Pros and cons: What you should know before dyeing your hair blue

Should you dye your hair blue? Ahead, we dive into the pros and cons of chasing King Kylie’s crowning glory.

First came the Y2K Renaissance, then came the skinny brow. Now? It’s the 2010s. If it wasn’t already evident that all fashion trends cycle back (and that said cycle is getting shorter and shorter), Kylie Jenner’s latest hair makeover should make that fact abundantly clear.

In short: King Kylie is back, complete with teal tresses and all. The youngest Kardashian sister debuted her vivid locks in an Instagram selfie and we suddenly found ourselves transported back to 2016. Really, all that’s missing is block brows, a cut crease and an unholy amount of highlighter.

Whether or not it’s a wig or the work of bleach and dye is still TBD, but what we do know is that it looks great. The rich hue compliments her complexion beautifully and is such a refreshing change from her usual get-up.

Is it going to be this season’s new hot hair trend, though? We can’t say for sure whether it’ll take off, but we are already imagining all the ways in which the beauty girls will run with it. Blueberry girl fall? Coraline-core? As for what the return of King Kylie means, that’s still up in the air. Will we go the way of the twee, dip our toes back into the scene or embrace Christian girl autumn? All remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—blue is a look.

If you’re reading this and you’re still on the fence about going anywhere near cobalt, sapphire or cerulean, we’ve got just the thing to help you make up your mind. Ahead, find out whether you should or shouldn’t go blue.

Pro: There’s a blue for everyone

Are you a fan of vivids? Try a teal. Prefer pastels? A baby blue is a fun hue too! Need to stay sensible with work or nervous to break out of your comfort zone? You can’t go wrong with an inky blue-black. Essentially, there are so many ways for you to wear the hue—all you have to do is play around with your options!

TIP: Can’t commit to a full head à la Kylie? Experiment with highlights, dip-dyes, money pieces and peek-a-boo sections!

Con: You have to get bleached

All good things come at a price, and blue hair comes at the price of your hair’s health. Unfortunately, most shades of blue require a big bleach to rid any brassy tones and help you avoid steering into green territory. As we all know, bleach can be extremely damaging to your hair, so you need to be prepared to upgrade to a more elaborate hair care routine once you bite the bullet for blue.

Pro: It lasts the longest in your hair

If you’re looking for a colour that will stain your strands, look no further. Blue is notorious for being stubborn, which means that it’ll last in your tresses for months on end, meaning that you won’t have to get a full salon touchup too often. That said, though it doesn’t fully wash out of your hair for months, it will change over time. More on that in the next con…

Con: It fades quickly

So, it’s true that blue dye lasts for ages in hair. However, the colour you get fresh out of the salon is probably not the colour you’re going to end up with a few months down the line. Blue fades and lightens up fast, so if you’re hoping to keep your electric blue electric, you’re going to have to commit to weekly dye top-ups in the shower. But, if you’re cool with fading out to a turquoise or pastel blue (depending on the undertones of your hair, of course), then this con shouldn’t be a problem!

Pro: It’ll dress up a boring wardrobe

Want to save yourself some moolah on a whole new wardrobe? Blue hair is a quick way to dress up any outfit. Once you go blue, all that’s left is attitude!

Con: The dye gets everywhere

It may not be as bad as red hair dye, but bleeding and messiness are just part and parcel of the hair dyeing process. Prepare for your porcelain tubs to be stained blue with your weekly top-ups and say goodbye to your pristine white towels, too!

PS: This is your reminder to stop sleeping with wet hair if you haven’t yet. It’s a bad enough habit on its own, but if you’re rocking wet blue hair to bed, your bedsheets are just another textile at risk of staining.

Pro: Wigs exist!

If this is all sounding like a whole lot of effort for a pretty head of hair, you’re right—it is. That’s why, when all else fails, we urge you to turn to the no-brainer option: Wigs and extensions. They may be a little hot for Malaysia, but a little sweat and discomfort beats having to deal with growing out ratty, damaged hair for years after the blue goes. Plus, extensions are a great way to add extra volume where it’s needed on your crown. Dealer’s choice!

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