Strawberry-Blonde, Forever

I colored my hair the other day. I hadn't realized how faded my hair had gotten until I looked at it afterward. The difference was amazing.

I've always enjoyed coloring my hair. I've been blessed with hair that grows extremely quickly, which has allowed me to play with it as the mood strikes me. I let it grow out, then cut it all off, color it, perm it, whatever. Why not? It'll all grow out in a couple of months anyway.

Just don't ask me to wear any precisely cut hairstyle. What might have another person going back to the salon every couple of weeks has me looking shaggy before the end of the first week.

Anyway, I was looking closely at my hair before I colored it and noticed gray streaks. Now, I've had the occasional gray hair since my mid-twenties (I've got the first one taped into my journal from that time, in fact!) But, look as much as I might, it was never noticeable. Just a strand here and there, no gray patches or streaks.

The last time I colored my hair was six months ago, not long after we got here. Nothing had changed, then. I guess a flip got switched somewhere in my gene code. Either that or the idea that stress will gray you really is true!

I'm a strawberry-blonde right now, a shade I haven't been since I was a pre-teen. It looks good on me. Interesting how faded, graying hair will age you. I definitely look several years younger, which I have to say I like.

I had a friend, many years ago, whose hair had gone entirely white by the time she was 17. She usd to leave a white streak at her temple when she wanted to look older (more like her true age, which was mid-fifties.)

I have no interest in looking like my true age. No thanks. I feel it and that's bad enough!