Yes, I have/had colored hair, and no, it does not affect your personal life.
When I was thirteen, I dyed my hair for the first time. It wasn't anything crazy, just brown with blonde tips at the end. It was so exciting for me, and I haven't stopped dying my hair since. It has been an array of colors, ranging from dark brown to firetruck red. Dying my hair was my way of expressing myself, and I still continue to dye my hair even at the age of twenty. Something that surprises me every time, no matter what color I dye my hair, are the comments people have towards me.
And it's not just towards me. I hear it happening to people everywhere that dye their hair, whether it be bright colors or colors that are natural but different.
My hair color does not affect your personal life, and your rude comments do not help anyone's confidence.
I had my hair bright red for two years. It was the hair color I felt comfortable and confident in. I got compliments often on it. But I also got a lot of negative comments that I was not expecting. Complete strangers would walk up to me and tell me that I "would look so much prettier with a normal hair color". I would expect comments like this from my family members, or people close to me. It was always so shocking to me that people I have NEVER met before would tell me what my hair should look like.
People would say that I'm stupid, and even tell me that I have no future. All because of my hair color.
I slowly learned, however, that this was not my fight to have. My mother always told me to "choose my battles", and to only fight about what was really important in the long run. Honestly? These strangers opinions were not important to me. I became used to the comments, I would smile and nod as they'd walk away disapprovingly.
What i'd like to tell them, however, is that my hair color does not affect them. What I choose to do with my hair does not change how their life is going. It does not affect their job, and it does not affect their family. Just like how some people express themselves through fashion or makeup, I express myself through hair colors.
And I wish more people could do the same. However you express yourself, do not let others tear you down because they do not share the same opinions or feelings towards it as you do. Do what makes you happy, and never let others stand in your way! Walk with confidence, no matter what your hair color is.
