Today I had a bit of a freak out. I think everything just backed up on me a bit. I'm reminded of how I'd feel sometimes in the high drama college years. Back in those days I had a way of dealing with the high stress moments and let off steam: I'd do something to my hair.
Sometimes it involved scissors, but usually it was hair dye. My hair has been every color found in nature and a few God never intended. For a while I gravitated to the reds, mostly a natural-ish auburn that actually really worked with my skin tone. And then there was that one experiment with henna that left me with Ronald McDonald red hair. It also left my head smelling like over cooked spinach for at least a week. When I needed a funky little pick me up it was a stripe of Manic Panic. A vibrant lime green and an electric blue were two favorites.
As I got older and into the working world, radical hair colors weren't something I could get away with anymore. So instead of the color I started playing with the cut. I was always either growing it out or whacking it off. Usually it looked like hell.
With my new, curly hair I'm reluctant to take scissors to it. I'm afraid I'll end up looking like a graying Little Orphan Annie. There for a while I was getting it professionally highlighted, and although it looked good, like I had a real, grown-up hair style (and about damn time according to my mother), it didn't give me the same stress relief that the old "buy a box of hair color and strap on the latex gloves" did. Plus, it's insanely expensive, and I just can't afford it anymore. But a bottle of Manic Panic should be less than $10, I can apply it myself without help, and there is a Hot Topic conveniently down the street where I can buy some.
So here's my question. If you saw a 300 lbs, mid-thirties woman with a streak of purple or green or blue mixed in with the gray and the half-grown-out highlights, what would you think? "You go girl" or "give it up already"? I'm in a weird, in between stage of my life right now. I'm not in the corporate world anymore, so I don't have a boss to please. My personal style floats somewhere between modern hippie and slob. I aspire to an earth mother vibe, but I'm not sure I achieve it. I'd really like to throw a stripe in, but I just don't know if I can pull it off anymore.
What do you think- radical color, yes or no?
Damn right, go as nuts as you like. Its about individuality and as long as you're doing it for you and have fun, don't think about what anyone else would say.
ReplyDeleteI've coloured mine a Blue Black before now and had tons of fun with it. All you have to remember is that you pass this way but once, have fun. Growing Old is Mandatory, growing up is optional and lets face it, we all need something to help us keep young at heart.
I say do what you want...who cares what anyone thinks...if you're happy with it then go for it! You go girl!
ReplyDeleteI love Manic Panic. My hair is too dark for it. We let my daughter dye a blond streak so she could color it (a combo of Vampire Red & Purple Haze). To me, I wouldn't think twice about your fun little stripe, but I live in So Cal, so that might make a difference.
ReplyDeleteI'd think you go, girl, personally. :)
ReplyDeleteDo it! I think it would totally rock! Not that I'm prejudiced LOL. I've been distracting myself from cutting my hair (at that short awkward stage and I really want it a lot longer) by going purple or blue or any combination of the two in various patterns for about 2-3 months now. I love it ;-) And SO much cheaper than any sort of salon routine.
ReplyDeleteYou've been completely honest and open about how you feel, what you look like, and what you want to do. You're definitely thinking you'd love to do this, but afraid of what others might think or say. I say 'to hell with them', you only live once-enjoy your journey! Have fun, enjoy yourself, and don't worry about what other people say. It's your hair, and your personal style! Live a little, and if you don't like it, you can always change it back...after all-it's only hair! :)
ReplyDeleteDO IT! DO IT! DO IT!
ReplyDeleteThen post a picture!
It's your hair, babe. Stripe away. Post a photo. We'll cheer you on.
ReplyDeleteWhat Betty Boop said!
ReplyDeleteWhen I turned 30, I sprouted a grey streak. Right now I'm dying for it to expand wide enough to be useful. All the fun of bright color with no fuss about stripping my dark hair!
And I wouldn't give it a second glance (well, maybe an appreciative one) - but I'm coming from an artist / student / aging hippie activist area, where 60 year olds toot around on razr scooters wearing propeller beanies, and dads take their kids to daycare via jogging stroller and unicycle.
I vote YOU GO GIRL, friend. It's only hair, you'll get lot's of comments from strangers.
ReplyDelete