Rainbow Bright
I dye my hair a different colour every week…
It makes my patients smile
Looking at all the different hair dyes, my eyes glance up and down the shelves in awe, and a sense of indecisiveness fills me with excitement.
‘What colour this week?’ I think to myself, peeping at the ends of my pink hair.
I have been dyeing my hair for over five years altogether and I have spent close to £5,000 funding my colour-changing hair habit.
I finally managed to decide on a shade and I rushed home to lather my hair in my new colour - the 30 minute process is always such a tease while I wait for the colourful result.
‘What colour have you chosen this week, Vanessa?’ my mum, Jackie, 51, said to me.
‘Lilac,’ I said, separating my hair into sections, ensuring I dyed every single strand.
She gave a little tut, shook her head and smiled at me.
‘Won’t the hospital mind?’ she asked, straightening out my bed sheets. ‘No, they love it. My patients say I keep them young,’ I replied, carefully combing on the dye into my hair.
My addiction to dying my hair started when I was just18 and I turned my hair a bright red colour.
Since then, I buy a box of colour at least once a week, costing around £20 per box of dye.
I usually split the dye into two pots and add conditioners to it.
It makes it last longer and my hair’s always in great condition. I always top the colour up every few days to keep it looking fresh.
The next day at the hospital, I was rocking my new lilac hair, which went perfectly well with my nursing uniform.
‘Hello nurse pinky,’ one of my patients said to me. ‘Not so pink anymore; I’ve changed it to lilac,’ I said, plumping her pillow.
‘I’ll still be dying my hair when I get to your age,’ I said, giggling.
‘I think greys have the most fun anyway,’ she said, puffing up her hair and laughing. I’m fairly sure my patients hadn’t a clue there were so many different hair colours.
‘How many colours have you been?’ she asked.
‘Well, I normally change my hair colour with my mood and never stay the same colour for more than a month.
‘Let’s see, I’ve been pink, blue, green, brown, blonde, turquoise, red, purple, orange…the lists goes on.
‘I’m naturally a mousey brown, but I like to try something different every once in a while,’ I replied.
My hair always get compliments and the condition is really good.
The amount of money I have spent on dyeing my hair is fairly extortionate, but I have given up other things in their place.
Instead of buying a dress once a week, or getting a take-away, I’ll
buy a box of dye instead. I think everyone should go a shade brighter with their hair.
It’s really endearing. Just try not to get addicted like me; it costs a lot if you do!