Have Emo Hair Without Going to Extremes

Not all emo hair is entirely appropriate for professional situations, like work or school. There are ways you can make small alterations to your hair to embrace the emo style without going to extremes. Mild changes, like layering and bangs, can help you embody the emo style in subtle ways.

Steps

Making Small Alterations

1. Grow out your bangs. A big aspect of emo hair is bangs. Many emo kids have side bangs that are usually swept to one side, slightly covering one part of the face. Bangs are a fairly easy, non-extreme way to obtain emo hair.
   • If you already have bangs, simply let them grow out until they can be swept to the side.
   • If you don't have bangs, let your hair grow out slightly if necessary. If you have long hair already, you do not need to let it grow. You can have a hairstylist or a friend cut long bangs into your hair, which you can push to one side in an emo style.
2. Straighten your hair. Emo hair is known for being long and straight. A non-extreme way to adopt the emo style is simply straightening your hair each morning before you go out. You can do so using a flat iron, which you can purchase at most supermarkets or beauty salons. If your hair is on the shorter side, it can still be flattened. In fact, flattening shorter hair can add a bit of length, giving you a more emo look.
   • Choose the correct size flat iron. If your hair is shorter, you can go with a smaller iron. Longer hair requires a bigger flat iron.
   • Heat the iron before use. If your hair is damaged or thin, use a lower heat setting. If your hair is thick, use a higher setting. If your flat iron only has two settings, high and low, start out using a low setting. If your hair does not respond to this, turn to the higher setting.
   • Clip your hair into sections. Three to four sections is usually enough. With shorter hair, you may be able to get by with only two sections. Slowly run the flat iron over your hair, working your way from the root to the tip. Only go over each section of hair once to avoid damage.
   • Make sure to straighten your bangs as well. Long, straight bangs are an essential aspect of emo hair.
3. Use styling products lightly. If you're going for an emo hairstyle, you can add some styling products. A non-extreme emo hairstyle usually involves straight hair and long bangs, so you do not need a lot of product to maintain this look. A light application of a few styling products, however, can help keep your hair looking straight and emo throughout the day.
   • You can use a light texturizing spray made from natural ingredients to help your hair look smooth and clean. Emo hair is often glossy, so a light spray can help. Texturizing sprays made out of natural ingredients, such as sea salt and lavender, can be particularly helpful for emo hair.
   • Use a small amount of hairspray to keep your hair in place. Spritz some hairspray over your bangs to make sure they stay straight and to the side throughout the day.
4. Part your hair in a way that's asymmetric. Emo hair is known for being asymmetric. Oftentimes, a large amount of hair will fall on one side of the face. This is often achieved by having your hair layered by a stylist at a salon. However, if you want a less extreme way to get your hair asymmetric, simply change how you're parting your hair.
   • You can achieve fake layers by combing all your hair over to one side. Half the strands will be pulled over your head, making them look shorter. This can help you encapsulate the emo look without having to see a hairstylist.
   • You can also experiment with parting your hair very far to one side. You can push excess hair partially over your face. A major aspect of the emo hairstyle is having some hair covering the face.
5. Tussle shorter hair. If you have shorter hair, you can make it look emo by simply tussling it a little. Making your hair look a little messy can contribute to the asymmetrical appearance of emo hair. You can tussle your hair and push it slightly to one side, creating a somewhat spiked and sloppy look. To get your hair to stay this way throughout the day, use a small bit of hairspray.

