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In case you are not a Twitterer, let me introduce you to the course of events this Sunday…

Then…

So here’s the background story. I am a natural blonde. As a kid, I had white-blonde hair. That has always stayed pretty much blonde, but it has darked in areas over time to a more ashy blonde. I get highlights/lowlights for dimension every six weeks – and I love my colorist. She’s phenomenal with blondes. Amazing. If you’re a Houstonian, I can give you her name and number.

Anyway. I have little time these days. What with studying for the USMLE Step 1 exam and fashion blogging, I have very little time to drive to the other side of town every six weeks to spend most of the day on my hair.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands – I wanted to quit with the highlights and go for an all-over, summery, beachy white blonde (like I was born with). Enter: drugstore blonding kit. It was $14.99 and worth every penny.

Loreal Superior Preference Dream Blonde in Glistening Magnolia (11, the lightest shade)

I loved it! Here’s a good before picture from one of my outfit posts…

BEFORE: multidimensional tones (highlights/lowlights) created over months/years

Super easy to apply, and 30-45 minutes (total prep + application time) later I had this result:

AFTER: overall blonde, but slightly too buttery warm for what I wanted

Slightly too buttery-yellow blonde, though it was acceptably light enough for me, considering I had years worth of expensive highlights/lowlights – I think it handled the multi-dimensional color differences pretty darn well.

I’m lucky enough to live a few blocks away from a Sally Beauty Supply, so after doing a bit of YouTube research, I learned that a toner (to tone down the inevitable “brassy” tones that come with blonding) was just what I needed. It sounded scary (mix toner + 20-volume developer? I guess I can do it!) but watching others do it on YouTube allayed my fears.

The purple/violet counteracts yellow tones, so prepare to be amazed (aren’t you glad I’m not afraid to make myself look like a total fool on my blog?)…

(after the jump: the AFTER pictures!) click to read »

This isn’t going to be one of those before & afters that shames you into never displaying your office on the internet. I don’t have a pretty office. I still don’t, even after this DIY project. But I did want to attempt to add a little personality and color into my otherwise boring brick of a room. Um, that’s about it for prose.

Ikea office supplies ready for priming:

Look at me all excited to spray paint and not get high on fumes:

See the after(s) after the jump! click to read »

As promised, here is my other color scheme I’m considering (they’re both 50/50) for my master bedroom style project. If you’re clueless, feel free to familiarize yourself with the original post.

I especially gravitate toward these two colors together. I don’t know what it is. It’s the same as chocolate and pink for me. Ob-sessed.

Maybe it’s that with these two colors, you’re just meandering along peacefully with Grey, then POP! Yellow comes in to say hello and you are hooked on the vibrance. They’re like a sweet married couple. Grey tones down yellow, yellow lifts grey’s spirits. I’m not saying Grey is dreary, by any means, it happens to be my favorite color (can you believe it tops pink??).

So there you have it. Lavender & Grey vs. Grey & Yellow. Notice grey is going in there either way. Clever little bastard.

Weigh in with your thoughts, what do you think of grey & yellow together–have you used it? What do you own that is a bright yellow color? Which should I choose when I start the project this weekend?

HELP.