First, we had a toilet paper shortage. Next, we were waiting weeks to get hair dye. Welcome to COVID-19 life in 2020! We are living a new existence deprived of the comforts we once took for granted. For those of us who are glam-challenged (I am one of those people) this is a nightmare. What makes you glam-challenged you may ask:
- You do not know how to blow out, curl, or do any type of hairstyle to your hair. The most you can do is put it up in a pony-tail and even then it looks like you just got back from the gym
- You have tried dozens of times by watching how-to videos for the above and still have failed
I am one of those glam challenged people and I have accepted it. During this time I have tried:
- Root spray- worked for covering grays for the 1st couple of weeks but after that it just looked like I had helmet head
- Root powder- works to cover grays however the longer you go without getting your hair colored, the longer this process takes (at this point I am up to 30 minutes)
- Box Hair Color kits- I have tried the cap kits, the brush on kits, and even had my husband try to help me- all FAILS
- Heat-activated blonding Brush- did ZERO for my roots (probably could have worked if my roots were less than a month grown out)
- Lightening Spray- This was a FAIL. Did not help at all
- Semi-permanent gloss hair color- Just amplified the current colors did not change them
Could any of the above worked if I wasn’t glam-challenged? 100 percent. However, I accept that I am and have dealt with all the fail consequences. Points for effort for myself and any other women out there with the same dilemma.
Props to all the women rocking their natural hair color and being FABULOUS while doing it. While in times like this I wish I was like those natural and fabulous women, myself like many others, are not. I started thinking- “Why is this so important to me?” “What is it that makes this a necessity in my mind?”
Where did the concept of dying hair start? The Ancient Egyptians dyed their hair with henna to cover grays. In the Roman Empire, hair dye methods were used as prostitutes were required to have blonde hair as it notified all of their profession. So even in Ancient times we as women were altering our physical appearance for men???? To have evidence this has been going on for hundreds of years is unfortunately not surprising.
However not all hair dying was for this purpose in the Ancient World. The Gauls and the Saxons dyed their hair bright colors to show their rank and to look intimidating on the battlefield.
The movie Platinum Blonde released in 1931 was the first nationwide documented example of a celebrity influencing hair coloring culture. How many in secret (at the time hair coloring was not as socially accepted as it is now) asked to get the Jean Harlow hair color? Fast-forward to modern times and as soon as an Influencer debuts a new hair color be assured there are salon appointments that week with women asking for that exact hair color with picture of said Influencer ready to show.
So why is getting my hair colored so important to me? Is it because throughout history it has been passed down that hair color equals youth, beauty, and status? I am sure this is the case (as much as myself and I am sure many others hate to admit). However, I choose to believe I color my hair due to why the Saxons did it- to ready myself for all the battles that lie ahead for me. So, I will continue to hunt for a way for someone who is glam-challenged to get “battle” ready hair. Why not? We’re in quarantine, there is only so much work, reading, binge-watching, & online fitness classes I can do in a day. Also as of now, I am still abiding by my no wine before 5 PM rule- we will see if that changes as time goes on 😉
Fashion HerStory 