Confessions of a Brunette
By Maree Chavez - January 16, 2019
My name is Maree, and I have been hiding my natural hair color since I was 20.Looking back, I never thought much about it. It's what one does, especially since my parents are both hairdressers. It was just like brushing my teeth or shaving my legs. I colored my hair every three weeks. It was part of my life.I truly thought it was part of MY life forever. Until last April.
I was introduced to a book by Lorraine Massey called the Silver Hair, A Handbook. I was instantly drawn to it not because of the silver in the title, but because it was written by the same woman who wrote the Curly Girl, The Handbook. Her philosophy and message in Curly Girl is all about embracing one's natural curl. She shares stories, tips, quotes and anecdotes for particular curly girl challenges. Her book flies off the shelves at our salon because she dives into something much deeper than a spiral curl. I see women shifting into seeing things differently and, therefore, accepting things differently.
At first Silver Hair seemedunfathomable, but, as I dug deeper, I began to feel connected to her ideas: It's not about letting yourself go, it's about letting go. The seed was planted.
Someday, I thought, maybe I'll play around with that idea. Well, on April 15th last year, literally overnight, I decided to not pick up the color bottle and I began my journey. I'm over nine months color-free and it's been quite a trip. The gasps, the second glances, the curious looks, the inquisitive questions, the why-on-earth-would-you-do-that exclamations that were spoken (and unspoken). It’s all played a part in the last year.
I feel like a penguin on her march. I'm not quite sure why I am being pulled, but, whatever it is, I am grateful because IT is what is keeping me grounded during this very emotional, spiritual, personal and vulnerable path that I am on.
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