Women and Hair Color

Answer 1

For many young women, changing hair color is almost a rite of passage. It is a way of exploring new looks and expressing their personality. A young woman who is attracted to a Goth outlook on life may choose to color her hair black and wear black nail polish and eyeliner. It is common for women with blonde hair lighten their hair with lemon juice especially in the summer months. No color is off limits, green, blue, purple, or pink is just as legitimate as black, brown, and red.

Older women color their hair in order to disguise any gray hair they might have. The average woman notices her first gray hair at around 34. Gray hair is interpreted as a sign of aging but all it means is that the individual produces less melanin than she was before. Genetics play a role in determining when a woman’s hair turns gray, but other things factor in as well. For example, smoking decreases melanin production, so a young woman who smokes may discover gray hairs much sooner than she would have otherwise. Pernicious anemia, a condition caused by lack of vitamin B12, can result in lowered melatonin production.

Before changing hair color, a woman must decide how much effort and expense she is willing to put into the procedure. A dramatic change from one’s natural hair color translates into frequent touch ups. Will a professional be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of a new hair color or will the woman purchase and dye her hair on her own? A haphazard dye job is not particularly attractive.

Hair color can be permanent or semi-permanent meaning the color washes out gradually each time a woman shampoos her hair. Henna, a plant dye rendered from the lawsonia inermis, is one of the oldest natural hair dyes known to man. It stains hair auburn and conditions as well as colors. Commercial hair products can be quite harsh on a woman’s hair so it is important to follow manufacturer’s directions carefully.

A new hair color can change a woman’s level of self-confidence and boost her self-esteem. Hair dye is easily obtainable and can be applied at home or by a professional.