By Jessica Goodman, 19, reporting from Los Angeles, on what a change in hair color can do
I have a brand-new obsession – hair dye. I love how it helps you transform into a more comfortable person, gives you the ability to change your appearance at the tip of your fingers, and lets you make your own statement whether people notice or not.
How often in life do you get granted such powers for under $10? Clairol Nice n' Easy is the classic; it's at most drugstores and works wonders.
When I have my friend dye my hair, I like to keep it somewhat neutral. I am a brunette, so I started off in the spring with Burgundy, a color that would illuminate reddish when the sun hit.
Which brings me to another reason I dye my hair: the sun here in Los Angeles. If I spend five or so hours outside, my hair gets a blondish tint. It makes my skin look completely tan, but I just want to keep my hair color to about the same, especially so my roots don't look bad.
So my most recent choice was Natural Darkest Brown, which lasts about two months. I will never in my life dye my hair hot pink or neon green, because one, it would never show, and two, I would never consider bleaching my hair blonde first. But I recommend hair dye for people who are serious about improving their self-esteem and creating an easy new look that's natural—only a little bit better. — Jessica Goodman