Lately I've been thinking I want to change my hair from dark brown to a summery light blonde. I know I would need to consult with my agency for their "permission" first but I'm certain their primary concern would be getting new images. Overall I could quickly and easily build up a book with the new hair color and any publications I have with my brown hair aren't that significant to my port anyway.

The reason for my wanting to change is because I think I'll work better, especially in the Asian market which I spend the majority of my time in. And well, blondes have more fun!

So my question is: Who of you models have made such a drastic hair change (brown to red, blonde to black etc) and how has it affected you?

MUA's and Hair stylists: Do you feel color treated hair (especially blonde) styles worse because it's damaged?

Anyone is welcome to chime in. I'm trying to decide if the change is something I want/should do before I consult my agency about it.

Granted I'm not an agency model (I freelace) but Ive gone from a deep burgundy red to a dark blonde color. I love it. Although I've still gotten about the same amount of work I had before, the work I do get now is better paying if that makes sense. I only do this part time.

Plus its less maintenaince - I enjoyed being a redhead but I had to spend so much on special shampoos & conditioners to keep my red from fading. Blonde is much less mainenaince for me.

I went from having black hair for 5 years to toffee-apple red last month.

The hair-dresser had to bleach the living c**p out of it to dye it, but surprisingly it wasn't damaged.
It's only effected me in that the clothing organised for shoots I had coming up doesn't really match the hair colour now, so I've had to re-organise/find different outfits.

No real biggie.

Let me preface by saying I don't have an agency to answer to

I recently went from blonde (left) to brown with bangs (right).  I love it!  It photographs beautifully and has really changed my look.  I've also been told that it looks more natural than my natural (yet highlighted) blonde!  Go figure.

 

I know the second shot is rather dark, but I don't have anything else without mucho styling right now.  Unless you click the link in my profile to my self-taken shot.

I am naturally a blond but told brown does me better justice. Best thing is to do is ask those who you work with frequently and see what they think?

Thought a bit more about this and thought I'd add this in for you

Perhaps find some images of the cut and color you'd like to go with, and bring those to your agency with your idea that it might help you out in the market you frequent.  Instead of just saying, "I'd like to go blonde" providing them with a visual might help.

it's just an awful hassle - time you could be having more fun, expense etc and stress on your hair ... the condition usually suffers
and sooner or later you'll want to dye it back - to cut down on ugly embarrassing roots

as soon as they show (I HATE to see that and for modeling it's bad news) you'd need to re do them - more often than the average
so main thing to consider is that you will more or less be tied in
to over processing your hair for a while

that's assuming you have GREAT people who wont ever mess it up.

good luck!

i just gotta say you look amazing

i LOVE your hair!

This is probably best in the critique forum but I'm looking for advice from professionals and fellow models rather than people looking for picture comments.

Anyway, I got my hair changed to blonde (expenses paid) for a car commercial I did today and I have an approximate 2 week window to decide if I want to change it back to brown or proceed with being a blonde. Now the color they changed it to is not something I would necessary stay with, I would prefer something lighter and less strawberry. But I can change it how I want it when I get back to America.

As some of you mentioned it's indeed high maintenance but I am friends with a salon owner who will do my hair for free or very, very cheap. Keep in mind too that I'll still have the same style of hair, with the bangs and all.

Here are some photos...

Oh I like it!!

I went from red to deep brown about 2 months ago, and then to Blond 2 weeks ago, lol! I have all the photos in my portfolio (amateur photo with blond hair is at the end!)

I'm a natural blonde (VERY blonde) and a year ago I dyed it dark brown. I absolutely love it. I had to get new headshots for acting but I shoot enough since I do this full time that rebuilding a portfolio with the new hair was super quick and easy. I plan to keep it like this for quite some time

Edit: Your hair looks super healthy for going from so dark to so light. They did a good job. I agree I'm not a super fan of the strawberry-ness of that particular color, but I think it looks good. Keep it for a while if you want a change. It's WAY easier to go from light back to dark.

Do what you feel you'll like better and go with it

I really like the strawberry colour you just had right now. I would keep this colour if I were you - I'm not sure Blond would suit you right - but strawberry blond really works on you IMO.

Anyways, just my .02 cents.

LC

I think you're gorgeous both ways hun!! You have goregous dark hair, but if you feel blonde will do you better as a model go for it!! : )

Thanks guys I appreciate your opinions!

i think blonder would look AMAZING!! (not that you don't already look amazing!)
that's so funny, i have super red (dyed) hair and today i got my stylist to try to get me platinum blonde and i looked like milla jovovich from the 5th element LOL (he died it back)
i think if i had to guess (although im obviously no expert) that since ur in china, as u said, blonde might end up getting u more work... ^_^

My experiences with agencies is that they never say no to blonde... especially if you don't already have a full book of amazing tears with another hair color.

I went from blonde to black summer '04, before I started modeling, and had some color stripped out to get a more natural brownish black earlier this year. I've had some agencies hint that it might be easier for them to market me as a blonde, but  I like my hair too much! Also, my stylist said that would kill my hair, but yours look healthy in these snapshots so I guess that is not a problem!

The only thing I would be worried about (once I've cleared it with the agency) is the upkeep, but it seems like you already got that covered.

(Without having seen your new blonde photos )

I think you look great a brunette

there is too much emphasis on being blonde in the world

but if it gets you work

just be careful not to kill your hair in the process


( having seen your new blonde photos )

See above

hi my hair is naturally black almost so dark it might as well as be.. i am now white blonde and i love it! yes the roots are annoying my hair grows super fast and i am in the hairdresser almost every 3 weeks but i wouldnt change it. the biggest thing is find a blonde u like. because i dont like mine when it goes gold and it can be a hassle to keep it lighter.. also make sure u dont just use purple toning shampoos, get yourself an awesome protein hair shampoo conditioner and mask becasue when i used they purple shampoos all the time i ended up with 15 cms of breakage and had to chop my hair off!! most of all look after it coz its much more fragile!! good luck:)

What's funny is during the dying process the Chinese hairdressers were mashing and teasing the color into my hair so much that it was nearly dreadlocked when they were finished with it. They were damaging my hair more than the color was. It's actually still very healthy looking.

So far I'm liking the blonde here in China as I'm not mistaken anymore for a Chinese person from behind.

You look gorgeous both ways However, if you're not 100% sure, what about an 'in between' colour, such as caramel? It's still warm but not as dark and it means it wouldn't take as much effort to be marketed one way or another.

After reading all those posts I really have to ask my hair stylist [also on MM #1207747 ] How she got my hair from near black-purple-ish to Candy Apple red... 'cause I don't remmeber there being any bleaching between the two.

But back on topic, after my hair was coloured red and now has about an inch of growth. I still get raves about it, when I am at work, when I am walking with a freind, talking with the coffee people. It also like glows in the sunlight...

The only thing is make sure it is going to be a colour that works with your skin!!! I can not wear black glasses nor have pure black hair because it looks really bad with my skin, black glasses make it look like there is shaprie lines on my face and black hair makes me look pale. So does bleached blonde hair. It is very important that it works with your skin tone. If you have a good, trusted hair stylist you could talk to them and see if they think darker hair would suit you better or lighter hair, as well.