How I Bleach My Hair

September 22, 2018 • DIY | Tips | Lists, Hairventure

AND as promised! I'm gonna be sharing how DIY my hair color, bleach and everything in between! But, before I go ahead and start rambling, don't forget to follow me on Instagram and checkout my #hairventure highlights!

DISCLAIMER: I AM NO EXPERT or PROFESSIONAL. Everything you see or will see in this blog about my #hairventure is based solely on personal experience.

ALSO, before I started bleaching my hair I came from being a red head. Red pigments are hardest to remove and I knew it won't come off with the bleach, but yeah, I was excited :P

If you've known me for a long time you would know that if there is any part of my body where I really spend on, it's my hair and always the hair. I've always been fond and obsessed with coloring my hair, but of course while I was having fun, my wallet was suffering.

And so, with the help of my Mom from years back, we both learned the art of DIY hair care and coloring. It's been years since mom went on to the other side and I haven't colored my hair (loud) since then. Going back to it now is so meaningful to me that I just want to share what I learned from before and now to everyone.

(Wish you were still here, Mommy)

Back to the title of this post --- How I Bleach My Hair. While this process is already common, I know some people who are still afraid to do it because everybody knows it fries your hair. Specially if you don't know how to do it correctly. A few years back, I remember my hair felt like a broom from too much bleaching!

For first timers, I would always suggest having this done at the salon or with experts. If you are on a budget however, I know the first thing that would come to mind is doing it on your own or with a friend. Now, before you start hoarding stuff to bleach and color your hair, make sure you read through this post to see how I do it with as minimal hair damage and and as cheap as possible.

1) Believe in the power of VIRGIN COCONUT OIL (VCO)

A lot of people ask me how is my hair is still manageable after all the bleaching and coloring. This is the answer. Before I bleach my hair, I soak my hair in warm Virgin Coconut Oil. If your VCO is in a bottle, just heat water and put the bottle and the warm water in a cup to or you can just pop just enough amount for your hair in the microwave.

How long I soak it in VCO depends on my schedule, but it is advisable to soak it in for at least 5-6 hours or more. When I am on my lazy days, I soak it overnight and bleach when I wake up in the morning. NO WASHING.

2) Tools for Bleaching

Now, bleach is a very powerful compound and so is the oxidizing lotion/cream we use to mix it so we need to make sure we are well equipped! You will need a plastic mixing bowl, applicator (with or without comb), a towel or a robe and gloves. These four items are a must! If you have the budget, you can also go and invest on ear covers and some salon clips to help in sectioning your hair.

3) Bleaching Materials

Now the bleach! I used to by my bleaching powder in large tubs, but since I stopped and is just starting again, I buy mine in repacks and just enough to cover the length of my hair now. Good bleaching powders are light blue in color. I don't trust the ones that are white because, in my experience, they stink and are a waste of money -- it doesn't work for me. Anyway, along with the powder is the oxidizer (9%) to make it into a mixture. I got my Keratin Oxidizer from @pimpmyhairph --- this is the best oxidizer I've tried since it doesn't make my hair too dry.

3) Mixing the bleach and oxidizer

I have short hair now. I use about 30 grams of bleaching powder and mix it with 100ml 9% Oxidizing Lotion. What you're supposed to have is a light blue mixture with just the right amount of thickness.

4) Sectioning The Hair

I do quadrants when sectioning my hair and I bleach by section, starting with the ones in front onto the back ones. You can use hair ties or salon clips to do this.

5) Applying the Bleach

As I said, I bleach one section at a time. Remember to start bleaching your hair at least an inch away from the roots since the roots tend to lighten faster than the rest of the hair strand. After bleaching the your hair, then you can start with the roots. After applying all the bleach, I massage the bleach a bit on my head to make sure I got it all covered.

6) Waiting Time

Waiting time depends on how light you want you hair to be, BUT REMEMBER do not go over an hour! Any bleach or hair color just stops working after an hour. Also, don't make your hair suffer that much. Since I need a lighter base for all the coloring I'm planning to do in the future, I let it sit for 45mins.

