Unnatural color hair in Europe

[monkeydawn]

We are doing a Med cruise next year and I typically keep my hair blonde with some blue and purple mixed in as highlights. If I do this in Europe will I be very out of place? We will be in Italy, Spain and France. We are also doing a land based vacation and visiting some smaller towns in Italy like Alvito, Teramo and Pianella (these are towns our families are from). By the way if anyone has any suggestions for these small towns I am all ears, framed by blue and purle hair.

 

[dclpluto]

We are doing a Med cruise next year and I typically keep my hair blonde with some blue and purple mixed in as highlights. If I do this in Europe will I be very out of place? We will be in Italy, Spain and France. We are also doing a land based vacation and visiting some smaller towns in Italy like Alvito, Teramo and Pianella (these are towns our families are from). By the way if anyone has any suggestions for these small towns I am all ears, framed by blue and purle hair.

don’t worry what other people think. Do what you want with your hair.

 

[monkeydawn]

don’t worry what other people think. Do what you want with your hair.

Normally I wouldnt but traveling internationally does give me some pause. No reason to paint a target on myself.

I should mention we are only planning on visiting one church, the Order of the Capuchin in Rome, and thats mainly to see the catacombs. Just in case that matters since I know there is a (clothing) dress code.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are doing a Med cruise next year and I typically keep my hair blonde with some blue and purple mixed in as highlights. If I do this in Europe will I be very out of place? We will be in Italy, Spain and France. We are also doing a land based vacation and visiting some smaller towns in Italy like Alvito, Teramo and Pianella (these are towns our families are from). By the way if anyone has any suggestions for these small towns I am all ears, framed by blue and purle hair.

Just took a trip in Europe this past summer. While there didn't seem to be as much alternate hair color there, it's certainly done.

 

[Dug720]

My friend who did a RCCL Greek Isles Cruise with me a couple of summers ago toured before and after our cruise (including going to the Vatican), and she has purple hair. Never mentioned any issues.

 

[aggiedog]

We did a Med cruise 2 years ago. One teen dd had bright peacock blue hair (shaved on the sides, curly on top,) and my teen Chinese son had fire engine red hair. No problems. Dd in particular got a LOT of friendly head pats from little old ladies. It actually became a family running joke how many old ladies liked her hair. I'm pretty sure you won't have any issues.

 

[Cynth]

I am from europe, I had blue hair a few years ago. No one reacted badly to it. I got lots of compliments.
It is not that common over here, so if you need to have your roots colored it is not easy to find a hairdresser with the exact color tone that you want, but other than that everything will be fine.

 

[Chandler Bing]

I live in the UK and one of my friends (who is in her early 50's) has dark purple hair. I have colleagues (in their 30's and 40's some male some female) one has turquoise hair, one blonde with some pink highlights and another dark brown with red highlights.

So don't worry.

 

[monkeydawn]

Thanks for the reassurances everyone.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

We are doing a Med cruise next year and I typically keep my hair blonde with some blue and purple mixed in as highlights. If I do this in Europe will I be very out of place? We will be in Italy, Spain and France. We are also doing a land based vacation and visiting some smaller towns in Italy like Alvito, Teramo and Pianella (these are towns our families are from). By the way if anyone has any suggestions for these small towns I am all ears, framed by blue and purle hair.

I also worried about sticking out based on our clothes being "too American" on our Med cruise (NCL), but basically it ended up not being a big deal at all. Everyone knows your an American anyway and everyone was very friendly. I wouldn't worry about it!

 

[Karin1984]

We have television and internet in Europe, we see Americans often and know what they look like don't worry about it. You will see Europeans with unnatural hair colors as well.

The only thing you can look into is when you enter religious buildings to dress more modest, but the rest of your appearance, we do not care. Just behave like a civilized human being and it will be fine. Everyone will recognize you as a tourist and know you will be gone in a few hours/days.

 

[Spotthecat]

Some churches will require covered shoulders, but won't bat at eye at hair colour...

 

[DisLiss]

I have no info on the hair question---sorry!---but just wanted to jump in to say that my family came from Teramo, too, and that I hope you have a great trip!

 

[Helaman]

You will be absolutely fine...and not alone. You won't have problems in villages, or churches, or, or, or...

 

[Helaman]

You will be absolutely fine...and not alone. You won't have problems in villages, or churches, or, or, or...

 

[pjacobi]

Wearing a shirt with a logo of an American sports team and talking LOUD in English will make you a target. That's what the pickpockets are looking at, not the hair color.

-Paul

 

[monkeydawn]

I have no info on the hair question---sorry!---but just wanted to jump in to say that my family came from Teramo, too, and that I hope you have a great trip!

How neat! Have you visited? My grandfather passed away last summer and one of the things he always talked about with such pride was being able to take his mom back "home" for a visit. We are doing this trip, in part, in his memory. While researching we found out that my husbands grandparents are from small villages nearby as well so we thought we'd at least stop at them all.

 

[monkeydawn]

Wearing a shirt with a logo of an American sports team and talking LOUD in English will make you a target. That's what the pickpockets are looking at, not the hair color.

-Paul

There's absolutely zero chance we will show up in sports stuff, we dont have any. LOL Though we may talk loud since I am hearing impaired.

 

[mousefan73]

We are doing a Med cruise next year and I typically keep my hair blonde with some blue and purple mixed in as highlights. If I do this in Europe will I be very out of place? We will be in Italy, Spain and France. We are also doing a land based vacation and visiting some smaller towns in Italy like Alvito, Teramo and Pianella (these are towns our families are from). By the way if anyone has any suggestions for these small towns I am all ears, framed by blue and purle hair.

As some one who lives in Europe, believe me when I say your hair is nothing out of the ordinary.. Pastel highlights with blonde hair is very much in... One middle age lady I work out with seems to change her hair color highlights monthly.. blue, purple etc..

 

[monkeydawn]

I want to thank you all again for the input. Ive been streaking my hair for more than 25 years and its only in the last 5 or so that Ive really seen an uptick in how many others do unnatural colors as well. When I moved to my neighborhood 4 years ago I was advised to let people get to know me before I got too adventurous with my haircolor. LOL Anyway I realized that it might be the same in the Med, particularly since I was planning on visiting some smaller towns.

Apparently when my great grandmother visited Pianella they knew who she was related to based on her "big eyes". Whenever I see anyone from that side of the family they always remark how I have her eyes. It will be interesting to see if anyone "knows" me.