Trend Alert: Hair Chalking

Let’s face it ladies, it’s that time of the year when you are starting to get sick of your look and begin searching for a change. But the question is, what are you going to do?

The hair trend that is starting to take rise is called “Hair chalk­ing.” It is an easy way to tempo­rarily change your look. “Chalk­ing” is as simple as it sounds: you color your hair by using craft store chalk.

Dyeing your hair permanently can damage your hair. Kristine Simoes, specialist professor, shared her nightmare experience with dyeing her hair.

“Once in college, my room­mate and I tried to be blondes and bought hair color in Jamesway (a long closed discount chain). She was much closer to the color than I was and she became light, yel­low brown. My then (undyed) black hair became orange and broke off on the ends. I had to cut it to a very short bob.”

According to Kristin Perrotta, Allure’s executive editor, rain­bow streaked hair was first seen on runways about two or three years ago, featured by designers such as Prabal Gurung, Prada and Jean Paul Gaultier.

However, Perrotta gives credit to reality star and fashionista Lauren Conrad for the trend. She tweeted a picture with hot pink tips at the bottom of her hair and everyone was buzzing about how she did it. Conrad’s stylist, Kris­tin Ess, told InStyle the secret to Conrad’s hair chalk. Once the word was out, Conrad and Ess posted a full how-to video on their website thebeautydepart­ment.com.

There are a lot more how-to videos than just the one on the website, but I am going to give you step by step directions on how to do it yourself at home.

You will need: “soft” pastels chalk, spray bottle (optional), gloves, flat iron or curling iron, blow dryer (optional) and an old t-shirt.

1.) Go to the craft store and buy chalk. It must be “soft” pastels. Sidewalk chalk will not stick to your hair and oil-based chalk will stain it. You can buy this chalk at any craft store for about $5 but you can also buy it off of websites like haircolor­chalk.com.

However, the brands that are labeled specifically for being hair chalk range from id=mce_marker5.99 for one color to $99.99 for eight, ac­cording to haircolorchalk.com.

2.) Dampen the designated strands of hair with the spray bottle or you can just wet your hair in the sink/shower. You don’t have to soak your hair un­til it drips, but wet it enough so none of the hair you are trying to color is dry.

Also, you do not have to wet the entire strand of hair, just wet the portion of the strand you would like to have colored. If you are a blonde, skip this step at first because your hair is light and the color should be able to stick even if your hair is dry. But if the color is not as bright as you wanted, go back and wet the strands of hair and color it again. For brunettes, you must do this step because your hair is too dark and if you do not wet it, the color will not stick.

3.) This is where the messy part begins so put on your gloves and your old t-shirt. Start col­oring your hair with one of the pastels just like you would be coloring a piece of paper. While you are coloring, twist your hair tightly. This will help your hair hold the color better, making the color more intense. Color as many strands as you want with whatever colors you like.

4.) Wait for your hair to dry. You can either let your hair air-dry or you can use a blow dryer, neither method will mess up the chalk.

5.) Once your hair is dry, use a flat iron or curling iron to go over each colored strand. This sets the color in your hair so it will last longer. After you are done, you can brush your hair and style it however you like.

There are just a few more tips to go over. Since the color is not permanent, it will fall out over time. Be cautious of what you are wearing because it may come off onto your clothes.

Ess advises the best hairstyle to wear when using hair chalk is the bun because your hair won’t be touching any of your clothing. Also, it may come off on your pillowcase at night, so make sure to change your favorite pillow­case to an older one you don’t mind possibly ruining.

Lisa Sypniewski, a junior health studies major, has nev­er used hair chalk before, but has heard of the phenomena. “I would love to try it,” she said. “I am always looking for something different to do with my hair.”

Simoes said, “Yes, of course I would try chalking if I was ten ­years younger. Sadly, at this age, I believe I’d be judged for at­tempting to tightly hold onto my youth.”

How long the chalk stays will depend on the color of your hair and how often you wash it. The color should stay in for about five days to a week. However, seventeen.com reports a girl who bleached her hair tried to use the pastels and the color only lasted one day.

To remove the chalk from your hair completely, all you have to do is brush your hair thorough­ly or shake it so the dust falls out before you shower and then wash your hair. This can get pretty messy so consider wear­ing gloves.

Hair chalking is a fun way to change your look without it be­ing permanent or damaging your hair. Whether you are looking to spice up your look a little or color your hair the shades of the rainbow, hair chalk is a trend to be tried.