My hair is absolutely, 100%, without a doubt the hottest topic in my life right now.
I am constantly asked by friends, acquaintances, and random strangers in public about my white blonde pixie cut. And honestly, I love talking about it! My hair is probably my favorite thing about myself and I'm very proud of it.
I initially posted a couple short Instagram posts for my followers answering some of the most basic FAQs I get on a regular basis. I'd like to replicate and expand those explanations here for a wider audience (my Insta is currently private), complete with more thorough information and background to my (always ongoing) hair journey.
Without further ado, here are my most-asked questions about my hair and my answers!
"Why did you decide to cut your hair off? Weren't you afraid you were going to look like a man?"
Well, yeah. If you're not afraid you're going to look like a man, did you even get a pixie cut in the first place? The real trigger for the big chop was the fact that I've worked in laboratories for about seven years now. That means long hair up, all the time. I got the point I didn't even enjoy wearing my hair down because I was so used to the feeling of having it up in a bun on the top of my head. And running between lab, classes, lab courses, and work isn't exactly conducive to having your long (and I mean LONG; past my chest) hair down basically ever.
I started the whole short-hair thing in early college initially with a chin-length bob, so I didn't go from super long hair down my back to suddenly nothing. This was definitely a process with many steps that matched my comfort zone at the time.
Back to the main point: Yes, there was the worry in the back of my head that I was going to look like a young boy. But what I discovered instead is the amazing feeling of finding my femininity without having an attribute (i.e. long, flowing hair) strongly associated with being feminine. This might mean getting more into makeup, or even noticing features about your face that your hair was covering in the past. I found out pretty quickly that I have some great cheekbones, even without makeup. I also love that my neck looks so long with short hair. Both of these features, among others made me feel feminine, even without my hair. My hair really had acted as a security blanket for a long time, and this was an amazing way to get out of my comfort zone and discover new things about myself.
That being said, my hair wasn't white blonde from my first double process procedure. My stylist lightened my hair as far as it would go the first time, and put some ashy toner, resulting in a nice light golden-ish color (see left). Several months later I was able to reach my hair "endgame" (see right). There were about 2-3 coloring appointments between these two pictures.
It's also very important for me to specify that my hair was virgin hair before I bleached. This means no chemical treatments had touched any portion of my hair for years, and all of those portions had already grown out. Bleaching on top of already chemically-treated is a great way to get orange hair, even if the old treatment was a long time ago.
You can see this is a whole process; you're not going to get exactly what you're aiming for when you start a transition like this. You just have to own the color you have at the time, and the best way to do that is to have a professional make it look good in the first place!
The entire process, including coloring and a fresh cut, takes about four hours on average, so I usually get it done over the weekend. Here's the process:
Adding a root smudge (a.k.a. dying roots a darker shade to allow for a more graceful grow-out line) adds another 30 minutes or so to the process.
I started the whole short-hair thing in early college initially with a chin-length bob, so I didn't go from super long hair down my back to suddenly nothing. This was definitely a process with many steps that matched my comfort zone at the time.
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| Pixie from my second year of graduate school, some time in early 2018, in my natural color |
Back to the main point: Yes, there was the worry in the back of my head that I was going to look like a young boy. But what I discovered instead is the amazing feeling of finding my femininity without having an attribute (i.e. long, flowing hair) strongly associated with being feminine. This might mean getting more into makeup, or even noticing features about your face that your hair was covering in the past. I found out pretty quickly that I have some great cheekbones, even without makeup. I also love that my neck looks so long with short hair. Both of these features, among others made me feel feminine, even without my hair. My hair really had acted as a security blanket for a long time, and this was an amazing way to get out of my comfort zone and discover new things about myself.
"How is your hair so healthy and shiny after going so light?"
There is one thing and one thing alone I can really attest this to, and that is: I paid a professional to bleach and tone my hair for me. There is zero substitute for this, other than if you yourself are a hair professional and are able to do your own hair at home (which is awesome!). I 100% do not endorse any at-home bleaching products and haven't used them since high school. I also avoid box dye like the plague; the last time I used it was in 2017 before I cut all my hair off.
When you get a transition like this done at a salon (a.k.a. a "double process" - bleach and then toner or dye), your stylist will take the time to deep condition and care for your hair the way it needs to be taken care of after it's been exposed to a harsh chemical. This is what they are educated in and they are experts! You are paying for this education, trust, and quality of product when you choose to spend money on a professional coloring.
