Dyeing to be different
Some KU students think that their hair is the window to their soul and that the best way to show that soul is to have vibrant hair.
Kristen Ferrell, Overland Park junior, studies art education and said that children sometimes think she's a life-size Strawberry Short cake doll. She doesn't worry much about how potential employers may react to her appearance.
By Osvaldo Muñoz Special to the Kansan
John Head/ KANSAN
When Mary Leitel gets ready for school in the morning, she rushes through a shower, eats a bagel for breakfast and heads toward the mirror, where she brushes her hair. Although it may sound like a typical morning, one thing is not. Leitel's hair is an artificial orange, brighter than a Halloween pumpkin.
Leitel, Junction City sophomore, is among a noticeable group of KU students who have given up the mundane blond or brunette look to dye their hair a rainbow of bright colors.
Some do it to express their individuality,
some do it to have fun and others just do it to
try something completely different.
"Red is my favorite color, and I wanted to see what it looked like in my hair," she said.
Leitel has dyed her hair five times since she arrived on campus, but she is not sure why her hair has turned out more orange than red.
She has found that people tend to prejudge her because of her different appearance, and she said that many people found it unattractive to dye hair in colorful tones.
"I don't care at all," she said. "I'm a kid now.
This is not going to last forever."
Leitel cannot dye her hair by herself, so her roommate helps.
"I have to take special care with red because it may produce a lot of stains all over my face," she said. "It doesn't last long. If I don't do it that often, it turns into funny colors."
Last year Kristin Delahunt, Chesterfield, Mo, senior, dyed her hair tomato red, then chocolate brown and then bright yellow. She said that dyeing her hair has become addictive.
"Why not do it? I am young and want to experience a new thing," she said.
Delahunt also agreed that people read too much into hair color.
"you want to try this color, and then if you don't like it you can try another, and so on," she said. "The first time I dyed my hair, I was in my sophomore year in high school. Back then, I wanted to dye my hair in red, but it turned out pink. Liked it anyway."
But her youthfulness is not appreciated by all members of society.
"Last Christmas, I was in a shopping center when some old ladies kept staring at me," she said. "That was so embarrassing."
Joann Tsang, Berkeley, Calif., graduate student in psychology, said that students who dyed their hair were looking for a different way to express their individuality. But sometimes those individuals misunderstood outsiders' reactions and attitudes toward them.
They think if someone treats them bad, it's because of the pink hair and not because of their personality." she said.
Leitel said that she wanted to keep her hair orange for a while but that she would eventually try other colors. However, Tsang realizes that people with dyed hair are at a disadvantage when applying for jobs.
"It can come back to normal anytime," she said.
Leitel and Delahunt's experiences at home have not been a problem. Both families accepted and supported the decision to change hair color.
"My parents raised us to be unique, so that is why they don't care about it and just expect good grades from us," Leitel said.
sie said.
KU men's basketball player Scot Pollard, San Diego senior, dyed his hair blond last summer just to see how it looked. "I did this to see a different look for me but not for anybody else," he said.
Pollard's friends had varied reactions to the change.
"My mom said red was OK for Christmas," she said.
expect good grades. Not all Delahant's parents hold similar views.
"Some of them thought it was weird," he said. "And others thought it was just stupid."
But not everyone is willing to give bright colors a try. Desareae King, St. John sophomore, said she would never dye her hair in vividdons. "I'd look ridiculous," she said.
But she saw nothing wrong with others doing it. "They just want to stand out more and draw attention to themselves," she said.
Bryan Gee, Lawrence junior, has dark purple hair but said that on average more
Kristin Delahunt Chesterfield, Mo., senior
"The first time I dyed my hair,I was in my sophomore year in high school. Back then, I wanted to dye my hair in red, but it turned out pink.Iliked it anyway."
But Dede Van Enne, manager of Sally Beauty Supply, 2540 Iowa St., said that men bought just as much dye as women. "Manic-Panic/Punky Hair" is a popular item at the shop and sells for between $3 and $8.
women dyed their hair than men.
"Special Effects," another popular hair dye, sells for $7 a bottle at Skin Illustrations, 740 S. Massachusetts St., and the color lasts about four months.
"It is just the hair," she said. "This is not going to affect the life of others. There is nothing bad about it."
Leitel recommends that other students try drying their hair a different color once.
But Van Enne said that dyeing could cause permanent damage to hair.
"When the hair has been treated with chemicals, it may cause protein damage to it," she said. "Any person who has dyed their hair should worry when the hair has started bleaching, which is definitely the worst level. If their hair is in a pretty bad condition, we advise them to go to a professional before doing it themselves."
John Head / KANSAN
FRIDAY
AROUND T O W N T H I S WEEKEND
Cats, 6-8 p.m. at the Nouvelle Tasty Shoppe, 129 E. 10th St. Free.
Carnivorous Grass, 10 p.m. at the Nouvelle Tasty Shoppe, 129 E. 10th St.
Free.
KU Opera: The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, 7:30 p.m. at Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall. Cost: $7 public, $5 students and senior citizens. Tickets available at the SUA Office, Lied Center and Murphy Hall.
The Bent Scepters, 10 p.m. at The Jazzhaus of Lawrence, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St. Cost: $3.
SATURDAY
Urban Safari, 10 p.m. at the Nouvelle Tasty Shop, 129 E.10. Ht. Free.
Doctoral recital: Bruce D. Tychinski, trombone; 2 p.m. at the Free Methodist Church. Free.
KU Opera: The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart; 7:30 p.m. at Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall. Cost: $7 public, $5 students and senior citizens. Tickets available at the SUA Office, Lied Center and Murphy Hall.
Sky Bop Fly, 10 p.m. at The Jazzaus of Lawrence, 926 1/2 Massachuets St. Cost: $4.
Student recital: David W. Cason, organ, 2:30 p.m. at Bales Recital Hall. Free.
TUESDAY
Kevin Cloud, 8 p.m. at the Nouvelle Tasty Shop, 129 E. 10th. Free.
Master's recital: Laura Erickson, harp; 7:30 p.m. at Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall. Free.
SUNDAY
"My parents raised us to be unique,so that is why they don't care about it and just expect good grades from us."
Mary Leitel
Junction City sophomore