by Joanna Maharis

Created on: September 18, 2009   Last Updated: September 25, 2009

It started out like any other day. I woke up in the morning, took a shower, got dressed, did my hair and makeup. I looked at myself in the mirror. In particular, I glared at the fluff that was my hair. About two months prior to that, I went to the beauty shop to have my hair done. I told my beautician, "put straightener in my hair, please. I'm sick of my natural curly hair. Not only that, but I've been a brunette from the time I was born. I want to go blond. And make it as blond as you can get it."

"Are you sure, Katherine? Are you sure this is what you want me to do for you today?" Dorothy asked me with a solemn expression on her face that I caught form her reflection in the mirror.

"I'm positive. I need a change in my life, starting with my hair," I responded, while gazing at myself in the mirror in disgust with myself.

First Dorothy put lightener in my hair; thus, creating red highlights. "Is this the look you want?" she asked while rubbing the solution into my hair.

"Lighter. Remember, I said make it as blond as you can. And I mean blond, blond. Extra blond. You know. Bright," I enunciated while using hand gestures to help me get my point across. "Not only that, but once my hair is straightened and colored, blow dry it to make it pouffe."

So that's what she did. I examined myself in the mirror when Dorothy finished with my hair, and smiled contently to myself, saying, "Perfect."

The next day, I was walking on the downtown Kalamazoo Mall near a building that had mirrors covering the outside of it. I glanced at my reflection. The confidence I had the previous afternoon, at the beauty shop, faded. I furled my eyebrows, saying aloud to myself, "Maybe I overdid it with the blond coloring. I don't think my hair is supposed to be so blindingly bright like the sun. Maybe I should walk back home, get in the shower to wash my hair, to get some of the coloring out so my hair won't be so bright.

To have my hair blond, not only blond, but mousy blond, sickened me. Not only that, but I needed a new hair style. A new image overall. I not only went to the beauty shop, but this time I had a family friend to my hair. He name was Emily.

Upon my arrival, Emily approached me and asked, "What do you want to do to you hair today, Katherine?"

"I definitely need a new look. Can you take all the yellow out of my hair, and only leave the reddish color and highlights, if possible?" I asked while raising my eyebrows.

After washing the yellow out of my hair, Emily wrapped a towel over

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