As someone with a hair-dyeing addiction, I have been on a crazy amount of hair adventures (or hair-ventures). Within the past year, I have gone from my natural chocolate-brown hair, to an atomic turquoise that glowed under a blacklight, to a faded green that ended up bleaching to a green ombré, to a sassy auburn, to platinum blonde, to a deep, jet black. During this whole time, I experienced a new sense of self, and I completely recommend it to anyone who wants to try it. If you need a little more convincing, here are the top five reasons to go on a hair-venture!

1. Change is beautiful!

Do not feel obligated to keep your hair a virgin (unless you’re trying to donate it!). Dying your hair can change not only how you look to others, but also how you feel about yourself. One color may be flirty, while another may add a bit of mystery; you never know how you’ll feel until you try it. When there is change going on in your life, such as going to college or moving into your first apartment, or even a breakup, sometimes a new look is all you need to cope. Hair therapy is a great thing!

2. Explore you.

Different colors can help you explore and show off your personality in all of its glory. When I was a brunette, I felt more studious and serious. As a blonde, I felt like a true bombshell, and that the world was my oyster. As a current user of black hair dye, I feel more edgy and strong. All of these aspects of me are parts of who I am, but different colors bring different parts of you to the forefront.

3. Age up or age down.

Trying a new hair color or cut can help you appear older or younger, depending on what you are going for. Personally, I have a baby face, so I am constantly searching for a look to make me appear older. As we age though, we tend to try to look more youthful and spritely. A simple bleach process can change how old you look in an instant.

4. Be a trendsetter.

Let’s face it; there are a lot of hair color trends nowadays. Currently the biggest trend is silver hair, but remember back in the day when feather hair extensions were all the rage? Or those cool color clip-ins from Hot Topic? If there’s a color that you want to try, but you’re afraid of going against the grain, just realize every hair color can become a trend.

5. Winter is coming!

As the seasons change, so do things like skin tone, and subsequently hair color. Sometimes changing your hair color for the season can change your look from pasty girl with hair that washes her out, to a fiercely pale girl. Personally, I find the summertime to be the easiest time for me to change my hair to either an outrageous, unnatural color or a really dark color, whereas platinum blonde looked amazing against my untanned, winter skin tone.

So there you have it, the top five reasons why embarking on a hair-venture is one of the most fun things you can do. Get out there and explore! Treat yourself!