Saturday, January 7, 2012

dying my hair

Goal #90: Color my own hair. Accomplished on 1/7/2012.


I wish dying my hair made me look like this.


A few years ago I started getting those first pesky greys. The ones you just notice when you are brushing your hair and suddenly you see a streak of white. You're not sure you saw it right because you can't possibly be greying. You're YOUNG. I'm still young, right? Right??

Well over the years, there is no doubt that the greys aren't some optical illusion. They have snuck up around the crown of my head and there is no denying they are there. They are not elegant greys to be worn with dignity. They are ill distributed and look horrible, so about an year  or two ago I went to get my roots done for the first time. I have had my hair colored three times so far and each time I've dropped around $100-150 for a basic root color job.

If you listen to people at the salon, they convince you that if you ever try to dye your own hair, it will either all fall out or turn bright orange so I'd been hesitant to try it on my own. But I realized that the older that I get, the more I'm going to have to dye my hair. Not only is it such an expensive thing to do every six weeks but it takes SO much time. So, I decided that I wanted to have a go at it at home and it was so easy!

First, I watched a bunch of youtube videos that gave me some good tips. If you are dying your hair for the first time at home, here are some recommendations:

-Put down some newspapers on the surface you are working on. I didn't and then it was a bit of a pain to get the color out of the sink.

-Put vaseline around your hair line so the color doesn't get on your face, ears, etc. It will keep your skin from taking the color.

-Make sure your hair has no product in it and try to have washed it a day or two ago.

- You can buy dye brushes, which I did, but I found they are not necessary. You can just use your fingers or a comb or an old, cleaned toothbrush fro the same purpose.

Now you are ready to color! I used Clairol Natural Instincts in Ebony Brown because I had read in a few magazines that it is the best home hair color. It only set me back eight bucks and I think it did a great job.

The instructions were really easy to follow and I was all done applying the color in about 15 minutes. I prepared some cookie dough while I waited for the color to set. You can help it along by hitting it with a blow dryer to create some heat and then covering it with a shower cap. The box said to leave it on for 10-20 minutes but I left it on for an hour. This might not be good for everyone's hair so do a test strip if you are not sure.

Once I finished my cookies, I rinsed out my hair and instead of using the conditioner that came in the box, I used the Bumble and Bumble quenching masque since it is sulfate free. My hair came out so soft for having just been dyed.

My conclusion is that I will never go to a salon for a color again. Dying at home is so easy and I actually like my result better than any I've gotten at the salons. I basically look like the model above now. 

Friday, January 6, 2012

112 for 2012


A blogger that I regularly read, Aisha Iqbal, does a list of things she wants to accomplish every year. Even though I am a little late to the game I thought it was a great way to set goals and keep life interesting. Here are my 112 for 2012. I will try to pop in every week or two with updates.

1. Publish one article.
2. Read 24 books.
3. Join the gym.
4. Make perfect rice three times in a row.
5. Do not go on the internet outside of work for 1 week.
6. Visit at least one new country.
7. Visit three new states.
8. Go to Michigan at least six times.
9. Get at least one new mentor.
10. Meet ten new people who I like enough to send a New Years card to.
11. Run one race, no matter the length.
12. Make something that will outlive me.
13. Attend Qasar's wedding.
14. Go to Pakistan.
15. Reunite with at least one old friend from high school.
16. Sell or give away everything in my Ebay box at home. (This is a box of things I plan to sell on Ebay one day.)
17. Take a weekend trip with just Feraz.
18. Buy a car.
19. Speak at one conference.
20. Not say anything mean or negative for one week.
21. Go on a  hike.
22. Bake a treat for all the people in our building.
23. Invite all the people in our building for a get together.
24. Hand out candy on Halloween.
25. Throw one surprise birthday party.
26. Host a gift exchange at a random time of the year.
27. Learn to knit.
28. Send five birthday cards in the mail.
29. Send five care packages in the mail.
30. Pay for a stranger's cup of coffee.
31. Hand out ten $5 subway gift cards to homeless people.
32. Host ten dinners.
33. Lose ten pounds. (I am on a ten roll here.)
34. Smile more.
35. Break my sugar addiction.
36. Go on a run outside.
37. Paint something for the house.
38. Take Feraz to the UP.
39. Make a Ramadan calendar like an advent calendar.
40. Decorate the house for Eid.
41. Host chand raat if we are not in Michigan for Eid.
42. Give Feraz his birthday, Eid, anniversary gifts, etc. on the actual day.
43. Write a meaningful card for each.
44. Forgive everyone I have ever been mad at.
45. Become friends with at least one of the fifty bloggers I read regularly.
46. Organize my pictures.
47. Buy a real camera.
48. Take a photography class.
49. Take a sewing class.
50. Make a friend that sews.
51. Fix my MacBook Pro.
52. Be happy with my teeth.
53. Make an effort to look nice even when I am home with just Feraz. Does anyone else look like a total slob when they are just around their partner?
54. Drive by myself at least five times.
55. Mentor someone.
56. Have an idea that contributes to society and execute it.
57. See four shows at the theatre.
58. Memorize Surah Yasin.
59. Write 20 letters. And mail them.
60. Don't gossip and don't listen to other people gossiping.
61. Learn a dance for Qasar's wedding.
62. Pack 14 lunches.
63. Call my grandma in Pakistan three times.
64. Have at least five guests at our house.
65. Make a fire in our fireplace.
66. Make s'mores on the fireplace.
67. Create a frame gallery for our hallway.
68. Ask the landlord if I can paint the pantry cabinet.
69. Go to three museums.
70. Do a puzzle.
71. Don't drink soda for one month.
72. Go to a baseball game.
73. Go to a basketball game.
74. Be good at taking compliments.
75. Go to a comedy club or show.
76. Write a fan letter.
77. Grow something.
78. Visit the Library of Congress.
79. Go on a road trip.
80. Write my will.
81. Create a scholarship.
82. Take Feraz to NYC.
83. Go to Luray Caverns
84. Learn to swim.
85. Take a self-defense class.
86. Buy pepper spray.
87. Go shooting.
88. Fly a kite.
89. Do a photo shoot with Feraz.
90. Color my own hair.
91. Fill out a nice comment card.
92. Take the day off on my birthday.
93. Make a surprise cake.
94. Go to a national park.
95. Memorize a poem.
96. Email an old teacher.
97. Visit someone sick. Take them something happy.
98. Be kind when it is hard.
99. Do something around the house that I would usually ask or expect Feraz to do.
100. Have a picnic.
101. Laugh until I cry.
102. Return books I have borrowed.
103. Stay up all night.
104. Sell something on Ebay.
105. Contribute something on Wikipedia.
106. Make an origami something.
107. Watch movies all day.
108. Stay at a bed and breakfast.
109. Have a candle lit dinner.
110. Send someone flowers just because.
111. Make Feraz a really good breakfast in bed.
112. Write a list of 113 things I want to do in 2013.
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