Embracing Brunette

I was born blonde. Strawberry blonde. The lone blonde in a family of brunettes.

Over the years, I've highlighted, dyed & frosted this mane. But one thing has remained constant. When the roots grew in, they were still blonde.

It was in eighth grade that I first dabbled with highlights. A box of "Frost & Tip" was my gateway peroxide that opened the door to many more dangerous forms of dye in high school...some of which lead to week-long stints of brass-removing toner rehab in the basement of old lady Hazel from church.

This continued during college. Even when I did it myself and screwed up, I could wait for it to grow out a bit and then try something new.

Once I graduated and entered the working world, I decided I was ready for a more grown-up, professional color treatment. Thus began my search for the perfect colorist.

What I didn't want to see during this time was that my hair - highlight by highlight, shampoo by color-enhancing shampoo - was turning darker. By college, the strawberry blonde locks had turned dishwater blonde. Post-college, they had turned dark blonde.

After my first pregnancy, my natural hair color could be deemed "light brown".

And now, staring at my roots post-pregnancy with my second child in my arms, I can see that I am no longer blonde. I am no longer even dark blonde.

I am brunette.

The highlights I've gotten the past couple months have looked white compared to my dark, natural low-lights and roots. The contrast between the two colors is harsh, a glaring neon sign on top of my head that says "I'm in denial of my brunetteness!"

The way I see it, I now have two options. I can either dye my hair all over to my former "dark blonde" color and then add the buttery blonde highlights I have so cherished. This would mean long trips to the hairdresser and a bigger chunk from the checking account.

Or, I can go natural. I can have my hair colored to match my roots. I can have my natural hair color and go without highlights for the first time in about 15 years.

Life is all about taking chances - big and small. And Tuesday, I will be taking a small chance. I will exercise my God-given right as a woman to color my hair any color I wish.

This Tuesday, I will embrace my brunetteness. I will wish a teary farewell to blonde highlights. I will look into the mirror post dye job and see a new woman.

Brave. Brilliant. Brunette.

(and if I don't like it, I'll be blonde again by February)