ginger...

Since Ashlyn was a little girl she has loved red hair.  At four years old she would see girls walk by with naturally red hair and longingly say, 'that's the hair that I want..."

Fast forward eight years and Ashlyn got her wish.  She came to me, very seriously, a few months ago and asked if she could dye her hair red.  I told her that she could but that we would have it professionally colored by my sweet friend and amazing hairdresser, Kayla.  I know that achieving "natural red" from a box is not an easy task.  My other stipulation was that she had to pay for the coloring herself.  Chris and I pay for her haircuts, which are a necessity.  Coloring her hair is a luxury and one that, I feel, she should pay for herself.  She had no problem with this and had already saved up enough money to cover the cost.

I have heard from a few people who either said, "don't let her do it" or "you're not seriously going to let her dye her hair, are you?"

I know as mom's sometimes our first reaction is to say "no" when we are asked for things from our kids.  I'm not sure how this tendency creeps in and becomes the norm.  When Ashlyn asked me about dying her hair my first thought wasn't to say no.  The seconds long thought process went as follows:

1. It's JUST hair (I mean, it's not like she asking if she can sell drugs)
2. It's HER hair, not mine
3. It's not in any way inappropriate or offensive

Ashlyn is very expressive with her choice of clothing and accessories.  I think it is only fitting that her hair reflect that as well.  So here is her journey from light brown to redhead...







The smile on her face let me know that I absolutely made the right decision in letting her dye her hair.  She couldn't stop giggling any time she saw herself in the mirror.

Her his our little ginger, before...

and after...

Just as beautiful as she has always been.