Hair dye has been around for thousands of years as a way for people to express themselves, even dating back to 1500 BC. The Egyptians would use henna to cover gray hairs, and later, the Greeks and Romans did the same with plant extracts. Whether it’s natural color or something more vivid, changing your hair is a great way to boost confidence and grow personal identity.
Changing my hair has always been a huge outlet for me. Whether it was the cut or the color, knowing that I have fresh hair has never failed to get me out of bed in the morning. Changing your hair definitely symbolizes an evolution for many, and I truly always take it as the start of something new.
This summer I decided to do the thing I’ve always wanted to do: dye my whole head a bright color. I’ve kind of done the lazy version where I slap purple over my brown hair, and then make do with what you can see in the light—but this time I was ready.
Purple roots with pink ends was my choice. The moment I washed it out and saw it for the first time in the mirror, I was so blown away by how pretty I felt. It was almost like purple should’ve been my root color all along.
This feeling is universal. It’s not specific to vivids or unnatural colors. I know that for a lot of girls, getting highlights or going brunette is just the change they need to feel a little more comfortable in themselves. Finding the color that makes you feel beautiful is such a wonderful thing.
Also, let’s talk about how fun it is to find characters you share hair with. I absolutely loved feeling like some of my favorite childhood role models. Having something in common with Twilight Sparkle, the Cheshire Cat, Spectra Vondergeist, and Ramona Flowers (to name a few), was so exciting and made me feel so cool.
Choosing my hair color wasn’t necessarily easy; I went back and forth between so many colors. In the end, I chose purple… and the pink just kind of happened. Dying your hair can be so incredibly fun, it’s just a matter of having confidence in the way it turns out. I went with purple because I have an olive skin tone, and the pink sort of brings out any warm undertones I do have. Color choice is about you—how will the color make you feel? If color theory is important to you, think about what color will suit you best.
I would 100% recommend taking the leap and dying your hair if you’ve been thinking about it. It’s such a unique feeling to look in the mirror and feel brand new, and it’s something everyone should afford themselves.
