How to Do the Skunk Hairstyle

Cruella's bold white and black "do" turns heads.

Switching to a bold new hairdo can boost your ego and change your style. While you can move in many different directions in changing your cut and color, few styles are as iconic as the "Skunk." Think of the white streak running through the frizzled beehive of the Bride of Frankenstein or the unforgettable two-toned hairdo of Cruella de Ville. The Skunk is a unisex style for both short and long hair.

Things You'll Need

• Comb
• Large hair clips or ties
• 2 pairs of salon gloves
• Plastic bowl
• 2 packets of powder bleach
• Level 30 developer
• Plastic spoon
• Applicator brush
• Foil
• Extra-strength conditioner
• Blue-violet based toner
• Level 20 developer

Instructions

1. Comb your hair to remove any tangles or knots. This is especially important if you have long locks.

2. Part your hair with the comb to divide what you don't want to bleach from what you will bleach. Skunk stripes can move from the top center of the head to the bangs, evenly across the center of the head from back to front like a Mohawk or off center down one side of the head. Use clips for short hair or tie up long hair that you won't be striping.

3. Separate the hair you will bleach into about four sections, using hair clips.

4. Put on your salon gloves and have a partner do the same. Mix two parts of level 30 developer and one part of powder bleach in a plastic bowl with a plastic spoon.

5. Dip the applicator brush into the bleach mix and begin applying bleach 1/4 inch from your roots to the tips of each section. Your partner should be in charge of this process, if you are bleaching your own hair. Start from the bottom section, wrapping the hair in foil when it is completely covered with bleach, and moving to the top section.

6. Wait about 30 minutes, and then thoroughly wash out the bleach. Use an extra-strength conditioner to moisturize the bleached hair.

7. Rinse out the plastic bowl and mix together one part of blue-violet based toner with two parts of level 20 developer. Run the developer through the bleached hair and let it sit for a couple of minutes until the hair begins to appear bluish. Wash out the toner.

8. Style your hair as you would normally style it.

Tips & Warnings

• If your hair has been previously dyed, your stripe may not lighten as much as you would like. If that's the case, repeat the process, re-bleaching the stripe in about a week.

• Use caution when handling bleach: Do not inhale or ingest the product. If bleach gets on your skin, rinse it off immediately.

References

• Sophisticated Edge: How to Highlight Hair at Home
• iHairs: How to Highlight Hair at Home
• StyleList; How to Highlight Your Hair at Home; Julie Redfern Davis; March 2010
• Female Network; 10 Iconic Movie Hairstyles; Stephanie Castillo; June 2010
• Hair Color Diva; A Diva's Guide to the Perfect Hair Cut & Hair Style; Nanci Cascio; 2011
• Hair Color Info: Bleaching