Trying Bigger Changes

1. Dye your hair black. Many people who identify as emo like to dye their hair black as the dark color can indicate a dark, unhappy mood. Black hair can be appropriate for a work or school setting, keeping your hair emo without going to extremes.
   • You can go to a salon to have your hair professionally dyed. If you're unfamiliar with working with hair, this is probably the best option. If a salon is not in your budget, however, you can use store bought hair dyes to dye your hair.
   • Choose a black store bought hair dye. Before applying, section your hair into four even sections. You'll be dyeing one section at a time. Use hair ties or clips to secure the sections. Only have one section of hair down at a time as you dye.
   • Pour the dye into a small bowl. Use the wands or brushes that came with the hair dye package. Dip the brushes into the dye and gently paint the dye over your hair, working from the root to the tips. You will want your roots slightly darker, so apply more dye to the top of your head. When you're done with a section, clip or tie it up and move on to the next section.
   • Refer to the package's instructions to see how long to let the dye sit. You can wear a shower cap over your head while you let the dye remain in your hair. Then, wash out your hair.
2. Use another color, if possible. Sometimes, people dye their head in brighter, more dramatic colors to convey an emo look. For example, hair may be dyed purple, blue, or red. Combined with other elements of the emo aesthetic, such as long bangs or asymmetrical hair, this can look emo. However, some people feel this is too extreme.
   • If you're worried about your hair at work or school, review policies ahead of time. If brightly dyed hair is against the rules, you may want to opt for black.
   • It's a good idea to talk to a stylist before dyeing your hair a brighter color. Brighter colors are harder to get to show up, and you may need to bleach or otherwise treat your hair before adding a color like red or blue.
3. Try light highlights. Many people who identify as emo add other colors to their hair. They may add bright colored tips or add highlights to their hair in shades like pink, red, and blue. However, if you want non-extreme emo hair, it may be a bad idea to add color. Unusual hair colors may reflect poorly on you at work or school.
   • If you'd like to add some color, consider adding color to a part of your hair you can conceal. For example, dye a strand of hair that's not easily visible, like a strand of hair buried in the back of your head, in a bright shade. During the day, you can keep the dyed hair hidden. When you're going out socially, you can clip parts of your hair up to show off the dyed bit, or work the dyed bit of hair into a ponytail or braid.
   • You can also use hair clips in bright colors, which you can purchase at many department stores and beauty shops. These can be clipped into your hair to make it look as if you have bits of your hair dyed bright.
4. See a hairstylist about layering your hair. Layering is a key aspect to many emo hair styles. You can ask your hairstylist to layer the ends of your hair. If that's out of your budget, see if you have a friend who knows how to cut hair. Some light layering can really help you pull off the emo look, and layered hair is rarely a problem at work or school.
5. Spike your hair. If you have shorter hair, layering and bangs may be difficult to obtain. Many emo kids have hair that stands up in spikes. Consider spiking your hair to achieve the emo look without having to grow your hair out.
   • In order to spike your hair, you'll need some product. If you have short, thin hair, light mousse or light hold gel will work. If you have thicker hair, you'll need to invest in a pomade or a stronger hair gel.
   • Apply your chosen product and use your hands to work your hair into the right shape. You can run your fingers quickly through your hair, causing it to stand up slightly. Then, shape your hair into spikes as you wish.
6. Try a mohawk. If you have shorter hair, you can cut it into a mohawk. You can shave the hair around one side of your head, or around both sides of your head, creating a line of hair running down the center of your scalp. If you're unsure how to do a shave your head on your own, have your hair done in a salon.

Caring for Your Hair

1. Wash your hair regularly. People associated with the emo culture are known to be caring and conscientious about appearance. Therefore, hair should not be messy or dirty. Wash your hair at least a few times a week to keep it clean and smelling fresh.
2. Use protective products after straightening your hair. The heat from a flat iron can really dry your hair out. Therefore, you need to use certain protective products before and after using a flat iron.
   • Wash and dry your hair before using a flat iron. You should also add a small amount of a heat protectant to your hair before you begin the straightening process.
   • After you flatten your hair, mist your hair with a shine spray. This helps your hair look shiny and finished after being dried.
3. Take precautions with hair dye. If you're going to dye your hair at home, make sure you take certain precautions. Without paying attention to safety, hair dye can cause major damage to your hair.
   • Test dyes on a small patch of skin behind your ear before applying to your hair. Hair dyes can cause allergic reactions, so you should make sure your chosen hair dye does not cause itching, burning, or redness.
   • Never dye your eyebrows or eyelashes.
   • Do not mix different types of hair dye.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Get Emo Bangs
• Style Scene Hair
• Do a Scene Haircut
• Tease Hair the Scene Way
• Get Emo Hair
• Make Curly Hair Scene
• Grow and Keep Emo Hair
• Cut Scene Hair Using a Razor Comb

What links here

• Describe Emo Hair
• Get Emo Bangs