Every fall, it starts again.
The calendar says we're moving into fall. Mansfield, on the other hand, is still looking at temperatures close to 100°F and heat indexes over 100.
So while the weather is clearly not ready to cooperate, the beauty world has already decided that everything has to be brown, burgundy, chocolate, caramel, copper, or some other colour that sounds like it belongs on a pumpkin spice menu.
The hair gets darker. The nails get deeper. The outfits get warmer. Even the beauty inspiration on your phone starts looking like it was dipped in brown.
And there's nothing wrong with any of that. Fall colours are beautiful. But somewhere along the way, did we start treating seasonal trends like rules?
Why do we feel like we have to change our appearance just because the season changed?
Maybe you love burgundy nails. Maybe you want that rich brown hair colour you've been saving. Maybe you're ready for a new loc style or a different braid look. If that's you, go for it.
But maybe you don't.
You might love your bright colours and have no interest in letting them go. You might have had the same locs for years and simply want them properly maintained.
For some men, fall colours aren't even part of the conversation. It's just time for a haircut and beard clean-up before the next football game, family gathering, date or event on the calendar.
And for parents, the focus may be less about their own look and more about getting the kids' hair taken care of before another week of school, pictures, games and activities.
Then there are those who've had their personal style figured out for years. They aren't looking for a seasonal transformation. They just want to keep looking like themselves.
That's the thing about beauty trends. They're supposed to give you ideas, not instructions.
At House of Locs & Beauty Bar, we see people make these choices all the time. Someone comes in wanting to try colour with Haley.
Someone else wants their locs maintained or styled with Sheila or Chrissy.
Someone books with Tina because they're ready for those deep fall nails.
And someone else sits down with Dricka the Barber because their only seasonal plan is getting their haircut right.
None of those choices is more "fall" than the other.
And maybe that's how it should be.
You don't have to change your hair because everyone else is changing theirs. You don't have to choose a darker nail colour because the internet says it's time. You don't have to get a completely different style to mark the beginning of a new season.
But if you've been wanting to try something different, fall can be a pretty good excuse.
Go darker. Go brighter. Keep it exactly the same. Try something you've never done before. Or simply take care of what you already have.
So, Mansfield, who decided fall has a colour palette anyway?