During my time as a freshman, I have forced my hair to endure a series of unexpected and drastic changes. Within the seven months that I have been enrolled in college, I have dyed my hair black, then deep maroon, sucked the color out of it to make it blonde, dyed it a strange shade of silvery-grey, shocked it by dying it an electric blue, and have now relegated my hair to a dark purple hue.

However, I have noticed that I, along with other Manic Panic fanatics, are under the scrutiny of others who do not dye their hair, or at least do not dye it at such a frequent rate. Almost daily, I am bombarded with questions as to why I dye my hair, what point I might be trying to prove, and other inquiries of such nonsense. Without further ado, I present to you a list of questions people will ask you when you frequently dye your hair:

1. Why do you dye your hair so often?

Uh….because I want to? People ask me this, and I really don’t know what type of answer they expect. Do they want me to tell them I hated my original hair color, that I have an addiction to hair dye, or that I love staining my skin with odd colors? I dye my hair because it’s fun and because sometimes I enjoy having different hair colors. The reasons as to why you dye your hair are entirely your own. Maybe you just wanted your hair to match your mood. I don’t know. It isn’t my job to monitor your appearance.

2. Do you dye your hair because you aren’t comfortable with yourself?

This question bothers me, because it’s comparable to asking people who like having multiple styles of clothing or makeup if they are uncomfortable with themselves. I view the dyeing of my hair as a celebration of self-expression, and that I am comfortable enough with myself to do something outside of my comfort zone. Just because people change aspects of their appearance doesn’t mean they don’t love themselves. Sometimes I just want my hair to be as vibrant as my personality.

3. Why would you do this? You had such pretty hair before!

Thanks for the compliment, I guess? People ask this question like I have made a horrible, life-changing decision, as if I committed a felony or dropped out of college. I hate to tell people this, but it’s just hair. In the long run, hair color does not mean anything. I can let it grow out, dye it different colors, cut it off, or really whatever I damn please.

4. Aren’t you worried your hair is going to break/fall out?

Only in rare, extreme cases would someone’s hair break or fall out as the result of dyeing it. For the most part, people who dye their hair are quite familiar with the consequences of dye on hair health. And just because I dye my hair does not mean that I don’t still take care of it. When I’m not dyeing my hair, I’m deep conditioning it or getting trims to keep it healthy.

5. Aren’t you worried that people will think it’s weird?

If people find my hair to be off-putting, then those are not the people that I want to be spending my time with. Besides, humans have been doing things to alter their appearances for thousands of years. Why is my blue hair such a surprise? Also, I do not want my life to be dictated by pleasing other people. I would rather have no friends and be true to myself than be surrounded by people who don’t support my individuality.

6. How are you going to get a job with hair like that?

Similarly to the previous question, I probably do not want a job that unreasonably restricts my appearance. People also ask this question as if my hair is a direct reflection of who I am as a potential member of the workforce. My hair being a crazy color does not make me a less capable, intelligent, creative, or dedicated employee. If necessary, I can always dye my hair a workplace appropriate color. Hair color is not permanent.

So, for everyone out there who has heard these questions (not to mention more I probably forgot to list), keep doing you. Make your hair the glorious rainbow you’ve always wanted it to be.