I have always been attracted to red haired people.   One of my best friends in elementary school had the most beautiful red hair.   I have nephews with red hair, great nephews with red hair and grandsons with red hair.   I think they are all handsome.

For years I have told David I would like to dye my hair red and he just kind of ignored me and we went about our business and it never happened, until a few days ago, when I was walking down the aisle of the hair products at Wal-mart and saw a box of hair coloring and I loved the color on the box.  I have dyed my hair for many years, usually some sort of blonde and one time a light brown, but this was red.  “I’m going for it,” I told David and brought the box home.

I called my daughter and asked her if she would help me dye it and she said, “Mom, you don’t want to do it.”  That just made me more determined than ever to do it, so she agreed to help.

Today I took the plunge.  My daughter and daughter-in-love read the directions on the box and we proceeded to dye my hair red.  My grandchildren kept coming around and the looks on their faces were something to see.  Grandma did not look like Grandma.

Now I will show you the process and the finished product.  If you know me, you will probably gasp.  This is so not me and I like it.  My hair feels silky and soft and it is a bright red.  So without further ado:

My last day as a blonde for a while.

Dyeing the roots first as they were the darkest.

My daughter kept telling me I will not look like myself because she dyed her hair red one time and it was hard getting use to her as a red head.  She really looked like the actress Claire Danes then.

Just looking at this picture I think this is an entirely different person, but I love the color.

My daughter blew my hair dry and it felt so good.  I had not yet seen myself because I didn’t want to see it until it was completely done.

And here I am.  A red head.  Some people are gasping now.  You know who you are.  My hair has never been this shiny.  Now I will have to get a whole new wardrobe that goes with red hair.  What are my colors now?  They use to be pink and purple.  Not now, I don’t think.

If some day I really don’t like this any more, I have a great beautician who can return me to blondehood.  At least now I won’t be hearing dumb blonde jokes for a while.  My granddaughter said she really liked my hair and for me that is a compliment worth having.

Do you have something you have always wanted to do and were afraid to do it or afraid of what people will say?  Do it.  It is freeing and fun and I am going to have so much fun at church tomorrow seeing the looks on my peeps faces there.

Here’s to red heads and the courage to change.  Bye.