This week I wanted to invite you all into my personal life a little more than usual. I typically speak on things in the past and how they have changed me and the lessons I have learned over time, but this week I share with you the present. Change is always good; we all have room for improvement. The purpose of change is to be uncomfortable because if you are not, then change is not taking place. This week I took on something that was so frightening and uncomfortable for me to follow through with but I did it and I want to share my experience with you.

I was born with orange-ish hair that quickly changed to a medium to dark brown for my entire childhood. When I was little, brown hair was cute but as I got older I began to dislike the darkness, how pale it made me look, and that it was just boring (nothing against other brunettes, I just did not like it on me). Change is always good, right? I was excited for this change though, anxious. I began adding blonde highlights slowly until I could eventually apply the color all over. So there it was, I was blonde. I was in love.

Bleaching your hair is so damaging but I was obsessed with being blonde. After a while the blonde got boring so I decided to amp it up. Platinum! Could I have gotten any lighter? I was as platinum as my hair would let me go. I have had blonde hair for almost six years. Six years of applying chemicals that slowly fried then melted each strand of my hair. I then turned to extensions: clip in extensions first (which I will always love) then tape in extensions.

The extensions caused a lot of tension on my scalp so it damaged it at the root, not all over but I lost a huge amount of hair. I even had a couple bald spots, oops. I was always told “beauty is pain” and I was committed to that saying. It was stuck in my head that the blonde hair made me pretty and I would do anything to keep it beautiful, long, and blonde. What I did not realize was that I was just damaging it more. So there came a point that I said that it has gone too far. I ruined my hair by thinking I was making it look better.

Last month when I was getting my extensions put in by my hairdresser, we talked about how I was going to make my hair healthy and grow it out. The only option was to stop bleaching it. So I left that day, thought about it, and contacted her to schedule an appointment. I asked for the soonest appointment she had because I knew I would back out if I waited any longer. I decided to go dark…er.

Whoa! Platinum to a medium blonde.

I did not want to do it. I still miss my blonde hair because I think I look better but that is not the point here. I am still getting used to my new hair and I wish I was still blonde but I know this color is much better for the health of my hair. I love the color but love the blonde better. It makes me cringe thinking I have darker hair but I know in the end it will be worth it and even though it is uncomfortable right now, the anxiety will pay off.

I love the new color. It is perfect. My hairdresser did an amazing job! Sarah at Invidia Salon and Spa, look her up and schedule your appointment.

Some people are thinking, “It's just hair. Why are you freaking out?” Well, I viewed my hair as my best feature. I always got complimented on it and asked how I got it that blonde. Everyone loved my hair, including me. Now that it is gone, I feel slightly invisible. I know there is no logic in it but we cannot help how our minds work. I am proud for putting myself in a position I was so afraid of and not backing out. I followed through and we all should in our decisions of change.

It is worth it!

I never posted about getting my hair colored and cut so here is my reveal!

Top left: 6 years ago

Middle left: 5 years ago

Bottom left: July 1, 2016

Right: July 7, 2016