I once had my hair described to me as "leathery brown, like autumn leaves" or something along those lines. I've never dyed my hair; professionally or otherwise. There have been a few times that I have wanted to; I get all the way to the check-out counter with my drastic "darker brown" or "lighter brown" and then wuss out at the last second and switch to purchasing orbits gum. I've dyed other people's hair - - one roommate in particular; I helped dye her hair at least once a month, and I've died a few boys' hair. To return the favor, my virgin hair (un-colored, un-highlighted, un-permed and the like) is turning on me. 
I think I remember my first gray hair in the 6th grade. It was a stressful semester for this little 11 year old. Pictures to color... friends to make... getting over the trauma of mistaking a girl for a boy my first week at a new school (she had masculine features and really short hair!). Ever since that year though, those gray ones have been out of control. I don't know if it's a vendetta, or they just want to enjoy the sunshine and air like the rest of my hair. I pluck them out as I find them, but sometimes one gets away and it's just as long as the rest of my hair. That lone grower remains until some 'nice' gentleman says, "Woah! What is that? Is that a gray hair? Sit still... I'm gonna get it." How embarrassing...
It is because of this, that my streak of all natural might be
squashed as soon as those unwanteds take over. I refuse to go gray until I'm good and ready (45 maybe? 50?). I'm going to either ease into the grays through dying less and less, or keep it going until I decide one day, that it's okay and dye my hair white or something. It's interesting - - even though I've never done anything to my hair, it likes to mix things up on it's own. I've been red (worst look ever!), auburn, dark/black almost, and the usual "leathery brown".
I guess I'm thinking more about hair today because today is the day I ventured out and am sporting the pigtails. I wasn't sure if that was allowed, so after a quick reassurance text to a male friend of mine asking, "Am I allowed to wear pig tails?" and his affirmative response and advice to just watch out for pedophiles, they were up and I was off.
*Thank you Irish Italian heritage... for my random reds and early grays*
