Pictured above is Ahmed Alhusaini sports bleached hair with a bleached slit in his eyebrow. Photo by Lauren Hough.

ABIGAIL RUBLE | OPINION COLUMNIST | amruble@butler.edu

So you got bored and decided that dyeing your hair would be the best way to spend your Saturday night. Don’t worry, I’ve done it too. But now you must be wondering, “What does everyone else think of my hair? Was this a bad choice?” No, babe, you look great; don’t sweat it. The taboo around dyed hair is fading, and with that, more people are starting to dye their hair. I talked to different people around campus with colored hair to see what they say about the small community of bold-haired people on Butler’s campus.

 The idea of doing something crazy like dyeing your entire head a different color can seem daunting, but it can be an exciting thing to do in college. Dyeing your hair is something that can add that spark of boldness while maintaining subtlety.

Bee Pilarz a political science and English major, thinks that going with a crazy color was the right choice for them.

 “I get to have a fun time, and so do other people [because of my dyed hair],” Pilarz said. “ … I love that. I love getting to see people expressing themselves [through their hair].”

Pilarz is currently styling bright purple hair this fall. The bold hair brings in a different kind of excitement to have on campus. College is a great excuse to dye your hair. Having a bold hair color spices up your day and can create a fun environment for everyone around you. Imagine walking into a class with bright pink hair that nobody expected you to have the day before. Not only is it a conversation starter, but it’s an interesting thing you get to look in the mirror and see every day.

Having a non-natural hair color also creates a community on campus. Ahmed Alhusaini, second-semester first-year and international business major, who is currently sporting a bleached head, beard as well as a bleached slit in his brow, talked about the community of people with bold,  colored hair on campus.

“There’s like 20 of us with dyed hair,” Alhusaini said. “We make eye contact, [and] we’ll always compliment each other.”

As someone with blue hair myself, this little community is something I can confirm exists. Having colored hair adds some pizazz to everyday life on campus. Seeing someone on campus who has their hair dyed the same color brings a sense of comradery. The idea of being alone is scary, so having this squad really helps if you feel insecure about your wacky hair color.

Dyeing your whole head might sound enjoyable, but some people aren’t ready for the commitment of a different color. I personally like to do very chunky blue highlights in my hair which end up turning green from being in a pool — but c’est la vie, I like it anyway — . Just like what I said earlier, it’s fun and different. Pilarz recounted their first, low commitment time having their hair dyed when they were a preteen.

“The earliest I can remember … I was like 12 or 13,” Pilarz said. “It didn’t last. [My babysitter] used super temporary dyes so my mom wouldn’t get mad. It washed out [after] the first shower.”

Temporary dye is a great thing. Not having to worry about growing out your hair is a big plus, and if you end up not liking it, it will wash out soon enough. For Pilarz, it was just the start of their hair dyeing journey. For you, dear reader, it might be an exciting thing for just a Friday night.

People dye their hair for all kinds of reasons. Maybe they want a change. Maybe they just got out of a messy relationship. Maybe they had a bad day and decided that this was a good idea. No matter the cause, it’s always something that you can enjoy.  

Lily Roberts, a sophomore psychology major, shared with me what brought her to dye her hair. Roberts has the front pieces of her hair dyed pastel pink and is really loving it so far. 

“I’ve been wanting to do it for a while, I had pink hair last year, and I missed it,” Roberts said. “I haven’t had any bad reactions [from people] at all.”

One of the most daunting parts of dyeing your hair can be other people’s reactions. I personally think I would cry if someone hated on my greenish-blue hair. Luckily for Roberts, she has had good reactions with her newly pink hair. The acceptance of your peers is something that almost everyone wants, but changing something about yourself can impact that. Trying something new can be super fun but if your peers don’t share that same excitement it can lead to disappointment. But, you shouldn’t let how others perceive you define you. I love your hair. Dying your hair can do many things for a person. It can help you feel more confident, it can help you transition into a new part of your life — like college —  and it can even bring out a new side of you that you can explore.

 Alhusaini changed his hair for different reasons than Roberts and Pilarz. As an international student, he wanted this change to be something super meaningful to him, and that’s just what he did. 

“I really wanted … change: [a change] to this country, [a] change from my culture, [a change in] the weather,” Alhusaini said. “And I also wanted to change something about myself, but not my person. I felt like [my hair] was the best way to express something about me. I like change.”

Alhusaini’s response is wise, and I think that he really embodied why people choose to change their hair color. It’s something that they can control. Having control over what you do with your body is something that people need to have. Feeling at a loss of control, whether that be in life, classes or another situation, can be miserable. While it can feel like life is at a loss sometimes, you know that you can always dye your hair.

And remember, if you ever need help, I will always dye your hair for you.