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Oh My God, I Dye

So, last week I decided that I wanted to dye my hair.

I’m 24 years old, had never colored my hair in my life, and suddenly I wake up and decide that I want to be a brunette.  Random, I know.

I think some of it has to do with the time of year.  It was about this time of year last year that I felt the urge to have a hole punched in my nose.  Something about the chill, crisp air of autumn combined with the anticipation of the holidays makes me feel very alive, like there’s extra blood in my veins.  And that makes me antsy to push forward, rise up, do something, make a change.  Two years ago, it meant chopping all my hair off.  Last year, it meant getting my nose pierced.  And this year, I guess, it meant dying my hair.

But I also wanted to dye my hair in order to say something.  I’ve been making a lot of changes in my life, recently.  Watching my calorie intake, taking up running, drinking more water.  And it’s paying off.  I went to the doctor on Friday for a physical, and in a year, I’ve lost 20 pounds, and my numbers are spectacular.  I feel better.  I look better.  I can comfortably wear all those jeans I bought in college and got too fat for, but held onto because I wouldn’t face the fact that I was too fat.  I’m running between 2.25 and 5 miles everyday.

And I am fucking proud of myself.

But the thing is, no one notices the changes I’ve made in my life unless I tell them.  I don’t expect them to.  The changes I made were all personal changes, with subtle outward results.  I don’t begrudge the world one bit for not sitting up and taking note and cheering on my behalf.  But that doesn’t mean I don’t wish they would.  And thus, the desire for change.  I feel like a totally new person on the inside, and I want people to see that I’m a new person on the outside, too.

Which is how my blah-blah, non-descript, dishwater blonde hair…

became deep, warm, cinnamon brown hair.

Okay, not quite the drastic change I’d planned on.  (Kyle was actually disappointed when he saw it.  He wanted me to go bright red because according to him, “I was excited about getting to bone a redhead.”)  It doesn’t so much scream, “Look at the new me!” as calmly state it.  But I love it all the same.  It makes me feel stronger, more definitive, like I stand with more firmness.  My nose piercing made me feel like I could kick ass; my new hair makes me feel like I wouldn’t get knocked down.

And I dig that.

{ 9 comments… add one }
  • Camels & Chocolate November 17, 2010, 11:49 am

    I totally love it! I’m the same: I’ve had dark blonde hair for 27 years and I go back and forth with being drastic and dyeing it chestnut brown. But then I get all chicken shit about it and never close the deal.

  • Karen Van Sandt November 17, 2010, 12:21 pm

    love your new color!!! and congrats on the weight loss – that’s a very significant loss. I’m sure folks that haven’t seen you for a while will notice!!! keep up the good work!!

  • Miss Melcious November 17, 2010, 2:45 pm

    ooo… I love the color! It looks great on you.

  • Jelly November 17, 2010, 8:44 pm

    Great colour! It’s so nice to have a change, makes you feel like a brand new person!

    I woke up this morning and felt like shaving my head. Still considering it. Will see how that goes.

    Now that, my lady, would take bigger balls than I posses. DO! IT!

  • Beverly Money November 17, 2010, 9:22 pm

    Cute!! Love the hair and article!

  • Sid November 18, 2010, 1:44 am

    Weird. It’s the first time I hear of a blonde wanting to go brown. I’ve always assumed that you got more attention as a blonde.

    22 pounds? Wow. I’ve always taken up running recent. I did my first half-marathon and then … well I kinda just stopped training after that. Need to get back into it. My stomach needs some work (as my brother so nicely pointed out).

    Never blonde. I have a hard enough time getting the old road dogs to take me seriously as a young woman, if I added blonde to that mix…oy. They’d walk all over me. Never blonde.

  • adriana November 18, 2010, 10:15 am

    I love it! And congratulations on the internal changes, too! I am super impressed with the running thing – I cannot run to save my life, so when people are able to, I think they’re rock stars.

    I thought you might go more drastic, too, when I read the title of the post (also HAHA to Kyle’s comment) but I think it is great!

    Honestly, I meant to go more drastic, but according to the stylist it’s a bad idea to go super drastic the very first time you color your hair because it can destroy your hair. Next time!

  • patience November 21, 2010, 8:05 pm

    i am really proud of you! Running is such an amazing activity. I like your hair. I would love to see you go dark brunet cause i LOVE brunets, and so suggest this to most… but your light brown color is beautiful on you.

    peace

  • hillary November 23, 2010, 6:54 pm

    It looks great! I love it.

    (and dude! 20 pounds! congratulations!)

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