I’m just a cherry cola girl 🍒🥤🎀🤭

Written By Nikki Connor
Nikki Internet Explorer
@storiesbynikki
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cherry_cola.log
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Nikki at the beach for cherry cola hair diary cover
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I’m just a cherry cola girl 🍒🥤🎀🤭

ft today's manic episode

In April 2026, my hairdresser was on maternity leave and my patience fully left the group chat. I started with grown-out calico hair, briefly attempted a pink neapolitan fantasy, pivoted into wine red, survived the brassy bang chapter, and eventually found my final form in chocolate cherry.

not a tutorial. not professional advice. just a girl, a box of dye, and a vision that changed several times.

desktop folders
salon era
sally files
feria final
cherry_cola_incident.log incident report
Nikki’s grown out calico hair before the cherry cola hair dye process
calico_before.jpeg
April 13, 2026

grown out calico era

salon roots showing

The starting point was grown-out calico hair from the salon. Cute, but clearly entering “something needs to happen” territory.

Nikki’s pink neapolitan hair dye attempt from April 2026
pink_attempt.jpeg
April 14, 2026

first try: pink neapolitan

pink had other plans

The vision was pink neapolitan hair. The bleach/lift did not really lift, and the pink did not take the way it was supposed to.

Nikki’s wine red hair dye pivot from April 2026
wine_red_pivot.jpeg
April 15, 2026

full pivot: wine red

plot twist accepted

The plan changed fast. Wine red/deep cherry red entered the chat. Permanent color from Sally’s went on, but the existing black calico pieces were not exactly cooperative. Pink front bangs were still technically part of the fantasy at this point.

Nikki at the April 2026 styled shoot during the cherry cola hair process
styled_shoot.jpeg
April 16, 2026

styled shoot baddie mode

brassy bangs, big confidence

Styled shoot day. The bangs were giving yellowy/brassy weirdness because the pink refused to take, but somehow the energy was still baddie.

Nikki’s final chocolate cherry hair color result from April 2026
chocolate_cherry_final.jpeg
April 20, 2026

chocolate cherry redemption

final form unlocked

Full-head box dye moment with L’Oreal Feria in Chocolate Cherry. This is where the cherry cola era finally clicked. Loved the final product.

formula files
grown_out_calico.jpeg ↗
Bond booster prep file product preview bond booster / prep file
pink_neapolitan_attempt.txt ↗
Pink attempt file product preview pink attempt file
sallys_wine_red_pivot.receipt ↗
Wine red pivot product preview wine red pivot
brassy_bangs_evidence.jpeg ↗
Pink bangs evidence product preview pink bangs evidence
loreal_feria_chocolate_cherry.final ↗
Chocolate cherry final product preview chocolate cherry final

items may or may not have been used responsibly.

cherry cola dashboard

chaos level 8/10
patience level 1/10
final satisfaction 10/10
plot recovery 10/10

hair decision audit

decision
dye it myself
impulsive but committed
reason
my hairdresser was on maternity leave and patience left the chat
emotionally urgent
risk
uneven lift, stubborn black calico pieces, brassy bangs, and emotional escalation
high chaos potential
outcome
chaotic but cute, with chocolate cherry as the final form
plot recovered
would repeat?
maybe, but with snacks, a strand test, and a little more humility
pending future Nikki

return to sender

Item
pastel pink fantasy
Reason
did not lift
Exchange requested
chocolate cherry final form
Status
approved
pastel plan archived · cherry cola era approved
final notes

cherry cola wrap-up

Soft conclusion: the April 2026 hair color archive was chaotic, the vision kept evolving, and somehow the final result still found her way home.

  • hair grows
  • patience is technically an option
  • strand tests exist for a reason
  • maternity leave made me do it
  • chocolate cherry was the final form
  • still cute though
cherry cola files plot twist hair final form
Nikki Connor

Nikki Connor is a 📍 Houston, Texas based photographer, digital creator, and systems-loving creative building one integrated ecosystem across multiple rooms. Through ClickNikki Photo & Boudoir, she creates cinematic, story-driven imagery centered on confidence, identity, and honest connection. Through Nikki Plans, she designs cozy, neurodivergent-friendly digital planning tools and iPad resources that support clarity without pressure. She also offers coaching and mentoring for photographers, all while loving to share her practical business management and workflow systems rooted in self-trust over hustle. Across all she does the throughline is the same: emotional safety, creative autonomy, and communication that feels real. However you work with her, you are met by the same voice, the same values, and the same steady leadership.