I found my first one when I was twelve. I thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. I taped it to my mirror as a trophy to be admired. It hung there throughout my teenage years.
Over the years my collection grew. First a group of them which looked really cool. Then more and more of them came like angry invaders to claim my youth.
They were no longer cool or cute.
Gray hairs. The scourge of men and women across the land. The most obvious sign of growing older. It makes men look distinguished and women look haggard.
Like most women I dyed my hair. For many years I was a redhead. I have a fair complexion (ok, I’d pass for a vampire at times) so I carried it off. Besides, I have a wicked temper.
Two years ago, a funny thing happened. After some injection allergy tests I developed hives. And not just any hives, mind you. I had the kind of hives which made me sleep with ice packs every night – all over my legs, belly and arms.
After two years of hives and ten rounds steroids, I was finally referred to a dermatologist which entailed a biopsy and patch allergy testing.
We discovered I’m allergic to eight different things with 56 different names. I now have to carry the list with me at all times.
One of the major reactions was Thimerosal which is a preservative used in injections. Thus, the original allergy testing is what set the whole thing off!
The other major reaction was fragrance. Fragrance!!!!
I’ve never been much on perfumes, but I love me some scented lotions and shower gels. Turns out each of my shower gel, lotion, bug spray and sunscreen was making me miserably itchy.
Thus, my life was simplified. Everything I now use has no fragrance. I can’t even use items labelled “unscented” because they often contain masking fragrances. Shampoo, conditioner, makeup, deodorant, lotion, sunscreen, laundry detergent, fabric softener, and bug spray – all without fragrances. I walk around smelling like… me.
I miss scented lotions.
But my biggest loss was hair dye. Gasp. What was I going to do? Sure, there are fragrance free dyes at salons but I’m just not that vain. I don’t want to waste my time or money.
I’m now 50% white. Literally. The front half is mostly white. The back half is black. Each part has sprinkles of the other. It’s a Cruella Deville-ish look. I’ve included a pic for your entertainment.
The only thing I could do is change my attitude toward my white hair (I’m lucky they’re white white white).
I’ve decided I’m not going gray.
I’m going platinum blonde, one strand at a time.
Bumpkin's Adventures 