Color Me Mine

I truly no longer know what my real hair color is because I have been dying it every shade of red and blonde since I was 15 years old. In fact, the first time I dyed my hair was the week before my 16th birthday. My mom and sister had planned a surprise party for me that truly was a surprise. I was a pretty nerdy kid who got good grades and behaved really well. At one point I was made fun of for some time and called “Sister Rizer” (referencing me being like a nun) because my hair was so long and straight and I loved wearing headbands. Also likely due to my “goody two shoes” attitude. As you can imagine, I cut my hair shortly after that and didn’t behave quite as well. Note to self as a parent, never make your kids feel like they’re behaving too well!

To say I was surprised at the party would be an understatement. The hair cut and attitude change had been recent and I wasn’t a very popular kid. I had friends who I adored but I wasn’t personally in the popular group of kids at school. Unfortunately for me, my mother and sister enlisted the help of a good friend of mine who HAD transitioned to the popular kids table and she (meaning well) made them all come to my party. Looking back, I am certain she had to beg them and that they already had plans later that night (which I did not) . Long story short, my party was not very cool. I panic in these sorts of situations still today, just as I did then. Feeling the “lameness” of my party, I decided it would be a good idea to all go to the local Kinney’s and buy red hair dye. That’s what the cool rebellious kids did in the 90’s right?

That first coloring marked the beginning of an endless cycle of coloring for me, one that I have become addicted to and quite proudly will never end. I completely respect and admire the women who have never touched color, who can embrace greying naturally. I am just not one of them. I dream about hair color. I honestly can’t go more than four weeks without visiting a salon. Lame, petty and psycho? Perhaps. I just find color to be so uplifting. A chance to reinvent yourself, be a different version of yourself. I also find that I dress completely differently when I change my hair color! Red feels more fun, risky and also very vintage and romantic. Blonde makes me feel like I fit in a bit more, it’s more simple and casual for me. I’ve learned much about hair color and the MANY shades of red and blondes there are out there. I’ve had color that has been neon red, pink, brown, black, purple (that was a tricky one to get out of) strawberry blonde, platinum, sandy blonde. Truthfully I’ve been every shade of red and blonde there are, a few times.

I find color and hair change freeing, cleansing, a way to have a clean slate. If you’re bored of your hair or looking for a simple way to make a change, I highly recommend giving a new shade a try!