Put on an old shirt that you don't mind staining, or cover your shoulders with an old towel. Pull on a pair of plastic or rubber dyeing gloves, and cover your counter with newspaper or plastic.  If you plan on dyeing your hair all the way up to the roots, apply some petroleum jelly to the skin around your ears and hairline. It's best if you wait 24 hours before dyeing your hair, especially if it feels dry. If you are using dye that came in a tube, you should mix it with developer. If you are using a punk dye, such as Manic Panic, consider mixing it with white conditioner or a diluter to get the exact shade you want.  Stir each color with a separate plastic spoon or tinting brush. This will prevent color transfer. Different brands may have different mixing instructions, so be sure to follow those carefully. Use your thumbs you part your hair at about ear level. Gather everything above your thumbs, and pull it into a bun on top of your head. Secure the bun with a hair clip or hair tie. You don't absolutely have to do this, but it will help keep yourself more organized. It is highly recommended for those with thick hair. Gather a 1 in (2.5 cm) wide strand of hair from the left or right side of your head. Use a tinting brush to apply your desired color to the strand. Use your gloved fingers to work the dye into the hair to ensure that it is completely saturated.  For an all-over dye job, apply the dye to the entire strand, starting from the roots.  For an ombre look, start applying the dye about halfway down the hair shaft. Let go of the 1 in (2.5 cm) section of hair you just dyed. Pick up another 1 in (2.5 cm) wide section from right next to it. Choose your next color, and use a clean tinting brush to apply that color to your hair. Again, be sure to work the dye into your hair. Once you applied the third color, go back to your first color, and continue the pattern. After you finish the first row of hair, let down another row of hair, and continue to apply the dye.  You do not have to wrap the previous sections with plastic wrap. Some color transfer is perfectly fine for the unicorn look. You can apply more than 1 color to a section of hair. Be sure to blend the 2 colors together by rubbing them with your fingers. This can take anywhere from 25 to 30 minutes to as long as 2 hours. Some dyes need to be rinsed out as soon as they are done processing, but some dyes can be left longer for a more intense hue. Read the instructions that came with your dye. They will tell you how long the dye should be left in your hair. You can have someone help you do this over a sink, or you can do it yourself in the shower. Do not use any shampoo--not even sulfate-free or color-safe shampoo. Simply rinse your hair with cool to lukewarm water until the water runs clear. If your hair feels soft, you can wash your hair with regular conditioner--simply leave it on for 2 to 3 minutes before rinsing it out. If your hair feels dry, however, it might be a better idea to apply a deep conditioning mask instead.  You should continue to use cool to lukewarm water for this step. Read the instructions on the container of deep conditioner. Some deep conditioners need to sit in your hair for only 5 minutes, while others need to sit for 10 to 15 minutes.

Summary: Protect your skin, clothes, and counter from stains. Mix your dye colors in separate, non-metal containers. Divide your hair in half, like creating a half-up ponytail. Use a tinting brush to apply some dye to a 1 in (2.5 cm) wide strand of hair. Apply the next color to the next 1 in (2.5 cm) section of hair. Continue to apply the dye to your hair in 1 in (2.5 cm) sections. Leave the dye in your hair for the time recommended on the package. Rinse the dye from your hair with cool water until the water runs clear. Follow up with some conditioner.


Don't respond to any text messages that do not directly relate to a family get-together, positive messages or something else perfectly normal. If you are getting texts that spell out her outrage about things that have happened to her, her annoyance at something you've apparently done or to send you gossip about family or friends, let it slide and leave her wondering. If you feel angry and want to send back a retort, reprimand or justification straight away, don't do it. Treat your anger or irritation as a warning sign to sleep on the matter. Furious texting or messaging can only end in more angst on both sides. If your S-I-L is truly a pain and a bit of a drama queen, it's possible that her social networking reflects her attention-seeking ways. You can be all too easily drawn into a web of her anger and drama venting if you can see her Facebook updates or her latest tweets.  If she friends you, you can do one of several things.  One, simply ignore the request. When she asks you about it, tell her that you don't use social media much to exchange important things (or at all); or Two, reply to her with a "Thanks but no thanks, I am not accepting new requests at the moment due to busyness/privacy/overloading, etc." You might also add something like, "Besides, we see each other often and I prefer we talk face-to-face"; or Three, turn all of your settings to private so that she can't see who you are friends with. Either say nothing or tell her either that you stopped using social media or that you only have a tight knit circle of followers and don't wish to extend it at the moment. If you say you didn't receive any request, she'll only resend it, but it might buy enough time to throw her off the whole idea if you offer to "look into it" but let the "looking into it" drag on and refuse to raise the matter again); or Four, offer her a more neutral alternative. Offer to friend her on Pinterest and focus solely on a shared craft or cooking board. Nothing racy or mean spirited, of course.   Try to avoid using the terminology of "friends" when discussing any refusal to accept her request. Unfortunately, the usage of this term by social media sites has caused many people to take it at face value; many people are simply followers or fans, not friends. She might feel devalued if you make any suggestion that she is being rejected as a "friend". If she is already a follower of one or more of your networking sites, you might consider blocking her and turning your pages private on some sites. Most probably you will need to explain what has happened (with a sound excuse); if she's a drama queen, she'll not only notice but she'll take offense too. If she acts abusively, it is recommended that you keep records to show your spouse and other family members if needed. Save messages, emails, voice-mails, etc. Some drama queens like to "attack" when nobody else can see, thinking you won't have the courage to out them. This isn't about deliberately looking for dirt but it is a way of protecting yourself if anything should get out of hand. However, this is truly the stuff of last resort––if you handle yourself deftly in public situations around your S-I-L, everyone will know for real who is behaving and who is stirring the pot.
Summary: Avoid answering what isn't worthy of a response. Keep social media networking to a minimum with your sister-in-law if she sets off your buttons. Take care if you do soldier on and try to be her friend online and/or through the phone.