Violet

You struggle with this decision and regret your past
Zero recollections from your beauty class
Drugs dragged you ragged then but now
You question the color for your age
You wonder the ratios to mix
You ask me for help
But help’s not mine to give so
I open the instructions and show you
How and tell you yes I believe that shade of
Purple will look beautiful on you.
author’s note: I was in a rush today at the beauty supply store. Sometimes people mistake me for store a employee. Sometimes they just peg me for someone who will help. These are the strangers who help me to slow down. This woman was beating herself up for not being able to remember all the things from beauty school 30+ years ago when she was also heavily partying and in the drug scene. She was asking my opinion on whether I thought she could get away with purple hair at her age. I could tell her self-worth was in the toilet. The color wasn’t even permanent. I asked her to ask herself two questions: 1) What’s the worst thing that could happen? 2) Is coloring your hair purple the worst thing you’ve ever done in your life?
She left happy with her decision. I left with three bottles of clear gloss because my hair color regimen is infinitely more boring.
