This is something I’ve noticed a lot as people have become more forward and forth-coming.
Most LGBTQ+ people dye their hair in bright, vibrant colors.
From stunning pinks to electrifying blues – these hair colors are super eye-catching.
I’ve always wondered though, is there some deeper significance?
What actually drives them to color their hair?
I did the research for you – I’ve even asked LGBTQ+ people personally and I thought I’d combine all these answers in one post.
So, let’s uncover the reason and symbolism – dive in!
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may make a commission at no extra cost to you if you decide to click on a link and purchase something. Click here to read the full disclaimer.
1. The world has become more kinder and accepting
We have to realize one thing – back in the day, everyone had to conform to certain norms.
It’s still the case, but people are more accepting of us embracing our own identities.
Back in the day, people had to follow the stereotype.
I’m talking about the years when:
- A woman having a job was considered to be “a non-family type” person who was money-minded and career-oriented.
- People had to get married by the age of 30 to prove to society that they were “normal.”
- Specially-abled people were cast away.
- Nobody had the freedom to pursue their passions – their careers were basically assigned to them.
- LGBTQ+ people had to pretend to be straight or fit within a stereotype just to live in society.
But nowadays a lot of countries are democratic – there is a certain freedom of expression and people are more tolerant towards other people’s choices.
So, LGBTQ+ people (who have had to hide for so many years) finally have the freedom to express themselves.
And they finally feel free.
LGBTQ+ people have long challenged societal norms and expectations. But now, by dying their hair in vibrant, bright colors, they are asserting their autonomy and they’re defying traditional beauty standards.
2. It’s just a coincidence
I have straight, cis-gendered friends who color their hair pink and green.
I also know LGBTQ+ people who love their original hair color and don’t bother dying their hair.
It’s all relative.
We simply assume most people who don’t have their hair colored are cis-gendered, straight people. And that’s simply not the case.
Just because someone doesn’t dye their hair, doesn’t mean they are not LGBTQ+.
Everyone has their own identity and their hair color honestly has nothing to do with it.
3. It is a beautiful form of self-expression
Hair dyeing allows LGBTQ+ individuals to showcase their unique identities and celebrate their individuality.
These bright colors provide a canvas for personal expression and this is their way of communicating their authentic selves to the world.
In a way, they’re saying, “I’m no longer hiding. I am proud to be who I am. I love myself.”
And I can relate.
All my life, I believed my curls were ugly – that frizz was just not considered beautiful.
But when I grew up and curly hair was celebrated, I started flaunting my curls.
I love my hair now – I leave it open when I go out – I don’t try to straighten it, tie tight ponytails, or smooth down my hair – I let my hair be the way it was supposed to – the way it naturally grows out of my head.
4. They’re doing it because it makes them happy
I want you to think about something that you feel makes you unique or stand out.
Is it your sense of dressing?
Or maybe it’s the way you talk, the way you carry yourself in public.
Likewise, coloring hair is exactly the same.
Just like how you feel nice when you pick something pretty or nice to wear, that’s how people feel when they color their hair.
I personally do not color my hair because my hair has suffered so much damage over the years from constant straightening.
But coloring hair or getting tattooed and piercings are a personal choice.
It isn’t necessarily done to attract you or attract people.
It’s a choice.
It’s a way to personalize themselves.
Just like how some people love wearing jewelry or some people love keeping their hair short, or some people love working out and being fit – it’s a personal choice.
Hair dying unlike tattoos or piercings, is a relatively low-risk way for LGBTQ+ people to explore themselves – think about it.
You can temporarily transform your whole look just by dying your hair a different color – it makes you feel good because you now control your appearance.
It helps you discover your personal style – and that’s probably why LGBTQ+ people color their hair.
5. Coloring hair is so much fun
Coloring your own hair is so much fun for anybody!
It is the same reason why we love wearing unique clothes or spending our whole lives developing a style that feels right for us.
It’s a way of expressing ourselves and taking it to the next level – hair.
Some people straighten their hair or curl it and some color it because they want to look different or want to experiment with a new style.
It’s the exact same reason I love buying bright-colored backpacks and bright hoop earrings.
I love it – it makes me happy – it makes me confident when I dress up in my bright-colored clothes.
I love bright-colored kicks too!
It just makes me happy.
And likewise for LGBTQ+ people, dying their hair in vibrant colors provides an artistic and creative outlet for them!
It allows them to experiment with different styles, shades, and combinations – helping them express their imagination!
6. They played a ton of videogames growing up
This is my own opinion but almost every game I played growing up had characters with unique colored hair.
The same goes for Manga or comics.
All of these made my childhood and I too grew up wishing I had pink or green hair sometimes.
It’s a fad.
It’s fun.
It adds so much flair and drama to your character and that’s one of the main reasons I feel a lot of LGBTQ+ people color their hair.
They may have watched a lot of Manga or played a ton of videogames growing up and this could have influenced them to color their hair.
7. They develop a sense of camaraderie
LGBTQ+ people have been through a lot – they’ve been discriminated against for a long time in the world.
People have said and believed horrible things about them just because they’re different.
People have associated self-worth with people’s sexual orientation or sexual preferences.
And believe it or not, it’s not the right way to go about it.
Our self-worth shouldn’t rely on our sexual orientation, sexual preferences, relationship status, career, or educational background.
Our self-worth should depend on how we treat others, how we conduct ourselves in society, and how much we do to make the world a better place.
It’s a very sensitive topic for most, I understand.
But one of the main reasons why LGBTQ+ people dye their hair is so that they can foster connections with other people who have gone through the same hardships.
Just like how nobody can understand what it feels like to go through a miscarriage (except for other people who have gone through the same), they do this so that others who have been through the same hardships find solace.
It’s a beautiful way to share their experiences.
It’s a conversation starter and it creates opportunities for dialogue and support.
8. Some do it as a way to attract people who are just like them
It’s very hard for LGBTQ+ people to date.
By dying their hair, they’re sort of signaling to other LGBTQ+ people that they move along the same lines of thought and expression.
I am more comfortable around people who express themselves better because I know we can have a huge range of conversations without pushing any buttons.
Likewise, every time I’ve met LGBTQ+ people with dyed hair, I’ve noticed that they’re very comfortable in their identity and they’re super confident.
They probably attract the same kind of people.
And I genuinely believe that it’s a wonderful conversation starter.
Final thoughts
I genuinely believe that a majority of the reasons as to why LGBTQ+ color their hair is because it’s a beautiful form of self-expression.
Coloring their hair has nothing to do with their sexual orientation or sexual preference – it could just be a coincidence.
And of course, sometimes, they do it because it’s a way of building camaraderie and starting a conversation.
Either way, every person who colors their hair has a reason for doing it and we are jumping the gun by assuming the reason is because of their lifestyle preferences.
If you’re curious, simply ask.
You may also like:
