To dye or not to dye (your hair)

I distinctly remember finding my first grey hair. While hopelessly trying to pluck my eyebrows into some shape other than Wookiee, I spied one ignorant hair sticking out from my brow, reminding me I was no longer a teenager (I had turned 20 just two weeks earlier, so finding a grey strand in my brow seemed awfully tragic).

 

Immediately after yanking the offensive hair, I called my mother. For as long as I could remember, she bought a box of brassy auburn Nice n Easy every time myself or my younger siblings did something to cause another grey hair to appear — at least, that’s what she said caused grey hair. After laughing at me, she told me to wait until I had kids to really know what grey hair was like.

Fifteen years and two children later, I’ve brought home more boxes of hair dye than I care to admit (not to mention the number of times I’ve sat in a stylist’s chair getting highlights). Pretty much every six weeks you can find me in my rattiest running race t-shirt trying not to drip dye on my couch, with the kids, husband and pets hiding from the tell-tale stink of bleach and toner.

 

Except for this week. The box of #50 medium auburn is purchased and sitting on my dresser, but I’m not so sure I want to keep dying my hair. The Arctic Blonde highlights don’t bother me the way that they used to. Curious to find out if I was alone in ditching the dye, I checked in with Facebook and Twitter to find out what other moms are doing. I was surprised to find out that I am in the minority.

Surprisingly, each mom said dyeing their hair was less about vanity than it was just feeling better about themselves. And indeed, costing less than a premium latte (and longer lasting than the caffeine buzz), that box of hair dye might be the mid-winter pick-me-up I need. 

Do you cover up the greys or go au naturel?

Photo by HotsauceJane via Flickr.