Pastel hair is having its moment at UNC

From freshmen who just arrived to professors who’ve been at UNC for 18 years, vibrant hues are quickly replacing the natural browns, blacks and blondes we typically see across campus.

While many admit they get a lot of attention from it, these Tar Heels rock their wild hair for no one but themselves. These students and professors have bold personalities and wanted an appearance to match.

Elizabeth Barbour, freshman

“To be completely honest, I saw Kylie Jenner’s hair, and I was like, ‘That’s a really pretty shade of blue.’ But I’m not as brave as Kylie Jenner to do all of it.”

Elyse Crystall, professor, English and Comparative Literature

“In my generation growing up, young women who identified as feminists or strong, independent women, were kind of made to feel like pink was very feminine and so I rejected it and thought of it always as too feminine. As an adult I decided that I’m going to embrace what I love.”

Rachel Blythe, sophomore, Religious Studies and Geography

“I don’t really have a lot of things holding me back. Like, my parents don’t really care and people know me as, like, wild or weird so I was like, ‘I’m gonna dye it.’”

Kiralina Soare, freshman, Global Studies

“I guess I just wanted a bit more color in my life.”

Sabrina Lazaro, freshman, Sociology

“I like it when little children are like, ‘Oh my gosh! Mommy, look!’”

Sia Kennedy, Freshman,

“I get weird looks and weird associations, like videogames. I’m not a big gamer.”

Karen Booth, professor, Women and Gender Studies

“I love purple and I knew I didn’t want to color my hair brown, you know, to look young or anything but I just thought… it would be fun. I call it my power hair.”

Giulia Curcelli, junior, PWAD and Computer Science

“I just wanted to do something that was weird and different.”

Regan Buchanan, Junior,

“I like to think it’s a way to express your individuality without having to constantly broadcast it through the way you speak or something like that.”

Cindy Huynh, sophomore, Nursing and Psychology

“It was a group decision with my suitemates last year. One night we just decided we’d all do crazy colors. It didn’t work out with everyone but I’m one of the people that stuck with it.”