temporary hair dye

[topaz]

I started to ask the Internet this, but then I realized that my friends are actually way more awesome than the Internet:

How well do temporary hair dyes work? Do they wash out right away? Do they produce bright and vivid colors? Which brands are best?

ETA: this is a one-day thing, so super-temporary dye shampoos and the like are potentially fine.

If we were to apply more than one color--say, a mohawk with colored sides--is that likely to be way too complicated for an amateur to attempt on their first try? Would we want to use a semipermanent dye for that, rather than the totally temporary ones?

Comments

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

I love Special Effects for bright and long-lasting colors. Manic Panic has good colors but, IMO, they wash out too quickly. All dyes will be MUCH brighter if you bleach your hair out first, but ... kid. Reds shine the brightest and fade the fastest, I think, but as usual YMMV.

Also, rinse his hair with white vinegar when washing it out, and have him go easy on the shampoo for a while.

Some people swear by dyeing with kool-aid (the kind with no sugar in it). It works, but it's very faint and temporary.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

That's two recs for Manic Panic! Do they sell it locally, or do I need to order from Amazon with two-day shipping?

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

Garment District, at the counter downstairs.

[buddhagrrl.livejournal.com]

Closer to home, Newbury Comics or Hot Topic should both carry it.

[tamidon.livejournal.com]

Last I checked Hot Topic now carries their own,really crappy,Manic Panic ripoff. I also like Special Effects. In your family hair is pale enough you probably won't have to bleach first too much, but to get really intense colour it helps to prebleach what you want to do

[tamidon.livejournal.com]

also, temp colours last longer on paler hair

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

The proposal currently on the table involves a multicolored mohawk. Is that likely to be too complicated for a neophyte like me to pull off?

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

Nah, you can do it. Liberal use of hair clips and plastic wrap/foil, and you'll be fine.

[creidylad.livejournal.com]

Red MP never completely faded out of my niece's hair.

I suggest testing with the cheapo spray in color to see if you can achieve the effects you want.