Shades of Auburn:
The colours of our heritage

I never realised I was different until I was about 15. One day I was riding the overloaded school bus home. There were no free seats so I had to stand up in the aisle. I looked up at a mirror that was hanging from the ceiling at the rear door exit. I saw these flaming red curls amongst the crowd of blonde, brunette and black. And thought Wow! Now that’s not hard to miss!

Red hair is a strange thing, and there is still a stigma around what exactly it is. I now see my hair as a bright beautiful colour, but was once known as my title of ‘Ranga’. Which was clearly known to me whenever I’d walk down the street and would have this yelled out the window of a passing car.
 
I will never forget being told by my high school crush that he preferred my hair straight and brown. So that’s exactly what I did. I dyed my hair dark and
eventually  I lost myself and who i was. I was so caught up in trying to be
something else, trying to please someone else’s idea of beauty I completely forgot about the unique and bold image I once had.

 

Most of all I disappointed my family, for no longer wanting to represent the colour of my heritage. I decided to go back to my natural hair colour and start photographing fellow red heads to show how beautiful our hair really is.  

At the end of the day it’s just another colour right? A rare one yes, but also a visual representation of my heritage and my family. So why not celebrate it?

This is dedicated to those who have learnt, or are learning how to love their differences.
 

You can find everyone's stories attached to the Shades of Auburn Menu Tab. Also head on over to the store tab to find a lovely surprise!! (ITS BEEN MADE IN TO A PHOTO SERIES BOOK!)

Zara x