I got my hair highlighted blond for the first time when I was sixteen years old. For nearly the next two decades, I didn't look back; it was always some shade of blond or, occasionally, red. Then, about five years ago, I had a sudden urge to see what my natural colour looked like. It took a while to grow out enough that I could cut off all the blond, but once I did, I was surprised by how much I loved it. It's a much warmer, richer brown than I had imagined.

Here's the thing. My natural colour suits my complexion and brings out the colour in my eyes much better than the blond ever did. And it's so shiny and healthy now. Split ends are a thing of the past. I'm starting to think that perhaps nature does know best. If I ever colour my hair again (which, at the moment, doesn't seem likely, although it's possible I'll change my mind once the gray starts to come -- it depends how the gray looks on me), I doubt I'll go more than a shade or two lighter or darker than what I've already got. Unless I decide to go hot pink or something -- but that's a different kettle of fish entirely.

How do you feel about hair colour? Do you think natural, or close to natural, is best? Or are you a die-hard chemical colour supporter?

And what about gray? Are you inclined to let the gray happen, or are you in the cover-it-up camp?