I’m a redhead again.
No, it’s not because I hated the grey. I don’t actually mind it at all. I didn’t even particularly mind the “two toned Chevy” effect growing it out caused. It was a question of contrast.
I started coloring my hair in the first place out of sheer aggravation. In its natural state, my hair is (or was) dark brown with red highlights. My complexion, on the other hand, is very fair. Makeup color one shade darker than albino fair. Never go out in the sun because you won’t burn, you’ll crisp fair. Downright pale. In contrast to the dark hair, it was worse. It wasn’t noticeable if I wore makeup, and I did for a long time. For years, it was part of the morning routine. But I’ve never been particularly vain, and I started leaving the makeup off if I wasn’t going to be “on display”.
And every time I did, people would look at me at say things like “You’re awfully pale. Do you feel all right? Are you sure? Have you eaten? Here, sit down awhile.” They acted as if I looked to be ready to faint or at death’s door from consumption or something. It wouldn’t have been too bad if they’d accepted my response, but telling them I was fine didn’t help. Explaining that no, I was naturally fair didn’t help. I have very little rose in my skin tone (mostly golden), and in contrast to my hair people seemed to think I just looked ill if i left my bare face hanging out. I had a nurse that was prepping my grandfather for surgery ask me the same question 5 times in 20 minutes. I appreciate concern, but it was ridiculous!
Enter a whim. I got some red henna and dyed my hair with it. It was a revelation. Suddenly I was fair, rather than pale. The red hair, green eyes and light complexion all went together as expected. All the annoying questions stopped. Indeed, I began to get compliments. I decided that Nature had simply made a mistake. I was supposed to be a redhead, and a redhead I stayed.
I did let it grow out a time or two, but the most recent had been when our son was a baby, and he’s 15 now. (No, he’s never seen my hair its natural color, or at least not to remember it.) It was time to find out what color it would be now.
I found out. It’s a salt-and-pepper steel grey. I’m fine with that, but the other thing I found out is that my hair and complexion still don’t match. The same questions started again. “Are you all right? Do you need to lie down for awhile? You’re awfully pale….” Same old problem.
With the same old solution, a box of L’Oreal Medium Auburn.
I think I may wait another 10 years before I try the experiment again.