Goin' to the Dark Side

Look at this pretty rainbow we found when we turned the corner.

For those of you who have known me for a while....how long have I been blonde? There are a very few who could tell you because it's been........ a very long time.

So I did something I haven't done in a long while...I went to the Salon on break to get a trim. I got to looking...I think I'm done being blonde....so I did what I normally do when I have to make a big decision, I thought about it for about 4 months. During this time, I let the highlights grow out. THAT was ugly. Well I thought it was anyway. My husband didn't.

Here grew in this shiny, healthy hair. Hmmm.....must have to think about this...what am I going to do? I can't keep this up. There are a short list of options. Cutting it short wasn't one of them. I thought some more. (picture Pooh bear sitting at the base of a tree...think, think, think...)

There came an opportunity where it was just Doog Boog, the boy, and me. We had a blast together. We went yard saleing, tooling around town, goofing off and then.....we wandered into this Salon to get Her hair done.

I swear that's only sprite, regardless of the face.

Normally I cut the girls' hair. (not obvious a bit is it?) Now Doog Boog had made a request for a specific style in which was recognized immediately by her Mother (that would be me), that it was out of the realm of my specific skills. Um....not so much, sweetheart. So we requested that this lady did it. OH, She did such a wonderful job. I can't believe how beautiful my young lady looks!

Then it came to me. Now we'd spent some time looking through books at just what hairstyles.....well to be honest, made us think of characters in Friends...but that's besides the point. We also spent some time choosing what we thought we might want.

I just made a decision. Let's take it all back to the roots. I think I trembled. I have NEVER colored my hair before. Highlights yes, color, no no no no! She says, 'Here, you look through here and decide what you want.' Okay, I can do that.

Now you realize how hard it is to turn, hold a hand, AND a camera...

I look. Copper looks good. Honey looks good. She shakes her head. 'Not for what you're wanting to do.' Not for what I'm wanting to do??? No? Okay, you have the experience. You choose. She picked, and I'm not kidding you, the third from the left. There was 'black as midnight', black as dark, and . . . Lordy be, I'm gonna be Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Are you sure? She nods. Alright, you have the experience, make me look good.

So here we go. No turning back. Place your wig in this strangers hands and let it be whatever it may be. She goes in the back to mix this chemical compound that shall be spread all over my locks while I look at them longingly in the mirror. It's time for a change . . and you know it.

Out she comes with this bottle and on it goes. Roots first, big chunks in the middle, then the very ends. I'm a big girl and I ain't a goin' a cry! (maybe) So while she cuts her boyfriends hair I sit and cook. I'm looking, that dye ain't so dark. Kinda light brown.

Look 10 minutes later.

That dye ain't too dark, it's kinda a medium brown. I can live with this. Faith Hill went dark.

Look 10 minutes later.

That dye ain't no where near brown now. (Oh mama)

Ten minutes later I timidly look in the mirror. Here comes Elvira.

Now I'm thinking. 'What ever did you do? What were you thinking?' Eh, whatever, ya gotta do everything in life at least once. Fun things 4 or 5 times.

Go to the sink, wash, wash. My daughter laughs at me and pokes fun. (I love her!)

To the mirror. It's.....it's....red. Why is it red? I like red. Why is it red?

Explanation: You have red undertones. The patches in the book are clear to begin with. You're hair has strong, red undertones so it picks up the red better.

Well, Mom, Grandpa, most of my Aunts, several of my cousins, there's alot of red in my family. This is pretty cool! I had decided that if I ever went grey I was dying it red. Who knew?I have no words. Looks like a big bobble head doesn't it?

She cuts it the way she thought would look good. (remember, she has the experience, it's her job to make me look good) This removes alot of the dried, crispy hair, and I very happily pay my bill (with a big tip cause the girl did good and has a good attitude. Attitude can go a long way with me.)

Now. It gets better. My husband has been overseas while we did this. He had no idea. He comes into the restaurant. We made a pack not to say anything till he noticed. Even if it took two weeks. (yeah right. Like it would take THAT long...) He sits down, completely wore out, speaks a bit. Goes back out to the vehicle.

And THAT would be pink lemonade. Where are all her teeth?

We girls giggle and laugh. He comes back in and bellows out across the crowd...."What'd you do to your hair?" We all laugh. 'Why Rhett, what ever do you mean?' He liked it! He really liked it! I was so glad. His only disagreement was with me cutting any length at all off, but over all, he liked it. He calls me his feisty red-head. (hee-hee)

My poor man. He was so very tired.

And I feel like I got a whole new lease on life. (big - fat - C H E E S E Y grin on my face!)