Mastodawn

I have today off work👍 Shorter work day tomorrow & another long one on Friday.
I wasn't able to complete all my therapy homework yesterday & am finishing that off this morning, after some light household chores.
I'm using my 50th belated birthday hair makeover gift certificate from big Auntie today & will update y'all from hair salon later - will be there for 5 hrs.
I'll be going on a nature immersion/mental wellness walk after work tomorrow, with my friend, Sarah.
I'm back at LifeCycles HQ next week to help with more seeds sorting/packing for our community seeds library revival this season 👩‍🌾

Ms. Que Banh Jun 4, 2025

I'm expecting a long distance update call from my big Auntie today. She's staying in Hong Kong for 2 nights before flying over to Saigon/Ho Chi Minh city.

Ms. Que Banh Jun 4, 2025

Arrived at hair salon. I'm the only person masked. No surprise.

Ms. Que Banh Jun 4, 2025

It has begun.
Thanks to my big Auntie for gift certificate. First time at salon in 3 years.

Ms. Que Banh Jun 4, 2025

Bleaching out.
At The Old Hat. With Garlande.

#hairstylist #HairSalon #Selfie #hairdye #DyedHair #YYJHair

Ms. Que Banh Jun 5, 2025

ALL DONE!
It took 7 hrs to transform to #rainbow #hair. We finished up after the salon closed. Garlande did a great job! I'm now sending photos & vids to my big Auntie so she can see how I used her gift certificate ❤️

Just got home. I'm very hungry & need to eat dinner. Will update more after I get leg braces off, get some food in me & take care of a few family medication tasks.

#AsianMastodon #YYJHair #hairstyles #dyedhair #HairDyes #SummerHair

Ms. Que Banh Jun 5, 2025

Thank-you, everyone! Your words matter to me. I read all comments & they help me to feel better. My self esteem & self confidence took a few hits recently & I'm trying to give more love to myself.
I felt devalued by someone I cared about. It triggered me, awfully. It is a big reason I went to obtain extra therapy to recover & get my central nervous system regulated again. Part of my therapy homework is tracking my dopamine & cortisol levels/moments - which has been quite helpful.

I'm feeling much better with the support of that intense therapy & with the support/empathy/compassion of kind folks/friends here. Some of you have helped me to get through some really tough days/nights. I really appreciate you folks!

cobalt Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity You are OUR rock, our support, our advisor and friend when we are in low times too. So very relieved to know you are doing better.

Ms. Que Banh Jun 5, 2025

@cobalt123 That means so much to me! Especially when I wasn't feeling super stellar & am climbing back up again (so many times, I've done that!), when feeling battered down. I'm never gonna pretend to be someone I'm not. I may be a tough woman but I also need softness & empathy from others, when I'm not feeling super strong. I appreciate everyone who just 'gets me' & understands my immense heart.

Eric Lawton Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity

Glad to hear you're feeling better.

stephaniepixie 🏳️‍🌈Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity 🫶

Ms. Que Banh Jun 5, 2025

@stephaniepixie 💜❤️🫂

Ms. Que Banh Jun 5, 2025

I wore my purple sequin pants today. First time wearing them out in public. They are very comfy & breezy so are quite good for warmer weather.

#AsianMastodon #PeopleWithDisabilities #AuDHD #RainbowHair #SelfLove #LoveYourself #PrideMonth #LGBTQ2SComrade #LoveYourCommunity #DyedHair #VictoriaBC #YYJHair #purple

Ms. Que Banh Jun 5, 2025

I'm going to wear them again tomorrow for my friend date with my pal, Sarah 💜

maize Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity amazing outfit!!!

Ms. Que Banh Jun 5, 2025

@maize Thank you 🫂🥰

Ludwig Vielfrass Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity Completely baaadassss! Love all the color!

cpm Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity
omg!

that's awesome!

well done, you!

Ciara Jun 6, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity Fabulous, from top to toe!

forestine Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity oh wow!

