Blondes- to dye or not to dye? & women's wear, women's safety etc

Sama

onecuponly, I think dzibead has ended the discussion here on whether dyeing your hair is a good idea!

go to India and enjoy!

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dzibead

Ever the conversation-stopper.

But yeah, what YogaGal said: Go! Enjoy!

the opoponax

To clarify dzibead, I'm in no way under the illusion that having short hair will be a problem, or a grounds for harrassment.

Just curious about what it signifies in Indian culture, and what Indians think about it, that's all.

Though I'll say that in rural Louisiana when I've had short hair, I've been mistaken for a boy on several occasions, and in the southern US it's really not seen as an acceptable style at all.

Aishah

I have just skimmed through this interesting question and answers on this Thread, and believe me, you could come with any sort of hair-do that you like, any sort of colour - even pink if you wanted to. You will get stared at now and then anyway but not because of your hair colour. By no means ruin your hair by dying it! Absolutely not necessary.
Short-cuts - no problem! Many Indian women I know have short hair cuts.
For maintenance of blonde when it is aided by the bottle, there is a product here called Streax - can't remember who makes it - and they have blonde colours.

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machadinha

There's something about this thread title that makes me read it very differently than it's intended every time I come across it.

But, er, never mind

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capt_mahajan

Since I am partial to blondes, have to put in my two bits here.

Do foreign women have to be careful in parts of India? Yes, same as elsewhere, specially when they are in a foreign country or a culture who's nuances they cannot easily decipher.

Do foreign blonde women have to be even more careful? Not really. But even any such extra care (in case I am wrong) does not extend to dyeing their hair.

Or their skin.

Or wearing a burqa.


If I was a blonde female, I would go somewhere else if I felt any of all that was neccessary.

Offtopic, I love Zza Zza Gabor's (I think) quote.. "It is also possible that blondes prefer gentlemen."

And I am told they have more fun, too.

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brownboy66

Well hasn't this turned into an interesting thread!

Maybe I should consider becoming blonde? I've never been harassed before...sigh.....

A bit like unsolicited PMs really - while most of IM talks about how to get rid of them a few of us wouldn't mind the occasional one now and again....

PeakXV

On the other hand 'blonde jokes' were running rampant in India on the last few trips. ..... a few of them were rather unflattering too. .... ahhh what the heck go for a choclate dip.

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

machadinha

<cross-posting>

Tell you the truth, I've been receiving complaints by women who weren't receiving any unsolicited attention, yes. (Hint: They also seemed to have a good sense of humor.)

I don't know, I never really understand why one would want to go to a place where one expects to have to be locked in at 6 PM and generally not move around too much. But, you know... to each their own.

senhyd

Your hair colours doesn't matter anything in India! only thing is that you need a passion to be get dissolved in the croud of India. That's all...Haapy touring.

wonderwomanusa

Check the phone book and see if LUSH has a shop there; I get their catalog all the time and they carry several different colors of henna.

Honolulu
Royal Hawaiian, 2201 Kalakaua Ave
96815
(808) 923-5874

Honolulu
Ala Moana Ctr Unit 1206 - 1450 Ala Moana Blvd
96814
(808) 941-7400

Khandoma

About henna :
Agreed, the red and black versions look awful. Plus it makes the hair look dull. Natural henna, however, will make your hair shiny and soft while just reinforcing its natural tones. No extra colouring added - there is no way to tell someone is using it. Really good for hair and scalp.

Trying it at home in Hawaii and doing it in India may have very different results. My guess is in the US you'll find henna dyes, i.e. bottles full of a chemical henna-based dye. This will give a different look from the original thing, will hurt your hair as opposed to restoring it, and will last longer.

Real henna looks a bit like dusty gravel. Mixing it and applying it is a rather tricky process. And a lengthy one too. I wouldn't advise anybody to do it alone on their first try. You might end up with very uneven hair colour and completely ruined clothes, not to mention a scalp rash. You really want to have it done in India and ask the lady who does your hair for details.

I have chestnut hair and on me, natural-colored real henna lasts for 3 to 4 weeks.

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Nick-H

Henna Warning

The other day I asked my wife to add peas top the shopping list. She came back with a handful of tiny plastic bags, each containing a few ounces of peas. She warned me that they might have been coloured, which I found hard to believe. When we boiled them the green ink came out into the water.

Many Indian housewives will not buy curry powder from shops (they prepare and grind their own, by the kilo). They say that this is because shop-bought stuff may well be adulterated, sometimes with red brickdust to pack out the quantity.

I would caution against buying any unknown-origin substance here, and plastering your hair and scalp with it: it could be, or contain, anything.

I'm afraid that the very opposite of what Khandoma says is probably true: in Europe and USA, at least you have some effective laws that control what can be sold and what it says on the packet (not wishing to open up a debate on that one, which I'm sure is possible!).

Then there's Mehndi; the wonderful patterns that Indian women have drawn on their hands for special events, which is done with henna --- but check out our Member Mehndi Masala and especially her website for what to be very careful to avoid in that department.

Suggest that, if you want Henna in India, you pick the leaves from a henna tree.

How to find one? There's one in my garden. Please form an orderly queue, and understand that you have to apply to the sparrows, that live in the tree, to remove its leaves. They are not keen!

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Aishah

There's a henna bush where I first lived and is still there - but I never knew whether it was the dried berries or the leaves one uses for hair? Nick you are saying leaves - does anyone know how it is used the natural way for 'good for hair'?

OT - those peas are here too, I avoid them like the plague (posted in buying veggies thread btw.)

Tried to edit but connection too slow so faster to post again! Noticed your comments PeakXV and brownboy - those 'blonde' jokes have been around a long time; I know a few blondes living here permanently (India I mean not Jaisalmer) and none of us get harassment because of hair colour!!

zagzig

otha dan phaps a camel snakin its long neck to grab a bite of wha liks lik hay on ur head, i c no problm!
short hair - long hair - blonde hair - doped eyes.. indians giv foriegners the acceptanc dey won giv their kids. we're nt surprised by anythin u guys com up wid.. we'd be surprised if u din surpris us!!