl was “The Little Mermaid”, primarily because Ariel was the only Disney princess with red hair. That and I love the “Under the Sea” musical number. That part’s a secret though, so don’t spread it around!

Here is a picture of me at about 2 years old.



My Dad told me that whenever I was out and about with my parents the ladies in Newfoundland would go bananas. They loved my head full of bright red ringlets. As is usually the case, the older I got, the darker my hair got. By the time I was a teenager, it was still a beautiful auburn colour, but it was never again that vivid red.

I started adding highlights to my hair in my early 20s. I was always sort of a Plain Jane in high school, so I really wanted to add a little sass to my look. There was just one problem. My hair is an entity onto itself. It is ridiculously thick! It’s the beast that must be tamed!

When I was 12 I decided to get a bob. The problem, I refused to allow the stylist to layer it. The result was a blunt, fuzzy triangle on the top of my head. NOT a good look!

Getting it done in a salon costs a FORTUNE! The last time, Jessica put highlights in for me just a few months before my birthday in November. Now all my highlights have pretty much grown out and I’ve noticed how dark my hair is. Really dark and really dull. As a SAHM, I need a little pizzazz and sass. I hate feeling frumpy!

So, in preparation for a big event I am attending next weekend, it was time to get my hair did!

Jessica and I descended on Walgreens today looking for a nice red to put in my hair. We wanted something that was pretty close to the red my hair used to be. We settled on Light Auburn by L’Oreal. We figured it would just lighten and brighten my natural colour.

Ummm, we were wrong.

REALLY REALLY WRONG!

The best I can say is THANK GOD it was a drug store dye, which will eventually wash out!

Did you hear me Mom? I promise it will wash out!

I think we might have jinxed our whole operation just a little bit. As I was paying for the dye Jessica and I were agreed. We were going for a nice natural light red. None of that dark, burgundy type red.

Here’s what we got…



Oops.

Jessica and I are flummoxed! What about the lady on the box! What the hell!



FALSE ADVERTISING! FALSE ADVERTISING!

Maybe they put the wrong dye in this particular box? Ladies, NEVER EVER trust the picture on the box!

So for the next week I have a firm date with a bottle of Sauve Clarifying Shampoo, morning, noon and night.



In fact as soon as I got home today, after assuring my husband the colour was NOT permanent, I jumped in the tub and washed my hair. I lathered, rinsed and for the first time since University, I repeated.

After a Frosh event my first year, I had to lather, rinse and repeat several times in the attempt to remove the smell of ketchup and chocolate sauce from my hair. A story for another time, I only wish I’d thought to get a picture!

When I got out of the tub, I was pleased to see that the water was a light tea colour.

And if the dates with shampoo don’t work…

I’ll just tell anyone who asks that Jessica made me do it… AGAIN!

(Kidding Jessica! Being my fashion guru, I know you’ll fix it.)

Stay tuned loyal readers. I promise to post pictures of my progress.

That is, if I can still type with pruney fingers!

Living in the tub for the next week,

Mandy:)