Singed Hair

Catfish don’t have hair like mammals do, but they do have these cool whisker-like structures called barbels. They use them to sense their surroundings, kind of like how a cat uses its whiskers. So, no hair, but they definitely have some unique features that help them navigate through water. It’s fascinating how nature works, right?

As someone who grew up watching 'Caillou', I've always been fascinated by the design choices behind the show. Caillou's lack of hair isn't just a random decision; it's a deliberate artistic choice to make him more relatable and universal. The creators wanted a character that any child could project themselves onto, and hair can often be a distinguishing feature. By keeping him bald, they removed one more barrier to identification. Another angle is simplicity. The show's animation style is very basic, designed to be easy for young children to follow and for animators to produce consistently. Adding hair would complicate the design without adding much value. Plus, it makes Caillou instantly recognizable. Think about how iconic characters like Charlie Brown or Stewie Griffin are partly because of their distinctive looks. Caillou's bald head is part of his charm and what makes him memorable in the sea of children's programming.

Drawing fluffy hair requires understanding of hair's structure and light reflection. Start softly sketching the overall shape before moving to individual strands. Remember that hair has volume, so shape doesn’t stop at the skull! Don't be afraid to exaggerate the fluffiness by adding more volume and texture to the hair. Use various shades to add depth and make it seem more realistic. Show some stray hair defying the general direction to add life and make it more natural. Making progress might seem slow but each detail you add, makes a huge difference. Every artist has their way of drawing, so do experiment!

Living the tower-dweller life is not for the faint-hearted, let me tell ya. Rapunzel speeds it up with an insane hair length of approximately 70 feet! Yes, you heard it right, 70 feet. Next time you're stuck at a bad hair day, remember our girl R, wrestling 70 feet worth of golden locks.

Ah, Gojo Satoru from 'Jujutsu Kaisen,' right? His iconic silver-white hair adds a touch of mystery to his stylish persona. However, it's not implied in the series if his hair color has any special meaning or backstory attached to it. It seems to be merely an aesthetic choice by the artist to make the character stand out visually.

In 'Americanah', hair isn't just about style—it's a battlefield of identity. Ifemelu's natural hair becomes a rebellion against American beauty standards that favor straight, Eurocentric looks. Her decision to ditch relaxers sparks conversations about race, assimilation, and self-worth. Back in Nigeria, her braids mark her as 'local,' while in the U.S., they scream 'otherness.' The salon scenes are microcosms of cultural tension—women swapping stories of discrimination while getting weaves. The novel shows how Black women's hair carries political weight, from job interviews to dating apps. It's a silent protest, a love letter to roots, and a barometer of belonging.

I've dyed my hair maroon more times than I can count, and honestly the lifespan of that color depends way more on what you do after the dye than on the color itself. In my late twenties I was a full-on weekend experimenter who dyed between salon visits, and I learned the hard way that reds are the drama queens of the color world — they look incredible when fresh but they also say goodbye faster than blondes. If you use a semi-permanent dye or a color-depositing gloss, expect the maroon to look vivid for about 2–6 weeks and then mellow into a warmer, coppery or brown-tinged shade. With a demi-permanent or permanent oxidative dye (mixed with developer and layered into the cuticle), you’ll usually keep a noticeable maroon for 4–12 weeks, though the brightness fades sooner and what remains is a richer, deeper tone that still reads maroon from a distance. The technical bits you’ll hear from people who fuss over color: red pigments are larger and don’t bind to hair as stubbornly as some darker browns, so they wash and oxidize out faster. If you started with pale, bleached hair, your maroon will be super vibrant at first but can shift toward orange/red more quickly. If you dyed over natural dark hair without lifting much, the maroon can look subtler and stick around longer because brown pigments mask the loss of red. How often you wash matters more than you might expect — I went from daily shampoos to twice a week and my maroon stayed gorgeous at least two extra weeks. Hot water, sulfates, frequent heat styling, and chlorinated pools are the main culprits of fast fading. Also, sun exposure breaks pigments down, so a UV spray or hat helps a surprising amount. Practically speaking, if you want your maroon to last: wash with cold or lukewarm water, use a sulfate-free color-safe shampoo, and invest in a weekly color-depositing mask or glaze in a similar maroon/burgundy tone — I swear by those 10–15 minute refreshers on a lazy Sunday. Skip clarifying shampoos unless you’re prepping for a retouch, and use dry shampoo in between washes. For styling, heat protectant is non-negotiable, and try to lower iron temperatures because heat opens the cuticle and lets pigment escape. If you prefer low-maintenance, a darker maroon or burgundy mixed with more brown will fade into a nice chocolatey tone and look intentional for longer, whereas bright ruby maroon screams for frequent touch-ups. In my experience, most people schedule a gloss or refresh at around 4–6 weeks to keep the color lively; some go longer and accept the softer, lived-in version. If you’re deciding between at-home experiments and salon maintenance, think about how much time and money you want to sink into upkeep — maroon is gorgeous but it rewards attention. If you want, tell me your starting hair color and lifestyle (how often you wash, swim, or use heat) and I’ll sketch a simple care plan that matches it.

I still get a little giddy thinking about that first jar of maroon dye I tried in my tiny bathroom — the color was so rich it looked like a glass of red wine. If you want a maroon/red that reads deep and jewel-toned rather than bright cherry, look at both mainstream box brands and indie semi-permanent lines. Big drugstore names that commonly carry maroon/burgundy/mahogany variants include L'Oréal Paris (their permanent and demi lines often label shades as 'burgundy' or 'mahogany'), Garnier Nutrisse (they have deep red/burgundy shades), Clairol (Natural Instincts and Nice'n Easy sometimes list cranberry/mahogany tones), Revlon Colorsilk (solid budget options in burgundy), and Schwarzkopf (their consumer lines and salon-level IGORA family have rich red/bordeaux options). These are great if you want predictable, widely available shades and straightforward instructions. If you like experimenting and want vivid, longer-lasting tones or color-depositing options, check out more niche/semi-permanent brands: Manic Panic, Arctic Fox, Splat, Punky Colour, Adore, Joico Color Intensity, and Pravana. Those indie lines often describe shades as 'wine', 'burgundy', 'maroon', 'cranberry', or 'red velvet' — and they work brilliantly for that multi-dimensional maroon look, especially on pre-lightened hair. Also look into oVertone and other color-depositing conditioners if you want to refresh maroon tones between dyes; they keep the hue from washing out and feel like a hair spa treatment. A few practical notes from my own dye nights: true maroon often needs lift on darker hair — even if it’s a red-brown, you might need some lightening for the richness to show. Permanent box dyes are easier for coverage, but semi-permanent gives that lived-in, slightly faded maroon I adore. Always strand-test, use sulfate-free shampoo, rinse in cool water, and consider a gloss/toner if the red skews too orange. If you're nervous, a salon can help you hit the right depth, but if you love mixing colors and DIY sessions, those indie semi-permanent tubs let you tweak tone (add a touch of brown/black to deepen or some violet to take down orange). Personally, I prefer a slightly brassy-free maroon with a touch of brown so it wears gracefully — but whether you want vampire-deep or plush-wine, there's a brand out there to match your vibe and maintenance level.