When I decided to dye my blonde locks brown in the midst of a painful divorce, I realized the act of changing my hair was less about defiance and more about manifesting positive change
I love reading about your life through your hair. And I can relate to this! Went purple after my hair grew in grey, post-chemo. Then platinum with pink swatches, which I loved! Now that I think more, I did a henna when I moved from the Florida Keys to Orlando, then I went blonde. Still blonde! Not disappointed. xo
Thanks so much, my dear friend! I love that you do different colors too. I think my base will always be blonde, but I know I'll continue to try some new colors. xo
Heather, I loved reading this! It makes so much sense. I also used to dye my hair as rebellion, and to purposefully look "different," like I didn't care what people thought, when in reality I cared TREMENDOUSLY what people thought. (I still care way too much! I'm a recovering people pleaser). But it's interesting how powerful the act of changing your hair can be, and all the symbolism in it.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts, Hope! I loved writing this and realizing the symbolism of all my different hair colors over the many years. (And I too am a recovering people pleaser.)
What strikes me is the ritual function. After my divorce I got a pixie cut. Cutting off most of my hair felt like shedding an old life to reveal something underneath that had been there all along, waiting. I looked in the mirror and saw confidence for the first time in my adult life. In my early forties, I cut it again, a bob that suits my face better than any other haircut I've had... just like my new writing life suits me better than any work I've done. The hair didn't cause any of that. But ritual matters because change can feel like a kind of death, and we need something physical to mark it. Something we can point to and say: that's when.
Such a relatable piece! I first tried to dye my hair blond in Vienna at 18 with a Japanese girlfriend who had no experience, which resulted in red hair for a few years. Great work!
I love reading about your life through your hair. And I can relate to this! Went purple after my hair grew in grey, post-chemo. Then platinum with pink swatches, which I loved! Now that I think more, I did a henna when I moved from the Florida Keys to Orlando, then I went blonde. Still blonde! Not disappointed. xo
Thanks so much, my dear friend! I love that you do different colors too. I think my base will always be blonde, but I know I'll continue to try some new colors. xo
Heather, I loved reading this! It makes so much sense. I also used to dye my hair as rebellion, and to purposefully look "different," like I didn't care what people thought, when in reality I cared TREMENDOUSLY what people thought. (I still care way too much! I'm a recovering people pleaser). But it's interesting how powerful the act of changing your hair can be, and all the symbolism in it.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts, Hope! I loved writing this and realizing the symbolism of all my different hair colors over the many years. (And I too am a recovering people pleaser.)
Love this! It’s so true that sometimes an adrenaline boost can stand in for courage until that courage is finally there!
Thanks so much, Joy! And yes, I totally agree!
Great to see yourself in many different ways! Love that energy.
Thanks so much, Joelle!! Thank you for reading.
What strikes me is the ritual function. After my divorce I got a pixie cut. Cutting off most of my hair felt like shedding an old life to reveal something underneath that had been there all along, waiting. I looked in the mirror and saw confidence for the first time in my adult life. In my early forties, I cut it again, a bob that suits my face better than any other haircut I've had... just like my new writing life suits me better than any work I've done. The hair didn't cause any of that. But ritual matters because change can feel like a kind of death, and we need something physical to mark it. Something we can point to and say: that's when.
I love this! And I totally agree. Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Great piece! I've never colored my hair (or had the urge to) but I love this window into your psychology in hindsight
Thanks so much, Jocelyn! I’ve been coloring my hair for so long I have no idea what my natural color looks like anymore 🤣🤣🤣
Such a relatable piece! I first tried to dye my hair blond in Vienna at 18 with a Japanese girlfriend who had no experience, which resulted in red hair for a few years. Great work!
Thanks so much, Amy! I've definitely had some hair colors go wrong too. Glad I don't have any pictures of those disasters. ;-)
Loved! I so relate to how connected changing my hair is to big life transitions!
Thanks so much for reading, sharing, and chiming in, Blair!