Appearance + Church

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Mr_Richie

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To make a long story short, since I was about 12 years old i started dying my hair different colours, had mohawks, very very long (its very curly so it would be OUT THERE) hair. I don’t do it to make people uncomfortable or anything (at least not as an adult lol) even though for the past bit i just had a kinda long afro while attending Mass at church (with a small bleached patch) I havent been to Mass for a long time with dyed hair or anything that would be considered alternative.
Im a painter, I love colours. I like having the colours in my hair. From what i understand its not a sin at all, i also understand that people shouldn’t judge me…i still worry. I have had some not-so-great experiences with others because of my appearance. Im not a monastic, and i dont see it as very different from that older lady who likes to wear makeup, the girl who bleaches her hair or the guy whos wearing an orange sweater because he likes orange. I still worry about being judged. Should i just let it go and consider it their issue, and realize that it might be because of my negative experiences in the past? (Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Be yourself and don’t worry about others opinions - if anyone has a problem with your hair that’s their problem, not yours. And it has nothing to do with Catholicism - having some colour in your hair is not a sin I’ve ever heard of. Maybe some day you’ll decide to stop colouring your hair, for whatever reason, but let it be your choice, not something you do against your will because others have made you feel weird about it.
 
As a painter, just tell everyone you’re channeling your inner Bob Ross. Everybody loves Bob Ross

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Oh for sure let it go!

At my childhood parish there was a woman who always dyed her hair to match her dress - every Sunday was something different: blue, red, purple, white, black… She had matching glasses and a mole on her face painted in shimmering paint of the same color. She must have been an artist too because it always looked tasteful even though it was completely like nothing I’ve ever seen anyone wear before or after! Every Sunday I would look for her to see what this week’s color scheme was!
 
It’s possible that others will assume that you are rooting for a favorite sports team.

We see this widespread throughout our parish, especially when Notre Dame is playing a big game, or when our city’s Catholic High School goes to State.
 
You look fine! If you dyed your hair green and hung Christmas ornaments on it, then it would seem out of place.
 
I think it looks great!

I never dye my own hair but I’ve always really enjoyed seeing other people’s dyed hair. Like you say, it’s like art: similar to clothing or makeup. But there’s just something especially fun about bright colours in hair, that brightens up my day.
 
You have great thick hair:)
I like your hair but I understand your concerns -sometimes churchgoers our parents age can be a bit judgmental about these things. I don’t think we will ever be able to change the minds of some elders that expression can be from creativity and isn’t always from “anti-social rebellion”.

I think you could receive glances because it might be so unexpected to some, but hopefully it will just be surprised glances and not too many actual judgmental attitudes.

Within the growing disinterest in religion today, I think that elder generations should just be happy when they see any “young people” in Church.
 
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Mr_Richie said:
Should i just let it go and consider it their issue, and realize that it might be because of my negative experiences in the past?
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Yes, that’s exactly what you should do. God created you to be you.
 
I’d say 99 percent of Catholics aren’t even going to notice that type of dyed hair. And yes, it did remind me of Bob Ross on first glance.

Now if you went in with a 6-inch tall bright red mohawk, or with a bunch of crazy makeup on like Alice Cooper or Dee Snider from Twisted Sister, you might get some looks. Although I notice that both Alice and Dee are quite able to wash off their makeup, put their hair in a ponytail, and go about their business, including at church for Alice.
 
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As a long time parish secretary who has had every color imaginable on her head (purple right now), and a faux hawk from time to time, I find your hair fun!
 
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