How I Maintain Long Pink Hair When Traveling On A Budget

How can a motorcycle traveler (on a budget) maintain long pink hair?

I get asked about my long pink hair quite a bit! I’ve had this colour for years and it’s ALWAYS bright and rich for several months at a time! I usually spend about $75 CAD on bleach & dye every 6 months. Not bad, considering most women I know spend about $100 a month at the salon! The only reason I even re-do it is because of my roots.

Oh, and WHY do I have long pink hair? Simple. Bright colours make me really happy, especially pinks and reds! I also keep my hair long because I just can’t the thought of cutting or trimming it, ever!

 

 

I use a great brand of pink that lasts forever!

Atomic Pink by Special Effects is what I use! You can find it in the US sometimes, but I have been ordering it online from Amazon or eBay (some sellers ship worldwide) since I’m usually in Canada. It’s about $17 CAD a bottle, and I use 3 at a time for my hair length, every 6 months (roughly). “Flamingo” by Punky Colours is ok too, but is darker, duller, and doesn’t last as long as the Special Effects brand. Manic Panic is AWFUL! Don’t use it (for pink, at least). It’ll fade after a few washes and get EVERYWHERE! Like, don’t ever bother hugging anyone if you use Manic Panic. Also, stay away from ION pink… that stuff really damaged my hair. 

Anyways, I love Atomic Pink by Special Effects because it’ll stay super bright and rich for months, but oddly, doesn’t get *everywhere* like some pink dyes would. I heard that Special Effects Atomic Pink is almost impossible to get out of your hair though! After about 5 months, the front parts of my hair do start fading a teensy bit to a blonde, but 95% of my long pink hair is still extremely vibrant.

 

 

I only actually “do my hair” once every 6-7 months

Obviously, I’d love to do it a lot more often (like every 3 months), but that translates to more costs and hassle. My natural hair is brown and has to be bleached to a light yellow before I put the pink dye in it. Otherwise, the pink won’t be vibrant. So far, I’ve been buying wella bleach powder and peroxide and getting my mom or a friend bleach my roots.

 

 

The last time I did my hair, I was on a cross-Canada road trip. I had my 7 months’ worth of roots bleached at the local salon for about $60 CAD (plus tip), and I left the salon with wet, partially bleached hair. They understood that I already had the dye and wanted to keep my costs as low as possible, so they totally accommodated me! The reason why I don’t bleach my own roots is because I genuinely think I will mess it up! 

 

 

I apply the pink dye myself, and leave it in for up to 8 hours

So I find a bathroom I can use (renting one in a truck stop could work!), apply the pink dye with my (gloved) fingers, tie it up in a bun, and the wrap my head in saran wrap. Usually, I try to leave the dye in for about 6-8 hours! From past experience I can say that this makes a HUGE difference in how easily it fades. The dye is not at a all damaging to my hair! It’s a vegetable dye and is almost like a leave-in conditioner! Even though my hair is still bright, I still re-dye it because then it’s even richer, and less brittle somehow. 

 

 

I only shampoo my long pink hair every two weeks, and don’t use a hair dryer or styling products

Shampooing, heat, and styling products are what will get the hair dye to come out (I think). Once you stop shampooing every day, your scalp actually gets used to it. If my hair feels really gross, i’ll just rinse it out with cold water, but I won’t use shampoo! That way, the pink stays a lot longer 🙂 

Hair dryers and styling products are also very damaging so I don’t use them (wait, no, it’s because i’m hella lazy). I also have been living out of bags for years, so I don’t have room for a lot of fancy products no matter how much I want them, lol!

 

 

I use cold water to shampoo and condition my hair 

If I use warm water, I can see the pink dye coming out in the shower! Cold water is uncomfortable, but also makes long pink hair last longer and easier to brush later. I forgot the science behind it but you can just google it.

 

 

I use baby powder or dry shampoo for oily roots

Since I barely shampoo my long pink hair, I have to use dry shampoo or else I feel disgusting from the oil pouring out of my scalp lol (GROSS!). I prefer baby powder because it’s A LOT cheaper than dry shampoo, can be bought in really small bottles, and doesn’t make hair sticky. Dry shampoo also brings out some of the dye and doesn’t work as well as baby powder. Oh, and baby powder definitely gives your hair more “volume” than dry shampoo!

 

 

I don’t usually go swimming 

I don’t avoid swimming on purpose, but it’s just something I don’t do often since I don’t exactly know how to swim. Anyways, chlorine and salt water both strip hair dye, so I do think that my lack of swimming keeps my hair pinker for longer 😀 

 

 

I don’t really put a lot of work into my hair 

I only brush my hair about once a week. Every day or two I run my fingers through my hair, because brushing it causes some breakage. I also usually keep my hair in a braid or a bun because I don’t want to deal with it (and also to prevent breakage). I usually have it down for pictures though, haha! Riding a motorcycle with your hair flowing in the wind is a romantic but TERRIBLE idea, because it turns into a giant nest! The first (and last) time I tried that, I ended up ripping out half my hair, lol. So I always keep it in a braid when I ride. I also use leave-in conditioner in the ends because it helps keep the hair stronger.

 

 

So, does all this hassle make this long pink hair worth it? I think so! Even though some days I just want to shave my head. Is there anything I missed? Feel free to leave any questions in the comments below! 

 

 

 

 

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