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| Final product in late 2019 |
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| First time bleaching and toning in April 2019 |
That being said, my hair wasn't white blonde from my first double process procedure. My stylist lightened my hair as far as it would go the first time, and put some ashy toner, resulting in a nice light golden-ish color (see left). Several months later I was able to reach my hair "endgame" (see right). There were about 2-3 coloring appointments between these two pictures.
It's also very important for me to specify that my hair was virgin hair before I bleached. This means no chemical treatments had touched any portion of my hair for years, and all of those portions had already grown out. Bleaching on top of already chemically-treated is a great way to get orange hair, even if the old treatment was a long time ago.
You can see this is a whole process; you're not going to get exactly what you're aiming for when you start a transition like this. You just have to own the color you have at the time, and the best way to do that is to have a professional make it look good in the first place!
"What is the coloring process like? Does it hurt?"
It doesn't hurt for me but I've heard mixed reviews. For me, the bleach is itchy and irritating. The toner stings, but not enough for me to get upset about. I'd recommend coming into the salon with "dirty" hair for bleaching; the natural oils protect your scalp from burns.The entire process, including coloring and a fresh cut, takes about four hours on average, so I usually get it done over the weekend. Here's the process:
- Application of bleach (~30 minutes)
- Bleach processing/reapplication (~1.5 hours)
- Washing and deep conditioning (~30 minutes)
- Toner application and processing (~20 minutes)
- Washing (~5 minutes)
- Cut and blowdry (~45 minutes)
Adding a root smudge (a.k.a. dying roots a darker shade to allow for a more graceful grow-out line) adds another 30 minutes or so to the process.
"How much does it cost to maintain?"
I see a senior stylist who specializes in color and precision cutting at an upscale salon. Given, I live in a relatively low-cost of living area, so take this with a grain of salt. I pay about $100 for color and $50 for a cut. I cut every 6-8 weeks and color every 2-3 months. I always get a cut on the days I color. That averages out to about $200 every 2-3 months, not including products I use at home."What toner does your stylist use for the white blonde look?"
My stylist has used both Wella's Color Charm White Lady Toner and Wella's Lightest Ash Blonde T18 Toner. The first is more white while the latter is more silver. I would not recommend using either of these at home. They are ammonia-based and can cause damage to your scalp and hair if used incorrectly. Like I said before, the toner application is probably the most uncomfortable portion of an appointment for me, and my scalp feels sunburned after, and that's when applied by a professional. You've been warned!
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| After using Wella's T18 Toner |
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| After using Wella's White Lady Toner |
"What products do you use at home?"
I have four staple products that are my holy grail hair products, and anything else I need, I usually rotate out depending on price, etc. Here are my five must-haves:
- Truss Blond Shampoo - Deposits purple pigment to keep yellow tones at bay.
- Truss Blond Conditioner - Works with the shampoo to keep hair ashy and not brassy.
- John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-In Conditioner - Offers extra hydration and smoothing after using the Truss conditioner in the shower. Also great because it's a white cream; it won't add unnecessary color to hollow bleached hair shafts.
- Pravana The Perfect Blonde Purple Toning Masque - A two-in-one deep conditioner that nourishes and deposits a LOT of purple pigment. Great for weekly use!
- Wet Brush - A very gentle brush that can be used in wet or fragile hair. I use this all the time except during blow drying.
Here are other things I use regularly that I don't have a favorite brand for:
- Dry shampoo - I use this any time my hair looks greasy between wash days.
- Heat protectant - Absolutely necessary for blow drying or straightening, especially on chemically-treated hair!
- Pomade - For after blow drying or for days I just want to style and go.
"What is your at-home hair routine?"
I wash my hair every three days with the Truss system and wear a shower cap on the days I don't wash to keep my hair from getting wet. After washes, I use the John Frieda leave-in conditioner and brush through with the Wet Brush. Sometimes I do a blowout for fun after spritzing with heat protectant. I will use the Pravana masque once every 1-2 weeks in place of the normal Truss conditioner. I let it set in my hair for at least 10 minutes and brush through with a wide tooth comb before rinsing.
"How are you keeping your hair in check during quarantine?"
I actually own a pair of hair cutting scissors, so I use those to dust the ends of the layers created by my last appointment with my stylist. I also use them to trim the nape of my neck and around my ears. Office scissors won't work for this; you're going to give yourself a ton of split ends with the wrong kind of scissors. You can find some sharp scissors on Amazon if you're desperate. Between trims and using the Pravana masque, my cut and color don't look too bad! My roots are growing out a ton, but those will have to wait until quarantine is over since I won't use bleach at home.
Any other questions about my hair? Ask in the comments!
- Anna
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