A Splash of Color
Students dye hair in outrageous colors, patterns
By Yvette Herrera
staff reporter
Hair coloring has gone from bleaching brunette hair to artistically creating
an image of something onto hair.
Dustin Van Orne, a sophomore art history and radio-TV-film major, uses
his hair as a self expression. He and his friends bleached his hair blonde,
and then painted black circles on it with a toner brush to create a leopard
look.
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Yvette Herrera/STAFF REPORTER
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“It was experimental,” Van Orne said. “It’s not that I want to be a non-conformist. I see it as a form of art.”
Justin Kiehl, a freshman premajor, said he saw people walking around campus with blue, purple and pink hair, and since green hadn’t been done yet, he decided would be one of the first. It also didn’t hurt that green is his favorite color.
“My friend’s sister bleached my (brown) hair, and then dyed it green,” Kiehl said.
Kiehl worked at a Blockbuster Video store this summer, and he intends on going back in December. He said his manager doesn’t mind the green hair, but Kiehl knows eventually he’ll have to dye his hair back to its natural color.
“College is a time that you can get away with this,” Kiehl said. “But I guess at some point I’ll have to give into society and do what they want me to do.”
Janace Clarke, an assistant professor in design and merchandising, said hair dying started in the 1930’s when many brunette actresses were bleaching their hair blonde.
“People do it because they get bored with what they have,” Clarke said. “It’s a glamorous thing to do.”
Josiah Miller and Allison Hester were bored Labor Day weekend when they decided to color Miller’s hair blue and Hester’s hair pinkish red.
Miller, a sophomore radio-TV-film major, said his reason for doing it was simply because he likes the color blue.
Hester, a junior studio art major, said she has been dying her hair different colors since high school. She said her parents were never happy about it. In fact, the last time that she colored her hair, she said they put their foot down and said, “Not again.”
So, what about all the attention these four students are receiving from others on campus and bewildered people in malls?
“Some people love it,” Miller said. “They stop me and ask me how I did it.”
Van Orne’s leopard print attracts the attention of many people, he said.
“People stop and stare all the time,” Van Orne said. “Some women stopped me in the grocery store and asked me how I did it.”
Van Orne said they told him it was their favorite print.
As soon as Kiehl walked into his world religion class with green hair his professor, Ronald Flowers, said he was reminded of an event when he temporarily dyed his hair green to compliment his date who was dressing as a rabbit for a costume party. Flowers originally planned on dressing as a carrot but had to settle for an asparagus after he couldn’t find any orange to wear.
“(Kiehl’s green hair) was dramatically noticeable,” Flowers said. “But as far as I’m concerned, it isn’t a distraction to the class.”
Olga Longoria, a professional chemical technician and stylist from Le Duke, said hair coloring is especially popular among women between the ages of 18 and 28. She said color trends are always changing.
Longoria said people that color their hair don’t have to worry about damage if they regularly condition their hair and properly apply the color. Incorrect application can cause breakage and damage to the tips of the hair, she said.
“Color removes pigment and moisture of the hair, so they have to manually apply moisture with conditioner at least twice a week,” Longoria said.
None of the four students interviewed went to a professional hair stylist to color their hair, but they weren’t concerned about any damage.
Kiehl said he could always shave his head if there was any real damage.
Hester said she didn’t mind any damage because hair grows back.
Van Orne said he plans on frequently changing his hair color and style. His next project might even be to create the image of a checker board on his head.
Yvette Herrera
yvebex@yahoo.com