7) Rinse & Condition

When rinsing, I make sure that I got all the bleach out. Dried bleach on your head will irritate your skin more. Your scalp has suffered enough during the bleaching process so make sure your you've washed out all the bleach. After which, I shampoo with my regular shampoo and CONDITION!

As I said, I came from a red hair before bleaching and so the bleach only lightened my roots and made my red hair a cute shade of peach pink ---- which was something I did not expect, but I love it.

Well, there you go... I hope you learned a thing or two about bleaching your hair. Remember, if you're not sure -- GO TO THE SALON! Or, if you're as obsessed as I am with DIY hair stuff, share with me your bleaching/coloring routine too!

PS. I'm still trying to figure out how to remove ALL the red pigments on my hair. Will share it here on the blog when I get it. :P

September 21, 2018 • Friday's 10 Happy Things

Hello there. Welcome to this weeks' 10 Happy Things. This is where we count the 10 things that made us happy over the week. Why? Because why not?

And so...

1. Caught my little girl singing the alphabet while I was getting ready for work! I thought the TV speaker was off or something, but NO! It was her! She was singing! It's the best progress we've had since she started her therapy! OMG. I AM SO HAPPY this could actually my whole 10. :P

But of course, there are so many things to be thankful for.

2. Bought this pair from some who just used it once or twice and decided to sell because it was big for her. Such a good buy! <3

3. Bought this too at H&M for half the freakin' price!

4. It was a salon date with the fam bam a few days ago and this little girl volunteered to get a hair cut.

5. After the haircut, this is her enjoying perfume samples at the mall. Haha!

6. Had a crazy night with crazy friends. This night was so random and turned out to be one of the most interesting nights we've had in a long while. The table beside were a bunch of kids who apparently had an uninvited guest with no money. While settling their bill, one guy started telling the uninvited guest (who was very mayabang btw) to cough up some cash as "ambag" but the guy had none. One bad word let to another and the next thing we knew, they were brawling outside the bar. Haven't seen such entertainment in years. :P

7. Finally had the time to go back to doing what I love --- HAIR COLORING! Will be starting my #Hairventure again and will be sharing it here on the blog how I do it on budget and how I TRY to minimize the damage.

8. Finally released a few new designs for Mainline Clothing Co!

9. Learned a lot about lightroom presets the past weeks! And I even got to write about some presets I like and where to get them.

10. AND this. Just this beautiful creature. :P

How bout you? Share with me the things that made you happy this week in the comments section below! Ciao!

Cover Photo by Kenrick Mills on Unsplash

August 06, 2018 • Dear You Love Me

Dear You,

Let me start by saying, I AM SORRY. Sorry for everything I did and did not do.

Believe it or not, it's been years since I wanted to get that out of my chest. There has always been this lingering feeling of guilt and pain every time I think about you. Yes, I do think about you sometimes. Passing by a certain place reminds me of you. Hearing a certain song reminds me of you. Seeing a heart-shaped box reminds me of you.

Ever since things ended, I've been trying to find the right words to explain why things turned out the way they did. How I felt and how I thought it was the right thing to do at that time. On the contrary, I think I was also trying not to say anything because it felt like I did not have the right to do so. I also have a lot of questions in mind, but then again, what right do I have to even ask questions?

There is one thing I am sure of though, I let my fears and insecurities get the best of me. I stopped not because I did not want "US". I stopped because I was afraid to even start "US"

And so, here I am years after trying to find the right words to explain my side of the story. Unfortunately, even after several years, I still don't have the right words. I can, however, borrow the words of one band we both like.

Read and listen, I hope this makes sense

~

We became close at a time when I wasn't so sure of myself. During that time, I hated myself for all the decisions and choices I've made. I was this big ball of negativity which surprisingly, you welcomed with open arms. I barely remember how I got there. I just know that you were the only person who, without inhibitions, accepted all the baggage I had with me.

~

And then it became a relationship we couldn't put a label on. People around us started seeing what was going on and thought they had the right to comment about it. This is when it started going haywire. Why? Because I listened to them.

Maybe they were right. It was a Television Romance.

Did you think the same?

~

And then they said "it was bound to fail"

Bound to fail -- And it wasn't just the people around us. It was me. I didn't give it a chance because I wasn't sure how you REALLY felt. And I wanted assurance so bad --- which was wrong. I hope you had this figured out from that heart-shaped box of letters.

