Try a new hairstyle or hair color.

“From the second I agreed to change my hair up for this story, however, I started to panic. The biggest worry clouding my mind was the thought of revealing my patches of missing locks to a hair stylist and colorist. It’s easy to conceal them when I style my hair every day, but there’s no hiding when the stylists split your hair into sections to get an even color and cut. My mind then wandered to the what ifs of a new hair color. What if I don’t like it? What if the dye damages my hair even more? What if they can’t even dye my hair because of the patches? I began approaching the hair appointment from a place of anxiety and stress, rather than excitement.”

“I started small with just a longer version of my dark brown locks, which more than anything reminded me how nice it feels to have a full head of thick hair. Next, I did a complete 180 and tried on a blonde wig. I took one look in the mirror, and I knew that it was not for me. After trying on a couple zanier options for fun, I put on a dark bob. I hadn’t even considered cutting off my mid-length hair before that, but that wig made me feel the most “me” I had felt all night.”

“Viveiros paints on a gold base to keep the red from going pink when it fades, then a round of a thick red dye that feels menthol-y on my skin, followed by two red glosses to layer the color variation. When we're finished, Viveiros assesses me. "I never noticed your eyes are green," he says. They're not, but color-wheel magic is real: Against my new shade—"Irish Setter," Viveiros tells me: "They're beautiful dogs"—my eyes are flashing hazel. I'm sent on my way with detailed advice: Always use cold water.”