Dictionary.com describes "change" as the following:

verb (used with object), changed, changing.


1.to make the form, nature, content, future course,etc., of (something) different from what it is from what it would be if left alone: to change one's name; to change one's opinion; to change the course of history.

I'd say that's pretty accurate in not only describing the word itself but also alluding to the fear associated with change, otherwise known as Neophobia. Regardless of whether someone likes or dislikes change, whether they feel motivated or threatened by it, I've noticed that we all have some sort of routine or habit when it comes to coping with changes in our lives, both big and small.

For a lot of girls I know, including myself, the best way to deal with change, is to switch up the 'do (hair). This could mean so many things-- chopping it all off, adding extensions to take a pixie cut to Rapunzel length hair, or, my personal favorite: changing the color.

I started dyeing my hair, in some capacity, when I was in 5th grade (ouch, I know), with some caramel highlights to my naturally dark brown hair. It looked great, but soon it became my go-to thing when I needed a change, because of how different I felt upon looking so differently.

Here's some highlights of my hair-olution:

(Sophomore inhigh school) 2012- Long & Black: Just switched schools due to bullying

2012- Long & Red: why not?2012- Short & Red (first time short since 3 years old): trouble academically at my new school

I let it grow out and went back to dark brown sometime before this

2013- Long, dark brown, and turquoise underneath: break up with long distance boyfriend

(Junior year) 2013- Long and blonde: this was a long process of becoming blonde that took allsummer and was due to family issues, depression, and me wanting to totally re-create my reputation/image. New wardrobe, new hair, new Carly, new everything.

2013- Long and ginger: junior year stresses of the college-search, practice SATs, still doing well in high school, a social life, and sleeping

I let it grow out, went dark brown again, but had weird highlights from covering the ginger color with a box set

2013 or 2014?- Long, dark brown, with purple highlights: probably some break up

I went back to dark brown and long, which is how it stayed for the rest of junior and senior year per my mother's request during college interviews and tours. See below

2015- Long, dark brown with subtle caramel ombre: done with high school!!!!

2015- Long, dark brown, purple ombre: I was in the first semester of college, away from home in PA, and incredibly depressed

2016- Short-ish, burgundy color: I left school in PA to come home and figure my life out

And most recently, but not for long, of course

2016- Cut again!!! Asymmetrical very short cut, dark red/maroon/burgundy color that sometimes looks dark brown: same reason as above

Another common response to change I've come across is extreme weight loss. Here's one of the many articles about a plus size person who made the jump to lose weight after a breakup or other traumatic event.

There's also piercings and tattoos, however, these seem like a much more permanent change (which would also probably scare someone afraid of change?) to something that, with time, will pass. I don't really understand why someone would want to make a permanent change to their body in response to a temporal event and emotions, but hey, it's their body.

Regardless of the way, one copes with change, if it is one of the above, I think it's very clear that there is some sort of correlation between our physical appearances and change. (What's even funnier is when we make more changes to yourself even though we're afraid of the initial change)

This speaks to a larger concept than just hair, neophobia, or anything directly related to change-- it shows just how narcissistic, materialistic, egotist, self-absorbed, mirror-loving, and disgusting our society has become. (Including me)

The fact that an alteration to one's body can have such a calming or exhilarating effect on their emotional state shows how obsessed we have become with our appearances. It also shows that instead of dealing with what is going on with ourselves emotionally, in response to whatever change occurring, we would rather project outward, and make a visible change to our bodies, for the outside world to notice.

This then alludes to the real purpose of making these changes-- is it for ourselves, or is it for others to notice? Even if we were to admit that these changes may be for others to pick up on, it would ultimately end up with other people making some sort of comment about the change. Positive or negative (hopefully positive), an acknowledge of a change we've made still feeds our egos, and maybe that's what we're really after.

When reflecting on why I dye my hair so much, both in times of stress or just because I think it's because I want to visibly signify to myself that something has changed. Besides my surroundings or situation, I want to be able to look in the mirror and say "oh yeah, something's different, I've changed."

But I also do really want others to notice my change, not so much so they'll tell me how awesome my hair looks, but more because I usually change my hair to reflect some sort of change I've made in myself, my behavior, and my actions. Assuming it's a positive change showing emotional growth and maturity, I always hope that by changing my hair, it will make it more physically obvious to others how far I've come. My grandma always said time heals all wounds. For me, its time and hair dye.

So, what's your coping mechanism for change?