Gen Z and younger generations are proving to be the most expressive and fashion-forward young people in society, emulating fashion from decades ago, adopting “wild” hair colors that were once frowned upon and considered unacceptable by many in society.
From natural hair colors to vibrant yellows, girlish pinks, regal purples and muted blues, a variety of exciting colors are seen all over social media and in everyday life. Wigs, weaves and hair color have become the new standard for salon hair care and DIY projects for young men and women looking to create their own unique style.
But despite all this fun, some mental health research claims that there may be a direct link between hair color and a person’s overall mental and emotional health. What today’s youth and adults see as a form of self-expression is viewed through a diagnosable lens in the eyes of experts.
The trend of dyeing your hair started in the early 1900s. L’Oreal The first official box of synthetic dyes was produced. The thought process behind changing your hair color is varied, but the answers are the same: seeking a new look. Whether that look is a sexy movie star blonde, a coined “redhead phase,” or trying a new color like lilac purple, someone’s hair color has become a universal metaphor with several meanings.
Today, hair color can be explained by self-expression and trends. Bold, vibrant hair colors were once frowned upon and considered unprofessional, damaging, and ugly. However, many in society now warmly embrace the personal decision to dye their hair or wear a new wig in an unnatural color. Braid and wig Both originated in BC and have been staples in the beauty industry for decades, making them veterans in the hair industry.
In the 70s, beads were used in the braids. Then, in the 90s, box braids became quite famous due to movies such as Poetic Justice and the talented people who wore them. There is no specific time when colored braids became popular. Still, it has been a big hit in various communities around the world. Still, it has made a lot of waves within the black community. In contrast, black women are criticized much more harshly than other women when they wear colored braids or dyed hair, even though the color is so lovingly accepted and is a complementary look.
Is it possible that what may seem like harmless fun can become a form of non-verbal emotional expression? Fellow students shared reasons why they enjoy dying their hair or adding color to their hairstyle.
“It was scary, but I decided to try something new and I love it,” said Jair Wright, a junior psychology major.
Rakia Barrett, a junior psychology major, spoke about the importance of dying her hair: “I like to experiment, so I decided to try something new with my hair.”
Many believe that just as eyes are the window to one’s soul, hair color also gives a glimpse into a person’s overall mood. The psychology behind colors has been continuously studied; red is associated with boldness and flamboyance, orange is glamorous yet happy, purple represents royalty, pink symbolizes girlhood, etc. Various studies have shown that some people become obsessed with changing their hair color to regain their self-esteem.
Some people believe that there is no harm in changing something every now and then, as long as you are not caught up in the need to change yourself due to low self-perception. In a positive sense, dying your hair or changing your hair color can improve your self-esteem and outlook on life. In other words, by changing a fundamental part of yourself, a person is essentially reinventing themselves and entering a new phase in life.
There is also the phenomenon of dyeing your hair according to the season, depending on the season.
Colour is exciting and being able to dye or change your hair colour can be an empowering experience for some, yet the idea that such a change can make people mentally unhealthy means that today’s adolescents and young adults are unhealthy?
Does this mean that today’s celebs also need some time off on the therapy couch? Or are they misguided and taking it too seriously? Either way, as the years go by, hair color, dyes, skunk patches, and highlights continue to prevail, creating new hair trends every season.