Violet Madder Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity

NICE

Farah 🖖🏼🧶🏳️‍🌈Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity Holy shit!! That is.. wow!! You look stunning! I’m so much in love with your hair!!! 😍😍😍

Alex von Kitchen Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity damn, that's impressive!

Lyn Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity Spectacular!

handmade ghost Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity Love this--you look fantastic!

Vee Jun 5, 2025

@handmade_ghost @PhoenixSerenity wonderful!

Hisses with Geese 🌱Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity absolutely amazing!

Chris Petrilli Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity that looks amazing!

Flock of Cats 🐈 🐈 🐈 ❄️Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity wow…very cool!🌈

stephaniepixie 🏳️‍🌈Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity A work of art!

Amandine Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity I love it! You look amazing.

David Nelson Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity Such a cool look! The blend of colors is awesome.

Wrenasaurus Tex

@PhoenixSerenity
Oh

My

Gawwwd-uh!!!

That is so awesome!!! 😍

Ψ*Ψ Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity that looks amazing 🤩 - and I’m very interested to hear your washing strategy to keep the pink from bleeding into the green!

Ms. Que Banh Jun 5, 2025

@psistarpsiii I don't wash hair for one week after new dyes are put in. Once I start to wash hair again - I use only colder water for first month. I do a diluted rock salt & water rinse on first wash, it helps to lock in colours. Then, use specific shampoos/conditioners for dyed hair, afterwards, for all other washes & I only do washes every 3 days after first week, for first month.

Ψ*Ψ Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity on interesting! I hadn’t heard of the salt rinse.

Ms. Que Banh Jun 5, 2025

@psistarpsiii My big Auntie taught me that. I use similar methods when making my own tshirts with inks & paints. It helps to lock in colours for longer. If you scroll up to what my hair started at today - the blues were put in 3.5 years ago & they were still quite vibrant 🙂

Ψ*Ψ Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity i’d also be interested in which products you use. I also wash every ~3-4 days, and use a colorwash to add back dye later in the process, but I had some sad results with orange tips on green hair. I’ve always wanted to go full rainbow.🌈 You picked an excellent month for it!!

Ms. Que Banh Jun 5, 2025

@psistarpsiii I don't want to go upstairs right now because I'm comfy in bed but will post photos of what I use, tomorrow 😊

Ψ*Ψ Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity thank you!!!! And the concentration of the salt in the rinse? Really impressed you’re able to keep such nice blues for so long! Stoked to learn from you!!

Ms. Que Banh Jun 5, 2025

@psistarpsiii I use a 1:10 ratio for rock salt & water👍I soak all hair in that for 5 minutes & then rinse out. I wait 3 days until using any other products in wash.

Angela Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity fuck yeah! 🌈

@PhoenixSerenity wow. That looks amazing!

PetterOfCats Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity amazing! Absolutely love it.

Covidiocracy Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity WOW!!!

Tracey Thekla Rolandelli Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity hell yeah!!

Irene Zhang Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity wow amazing!!

Chrissy Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity That looks amazing 😍

madame poolhair Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity time to party 🎉🥳

dasgrueneblatt Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity WOW! That's gorgeous! 🤩

Impossible Umbrella

@PhoenixSerenity Amazing hair! Love it.

epicdemiologist Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity Glorious!

@PhoenixSerenity

magnificent 😍✨

somcak Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity That's fantastic!!!

Ellie‽ (Radio Edit)Jun 5, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity holy crap, your hair is amazing!

The Alchemist Jun 6, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity my goodness your hair looks fantastic 🌈

he/him Jun 6, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity the color flow down the back is some of the coolest dye work I've ever seen

Ms. Que Banh Jun 6, 2025

@TeflonTrout Garlande is a colourwork magician 💜

Ludwig Jun 6, 2025

@PhoenixSerenity
I am definitely not a friend of dyed hair at all and in general, but you look absolutely gorgeous with your new hair-do!

36 Pickled Eggs

@PhoenixSerenity That looks great.
I've shaved my head since my mid-twenties and don't plan to stop. However, I do miss experimenting with Manic Panic hair dye. Maybe I should dye my beard. 😆