Hair dye is staining teens’ lives. Colors normally seen in a rainbow or in a paint palette are now the color of teens’ hair.

This method of self-expression is colorful and interesting, but not always understood.

Sophomore Audri Counelis thought it was cool to dye her hair and felt like a brand new person with her bright, new locks.

“I dyed my hair to look like Michael Clifford,” Counelis said.

Trying to look like a new and different person is a common feeling among people who dye their hair.

Sophomore Aleks Bard gained a new-found confidence when she dyed her hair.

“It makes me feel like a new person,” Bard said. “If I was feeling bad about myself before, it makes me feel better about myself because I look different.”

Age is a factor with hair dye, as parents may not approve of their children using it as a form of expression.

Some parents feel that teens are “too young” to be dyeing their hair, but many teens disagree.

Bard began dyeing her hair in the fourth grade and chose a bold burgundy for her first color.

Freshman Kat Gifford dyed her hair fire engine red when she was 13 and used the brand N’rage.

Gifford alters her hair color because it makes her feel prettier.

“I feel like it’s just a positive thing to add to the things I’ve done to make myself feel confident,” Gifford said.

People also fear judgment and are afraid that others may bully them over their hair, but this isn’t really the case.

“Yeah, I was scared that people wouldn’t accept me after dyeing my hair,” Counelis said.

However, Counelis was walking through the halls when a fellow unknown student said, “Wow, your hair’s sick bro!”

Sophomore Madison Kreinbrink was told that she looked like a mermaid.

Hair dye is not a new trend, but it is definitely an expanding one.

In almost any drug or grocery store, there’s an aisle dedicated to hair dye.

If you’re interested in dyeing your hair, but have never done it before, here are a few tips and suggested brands.

Counelis warns against leaving bleach in too long because it can burn your scalp.

She suggests the brand Ion Bright, which is sold at Sally Beauty Supply.

Kreinbrink said that having extra dye is better than not having enough.

Gifford uses the brand N’rage, which can also be found at Sally Beauty Supply.

When re-dyeing your hair, Gifford suggests choosing a color on the same side of the color spectrum. Otherwise, you could get an unexpected color.

Sally Beauty also offers a Sally’s card, which offers different discounts on dyes such as Ion.

“I love dyeing my hair,” Counelis said. “I don’t plan on stopping.”