I remember watching “The Wizard of Oz” for the first time as a child. There was awe and wonder beaming from my face as a I stared at our television screen. Out of all the amazing people and places featured in the film, my absolute favorite is still the horse of a different color.
What appeared to be an ordinary horse was transformed into something special with hues of purple and red. (Fun fact, I found out later that the horse “change color” by being covered in Jell-o crystals.) It occurred to me, even at a young age, that a little color can take something common and make it a little more magical.
Many years after my childish marveling for the Land of Oz, I married an airman. Our first few years of marriage, I tried so hard to be a version of myself that others approved of. I dressed a certain way, I wore my hair short with blond highlights, and I was desperately striving for perfection. I spent many years trudging through the process of becoming what I thought was the quintessential military spouse- organized, stunningly beautiful, and a domestic goddess.
Spoiler alert: The woman that you have made up in your mind that “has it all together” in this way of life doesn’t exist.
But, by the time I hit thirty, I was tired.
I didn’t want to keep forcing myself into molds that I didn’t fit in. So, in a small act of rebellion, I went to the salon and got my first vivid hair color. What started with a few small lowlights in red has become my favorite form of self-expression and creativity.
Like the horse of a different color, you can count on me for a swift change of color every so often.
Once I opened up to the truth that I could be my own person, it was like seeing the world through new eyes. I was changing my hair every few weeks. I’ve had my hair every color of the rainbow- and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Want to get in on the trend? Here’s a few tips.
Find a stylist who specializes in vivid colors. (Shout out to Miranda Beckner – my favorite Milspo hair stylist). It is definitely a special skill to be able to complete a vivid color application. Most likely, a bleaching or lightening treatment will be required for the color to take. And then, depending on the colors you want, there could be some serious foil work.
If you are determined to pull off an “at-home” dye job, stick with one or two colors your first try. So, I’ve had my hair done in the salon and I’ve also done a few DIY color jobs. If you are just trying vivid colors for the first time, lighten your hair with care and stick to one color application. If you really want to push the envelope, try one color at the root and blend the second color down to the ends.
Lastly, go for the extreme. Part of the fun with the vivid hair trend is getting adventurous and expressive. Look for color inspiration online. Pair crazy colors together. My personal favorites are bold jewel tones or neon hues. Get creative. The sky is the limit!
Megan B. Brown is a seasoned military spouse and military missionary. She is the Military Liaison for the Speak Up Conference Global Missions Military Scholarship and the 2019-Armed Forces Insurance Robins AFB Military Spouse of the Year. She is passionate about military mission work and teaching and preaching about Jesus in and out of the local church. Her Bible study, “Summoned: Answering a Call to the Impossible,” published by Moody Publishers in Chicago, will release in May 2021. She lives in south Mississippi with her husband, Keith, and their energetic kiddos. She is a Bible teacher, speaker, and freelance writer. To learn more or connect with Megan, visit www.meganbbrown.com.