For years, both my mother and grandmother have told me that "you need to stop dying your hair or you won't have any left," or, "Your natural hair color is beautiful. Why do you mess it up?"
Dying my hair was never about 'messing up my natural color.' And I know for sure I won't go bald from dying my hair.
But there are many reasons why I like dying my hair, and why I won't stop.
1. It's a form of self expression.
Some like to draw or paint to express themselves and some even like to dress themselves a certain way to show who they are. As for me, I like to dye my hair to get the same point across. Dying my hair strange or bright colors gives me satisfaction.
2. I need change.
As someone who has OCD, I have a constant need to change something. And honestly I cannot afford changing my wardrobe every couple of weeks, so dying my hair can give that same satisfaction. Changing the color of my hair is a simple change but often can be a nice one. Without the change, I think I might go crazy.
3. Different colors represent different stages of my life.
Yes, this is a true statement.
When I dyed my hair pink, I was supporting more than myself; I was supporting my soccer team's family or my friends decisions.
When I dyed my hair red, I felt ambitious. I felt I could accomplish anything.
When I dyed my hair blue, I was nervous. Recently I dyed my hair blue when I just started a new relationship and I was nervous about that. I was nervous how things would go.
Currently, my hair is now purple. I wanted purple because with it, I feel strength. I feel calm and I feel supported.
4. It's a stress reliever.
That's right. I like to dye my hair when I'm stressed.
But don't they tell you not to make any drastic decisions under stress? Maybe, but it honestly has never failed me. So I'll continue to relax myself by sitting in a salon chair or doing it myself and transforming myself into someone new.
5. I can still make colored hair look professional.
That's one of the biggest arguments I hear when dying my hair. It isn't always about the color of your hair but more or less about the style that you present it in. You can make colored hair professional.
6. No, I won't hate it when it starts to fade.
I do get asked that question a lot. But when my current color fades, I get a new color to adapt to and learn to love. When you dye your hair, you know what you're in for. You should be aware the colors will fade or your natural roots will grow in. There is the option to keep up with it, which I also do, but just because you have a color you didn't start with doesn't mean it'll look bad.
7. No, I don't kill my hair all the time.
Another big debate when I talk to people about me dying my hair is whether or not I completely kill my hair each time I dye it. And the answer is no. I don't always use harmful products that will damage my hair, especially when I go to a salon. They help me use safer products for my hair. When I don't go to a salon and dye my hair on my own, I look for dyes that contain less harmful chemicals and more conditioning formulas.
But my advice is go to a salon, because they are more helpful when it comes to knowing what products to help treat your hair and dye it in a nicely done matter.
8. I don't just do crazy colors anyway.
It's true. There are times I actually like to dye my hair 'normal' colors. Normal colors aren't a bad decision either. And sometimes you need that change to go back to a solid color or something close to my natural color.
9. Sometimes it inspires others who don't know if they should do it themselves.
One of the greatest things I was told when I have shared photos of my crazy colored hair was that I inspired someone to go out and try it themselves. They ended up loving this outlet of expression just as much as I did.
10. It's an addiction.
Honestly, it is. I love the thought of dying my hair. I love the thought of trying to figure out what I want to do next. Yes, hair dying can be costly and yes it can take a lot of time to keep up with and do but it's something I fell in love with right away after the first time. It's a rush when you see something new in the mirror after it's done.
I compare it to those who are addicted to getting tattoos. It's the addition or the change that you crave.
11. Crazy Colors don't define my worth.
I'm worth so much more than you'd believe. I've gotten weird looks for having crazy colored hair but I'm not a bad person because my hair is an unnatural color. I'm a smart student; I work and I give so much to others. My hair color doesn't define me.
Dying my hair has always been one of my favorite things. I don't get to do it as often as I would like to, but I still manage to be able to find a way to do it. I never plan to stop dying my hair just because someone else doesn't like it either. It is what I love and how I express myself, so I do it to make myself happy.
