I finally decided to do it. It wasn’t easy to let it go, but somewhere deep down inside I knew it was time.
India Arie told me that I was not my hair, but did I believe her? I can remember to the date that my hair color changed from dark brown to red. It was about the week after I graduated from high school. I know this because my mother and I had discussed it for what seemed liked years. Back then my Aunt Bonnie and my mother both colored their hair, and since I wanted to be them, I wanted to color mine. My mother said that after high school graduation I could do just that. From that week on my hair was some variety of red. Most of the time I colored it a medium red, but occasionally it got a little light. I was never fond of the darker shades, but I loved my red hair.
After I informed my daughters that I was going to stop coloring my hair, my youngest daughter suggested that I go natural too. I told her one step at a time, and letting the silver shine through was the first step. When the gray started to come in, I can honestly say I really didn’t remember what I looked like with my natural hair color. It made laugh when my hubby told me he married a redhead, and I reminded him that I married a man with an afro–a big afro, and he was now sporting a ball head.
I’m not going to say I will never color my hair again–I am a woman of a certain age, and I can change my mind. For now I have decided to let the silver shine through. Who knows natural and blonde may be my next adventure. Besides I can be a redhead whenever I want–I have enough alternative hair (wigs) to be almost every shade of red they make.
Remember “thisisyourbestyear”, you are not your hair.
8 Comments
Robert Matthew Goldstein
November 27, 2016 at 3:34 pmCongratulations…I don’t know that we can fully accept ourselves if we can’t accept the changes that happen as we age.
thisisyourbestyear
November 28, 2016 at 9:41 pmYou are so right. Thanks for reading.
Janet
November 27, 2016 at 7:12 pmYou look beautiful in any color hair 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
thisisyourbestyear
November 28, 2016 at 9:40 pmThank you my beautiful friend.
gwen carter
November 28, 2016 at 9:20 pmVery insightful! I agree, you look beautiful in any hair color.. Maybe I’ll go bold and let “blonde” shine! It’s just a thought now, but being a woman of a certain age, I have tremendous options!
thisisyourbestyear
November 28, 2016 at 9:39 pmYes we do.
Alycee
November 28, 2016 at 11:47 pmI thought I had truly achieved my independence, when I could have my hair colored. I soon realized there were more important signs of true independence and dropped the Miss Clairol. Shortly after my hair began turning grey/gray I began to use temporary color to cover my so called signs of aging. For the next several years, my hair color ranged from something just below flaming red to aubergine. The year was 1998. I decided that I wanted to flirt with having an Afro (reminiscent of my 1970’s look). Because I chose to achieve this look by rolling my locks on rods, rather than getting them cut, I had to use more hair conditioners. This presented a major challenge, as the conditioners stripped the temporary color. What a conundrum! So, I decided to abandon the color and embrace the salt and pepper look. A funny thing happened. I began receiving mega compliments on my hair color. NEVER did I receive those kinds of comments about my colored locks. So, here I am all these years later, still rocking my S&P locks. No more color for me. Thanks, for letting me reminisce. Love your new look.
thisisyourbestyear
November 28, 2016 at 11:57 pmI have gotten a lot of compliments on my new look. I have had a few who said they liked me better with color. As a former high school educator a lot of my students were showing their silver so it was just time to let it go and concentrate on something important. My hair does feel so much better, and besides I can always wear my alternative hair. Thanks for reading.