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For as long as I can remember I have wanted bright gorgeous red hair. All the way though high school I was obsessed with Kate Pierson of the B-52's. I have to admit a large part of the obsession was the hair. She had this huge bee hived mane of the most fantastic red hair I had ever seen. As I worked my way though the rouge box colors from l'Oreal, Nice and Easy and Garnier, the dream began to fade. Nothing seemed quite right. While there was nothing wrong about these reds, they just weren't Kate's color. I caught a break my senior year of high school. My best friend and I got tickets to see the B-52's Good Stuff tour. I totally was going to find a way to get back stage, ooggle up the B-52's and get Kate's secret hair recipe! The night of the show came and we did in fact get back stage. Turns out the B-52's really love their young fans and were super awesome! My moment had arrived and here I stood in front of this red-headed goddess. Intimidated by her celebrity I barley got my question out. Kate was gentle in breaking the news. A wig!! URG! NOOOO! And, with that the dream died until.....
NUCLEAR RED!!!!!!
Since high school in the early 90s, I have discovered bright and funky semi permanent colors. My hair really has been every color of the rainbow. I have also pretty much tried every brand under the sun. My norm for many years had been a black base with chunks of bright colors. About a year and a half ago I got tired of the whole switch up and decided to get back to following the dream. The process of coloring removing the black began. It was during this process I met my true hair color love...Special Effect Nuclear Red.
There are many things I love about Special Effects Nuclear Red. A wicked cool fact about the Nuclear red shade is it glows under black light. How freaking awesome is that? It's the brightest red you will ever find. I love that this red has an orange base. Most of the bright reds you find have a pink base. I really dislike when my red hair fades to pink. Special Effects comes in a 4 oz bottle and when applied lasts approximately 3-6 weeks. I would suggest only washing your hair every few days for maximum staying time.
The only thing I dislike is the stain factor. I always manage to get some somewhere on my skin and this stuff stains really good. Like any bright semi color does. I do have to mention, however, that I have never had a problem with the color leaving marks on my pillow. I have had that problem with other brands of color. There is no way to get around leaving semi colors on your toweling when washing. Be aware that you will color towels if you use semi color. I have been using black towels for many years.
Special Effects Nuclear Red is a Semi Permanent color which means you have to lighten your hair or have naturally light hair to achieve the brightest results. My hair naturally is medium brown. Every six weeks I need to lighten my roots and do a color touch up. You can totally use a lightener such as bleach on your roots to do this, but I find it's damaging. I have found a lift and deposit color that is very close to my Nuclear Red. I use L'Oreal Professional's majicontrast in RED. I mix this color with a 30 Volume developer and apply it just to my regrowth of hair. After about 40 minutes I wash it out, dry and apply the Nuclear Red to my whole head. I have found this is what works best for me and has left my hair with minimal damage.
You can find Special Effects Nuclear Red and L'Oreal Majicontast RED in many online shops. Amazon almost always carries both.
I love my red hair so much.
It has been many years in the making. It's a lot of work with upkeep, but I can't see myself changing it anytime soon.
If I want a change I'll buy a wig ;)
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I am so jealous of your hair... everytime I try to dye my hair any shade of red it turns orange.....
ReplyDeleteIt is really hard to find the right red. I had to go though tons of boxes over the years.
DeleteIt's no secret. I'm in lerv with your hairs :)
ReplyDelete<3 Thanks doll. They may have to stay forever. I will be like Myrtle Snow and that excites me.
DeleteLove the hair color! Looks Great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Doll. xx
DeleteOh my days your hair is amazing and you're beautiful. Girl crush! I can't dye my hair (except henna) because of allergies so I live vicariously through those who can.
ReplyDeleteI think I would parish without hair color or own a thousand wigs!
DeleteThanks doll. xx
Your totally adorable.
do you dye your brows too?
ReplyDeleteI have died my brows in the past. I currently bleach my brows to blonde so that I may make them any color I like. I find when they are my natural brown color when I apply the red brow pencil it doesn't look as good.
DeleteYou look awesome with any color of hair!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about brown. It's been too long to recall. xx
DeleteSuch an amazing colour, looks great on you.. i am red at the moment too but it is a darker red (thanks to years of black dye to bleach out)
ReplyDeleteI use to do mine black and Vampire Red Manic Panic. That was a darker red for sure.
DeleteI just love hair color. I will be 80 years old with purple hair.
You wear this shade with such confidence. It's so perfectly stylized and terrific in conjunction with all your outfits.
ReplyDeleteThanks lovely. xx
DeleteYour hair is awesome Stina! Thanks for letting us in on your secrets!
ReplyDelete