If not, I guess I didn't tell you enough, or maybe I wasn't really honest with you at that time.

~
And just like that. It ended. And this song pretty much sums up everything else.

~

So you see, I would like to believe that it was the right kind of thing at the wrong time and setting. And even that --- still sounds complicated.

But, be that as it may, I would like you to know that I am happy where you are now and how things went for you. I really am. I hope you are too.

Thank you for being a friend, again. Also, I hope this answers your question.

Love,

Alex

~~~

This open letter does not wish to accomplish anything. This is merely a series created by Alex Carpio for www.ticktockitslocked.com and for her peace of mind.

Want to do the "Dear You... Love, Me Series", too? Don't forget to link up to this blog and share 'em with me too!

Cover Photo: @rolands.rivera

August 05, 2018 • Sunday Currently

Reading
Lyrics of all the Pale Waves songs

Writing
A blog post which I've had on my drafts for a week now. Can't seem to find the right words to finish it. Also, a process summary for a pitch due on Tuesday.

Listening
On Your Side - Day Wave

Smelling
Freshly brewed coffee! Joke! Instant black coffee lang siya. Ran out of coffee grounds ~_~

Wishing
For more money. I need to buy them new shoes and clothes. --- Not being a spoiled little b*tch here. I just did a closet clean up last week and I literally don't have medyo formal/leather shoes anymore. All I have are sneakers and running shoes. All my pants don't fit me the way they used to and I just realized how loud some of my clothes are for my single motherhood life. So...

Hoping
That all our pitches will have results next week. I mean, do clients have any idea how painfully hard it is to wait if you won a pitch or not?

Thinking

Of ways to make more money. ~_~ I do freelance event work! Hire me!

Wearing
A navy blue pleated dress and no ligo :P

Loving
Hearing Avery's new words! She's been shouting Mama for days! So CUUUTTEE!

Wanting
A new pair of vans. Veggie Tan Leather Nude. Please.

Needing
An eyebrow thread. Again. Check out my other Sunday Currently posts, it's always this! ALWAYS!

Feeling
Like I need a bath. LOL.

Clicking
Through google finding the subbed version of Meteor Garden Episode 21 and 22. HAHA! Don't judge!

How 'bout you? How's your weekend?

Cover Photo by Ali Yahya on Unsplash

August 04, 2018 • Dear You Love Me

Dear Me,

Congratulations!

You're slowly getting back on track. I know it's been a rough road to travel, but you're finally back on your feet! So, give yourself a pat on the back and here are a few reminders before you turn a year older in 2 months.

Baby Steps. Don't rush it. Nothing good comes out of anything that's rush and done on impulse. Your whole life has been about doing what you want when you want. Remember that your decisions are not just about YOU now. Remember that it's you and Avery now. Everything you do if for you and her.

Don't be too hard on yourself. STOP thinking that nobody loves you! Your emo days are over! WAKE UP! But kidding aside, stop thinking that nobody loves you because of all the wrong things you've done. You made wrong decisions in the past (and will probably make more in the future - hopefully not the same ones) but that does not mean that nobody loves you. Stop blaming yourself for things which you have no control over, but also learn how to own up to your mistakes. THAT IS LIFE. No need to blame yourself.

FAMILY is everything. You should know by now that no matter what happens, yo family go yo back! Keep this in mind and live it. It is one important value that you should teach your daughter. Show her that family should always come first.

Love yourself. Remember, it is your moral obligation to love yourself. Love yourself and know you're worth. Know your value and don't settle for less.

Be the person that you would want your daughter to be proud of.

Lastly, PRAY. Give thanks ALWAYS.

Natually, there are still a lot more hurdles to overcome in the future. Just remember that it's not the end of the world and STOP ACTING LIKE IT IS everytime you are in a rut. It is just a phase and it shall pass.

Copish?

Love,

Alex

~~~

This open letter does not wish to accomplish anything. This is merely a series created by Alex Carpio for www.ticktockitslocked.com and for her peace of mind.

Want to do the "Dear You... Love, Me Series", too? Don't forget to link up to this blog and share 'em with me too!

How I Bleach My Hair