As people’s spirits rise for ACES 2021 Online, so does the purchase of one particular product: hair dye. Conference attendees are continuing the annual hair-dyeing tradition.
Since 2014, the tradition of hair-dyeing has brought together editors of all ages to create a rainbow of vivid hair colors before each annual ACES conference. Lexicographer Kory Stamper and STEM editor Heather Saunders are recognized as pioneers of the tradition.
“ACES brings so much joy and brightness to what can, at times, be lonely work, so it felt right to show up as my brightest self.” Saunders said.
The confidence and leadership these women displayed created a long-running tradition that serves as a marker for the diverse and vibrant ACES community.
Laura Poole, 2020 ACES Robinson Prize winner, said the popular tradition was more spontaneous than planned.
“I don’t know that it’s anything specific, we just started noticing more and more rainbow hair,” Poole said.
Poole promised herself she would go purple once her hair went all gray. One day, though, she just decided it was now or never.
“Heck with that, I want to do it NOW,” Poole said.
The increase of people with vivid hair was a major inspiration for many conference attendees to join the tradition. Rhiannon Root, a #ACES2014 and #ACES2019 speaker says she got into the tradition because of the joy it brought to the editing community.
“I got into it because it was fun, and it seemed like they [the editors with dyed hair] were having the best time,” Root said.
For this year’s conference, Root is proudly showcasing her blue hair.
This hair-dyeing tradition has led editors to form genuine and close relationships. The matching, bold hair created an ice breaker for their first meeting.
Rachel Herbert, an ACES member, remembers going to her first ACES conference back in 2016 with purple hair. Her hair led her to meet two other women with hot pink and royal purple hair on the first day.
“I’m growing it out [her hair] but will get fancy for ACES 2022 for sure,” Herbert said.
Moreover, this tradition provided an opportunity for women who had always wanted to make a drastic hair change. Gerri Berendzen, the founder of #ACESchat, recalls how she was initially cautious in her decision to dye her hair.
“I always wanted a stripe, but was wary of doing it while working at a newspaper in a conservative rural city,” Berendzen said.
However, she started debuting a bold color when she began teaching full-time at the University of Kansas.
Although colorful hair is an unexplored territory for some, others are striving for a fresh change. As a result, for this year’s conference, Saunders revealed she ditched her regular orange look and will rock a head of blue hair.
Looking for a fun ACES tradition? Grab a box of hair dye and join the fun. At ACES 2022 in San Antonio, be sure to look out for the rainbow hair.
