Psalms 16:31 says, “Gray hair is a crown of glory.” That in itself is a marvelous statement. However, gray hair also implies age.
Many women spend more money than is allotted for groceries just to keep the gray under cover. I am not one bit ashamed to say I am one of them. As I researched for this article, I read about women in age of Cleopatra who dyed their hair with the henna plant mixed with cow’s blood and crushed tadpoles to give them the red tint. I am not sure I want to be a red head that much. Black dyes were made from indigo extracted from a plant.
I have also heard that blondes have more fun. Well, that is true because I have been brunette, auburn and blonde, and I really live a life full of fun. I began coloring my hair early, before I knew how actually. It is a great wonder I am not bald. I remember using lemon juice, honey and beer and then plain white vinegar and baking in the sun. Why, I even tried straight Clorox one time. My hair never changed from the color I was born with, dirty blonde. Genuinely when asked about my natural hair color I am somewhat insincere as I say, “blonde.”
However, I can get away with it because I honestly have no idea of my natural color. I have “enhanced” it for so long that I just do not remember. I recently made a trip to my colorist. As I walked into the coloring shop, I almost believed that I was in “Star Wars.” All of the chairs were occupied by women and a few men who had so many crushed pieces of tin foil hanging from their locks that I had really look closely to see a human face. However, at the end of the assigned time that the hair is wrapped, it is the exact color envisioned. Women who have their hair colored professionally spend on an average of $1800 per year. That is nearly an average of $35 per week. Wow!
I once was a model for a hair colorist several years ago. I remember going to hair shows with her and she would use me as a guinea pig for new and experimental colors. Once she mixed something that was not exactly accurate and I was a beautiful pastel green for several weeks. I wore a hat for a while to hide this bizarre color. Now I see women and men who purposely dye their hair red, blue, green, purple or nearly every color in the rainbow and are delighted with these colors. If any is wondering, “What is your natural hair color?” Today it is blonde!
Blonde Brownies -1 cup self-rising flour, ½ cup chopped pecans, 1/3 cup melted butter, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 T. vanilla, 2/3 cup chocolate chips - Mix well and pour into a 9x9 and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake 350* for 25 minutes.
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Peggy Sims is a Kosciusko resident that writes a weekly column for The Star-Herald.
