How often can I use a semi-permanent hair dye?

What hair dye should I use?

• I plan on dying my hair a dark purple this summer (and don't judge me because it's my decision to do this) and I want to know which hair dye to use. I'm going to go to a salon and get them to bleach it because I'm hoping that will help it last longer. When I was in second grade, my mom dyed my hair a bright blue and it lasted for a year when it was only supposed to last two months. I'm white and my mom thinks it was dye for black people hair (I'm not racist, but this is honestly what we believe). Does anyone know what dye could have made it stay in for a year? If not, if I used any bright colored dye...like Manic Panic or Splat...will it stay in my hair longer if I get it bleached? And after I have them bleach it, I am going to come home and dye it purple myself using the dye I got from the store. I dyed my bangs blue last year using the hair salon dye (they did it) and it only lasted a week so I don't want to waste my money on that.

• Answer:

  It's a good idea to have someone else bleach it first, and after that, I'd use Manic Panics Purple Haze. If it's not as dark enough a purple aqs you'd like, you can use some of their Raven (black dye) and mix in A LITTLE bit of it in until you like that color. This way, you'll always have your very own unique shade.