People are dyeing their hair like space, and it's awesome.
Some intentional, others by accident. All gorgeously sciencey.
Who says that space can't be glamorous?
OK, OK — no one has said that, but maybe this is a topic worth discussing.
Because ... LOOK.
Instagram photos used with permission, featuring (clockwise from lower left) @tbmhair, @skittles.senpai, @theleopardloungemach, @ghostiee.
SPACE HAIR IS A THING.
A beautiful thing. So I looked into this. There are a handful of specific space hair moments, but there are droves of beautiful hair colors that look downright galactic.
Looking at all the hair-color trends out there, I couldn't help but think, "I SEE SPACE, PEOPLE."
Here are just five of the many many beautiful colors of hair that can mean only one thing: Space hair is happening.
1. This hair might not have intended to be inspired by Charon, Pluto's moon, but can you deny the resemblance?
Image via NASA, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and Southwest Research Institute.
A photo posted by Daryna Barykina Photography (@daryna_barykina) on
A stronger color at the roots and classy gray. Werk!
A photo posted by Marygene Rose (@marygenemua) on
Charon the moon no longer gets to say it orbits a planet due to Pluto's demotion, but still, it's lookin' good immortalized in hair.
2. And here we have the Veil Nebula of hair-colors.
A photo posted by @its_lindsay_again on
Image via NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team.
Right?!
According to NASA, "This close-up look unveils wisps of gas, which are all that remain of what was once a star 20 times more massive than our sun."
Whoa!
3. If you squint, this woman's head IS the Northern Lights.
A photo posted by Samantha Daly (@bottleblonde76) on
Northern lights over Norway Credit: A. B. Fyhn http://t.co/CgJ2FT1qEd #aurora #norway pic.twitter.com/Iwe25JkX2h
— Observing Space (@ObservingSpace) September 25, 2015
4. NASA just got images from the Hubble telescope of the Twin Jet Nebula, a binary star system that also goes by the name of PN M2-9. And lo, this gal is rocking it in hair form.
Image Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA. Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt
A photo posted by Samantha Daly (@bottleblonde76) on
5. Here we have an uncannily accurate representation of what NASA describes as "planetary nebula called NGC 6818, also known as the Little Gem Nebula." Also — hair!
Image by ESA/Hubble and NASA with acknowledgement to Judy Schmidt.
NASA describes it adorably:
"This colorful bubble is a planetary nebula called NGC 6818, also known as the Little Gem Nebula. It is located in the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer), roughly 6,000 light-years away from us. The rich glow of the cloud is just over half a light-year across — humongous compared to its tiny central star — but still a little gem on a cosmic scale."
A photo posted by Dakota Driscoll (@dak42093) on
The cosmos has some really good color theory.
Space-aholic Neil deGrasse Tyson often laments that the wonder at space is disappearing from our lives.
Were it not for @NASA & kindred programs of discovery, I wonder what hope would remain for our species to rise above itself.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) July 12, 2015
We don't tilt our heads up in wonder at the complexities, the vastness, the coolness of space and the cosmos.
Need to cry, but don't want others to know? Look up to the stars. Your tears won't fall, and the cosmos will make you smile.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) December 20, 2013
But there's space and the cosmos, re-appearing in a pretty special place ... hair salons.
Will a bunch of brightly colored hairdos help the space program or teach us enough science to explore space? Probably not.
But it just goes to show, we've still got space love in (er, on) our heads.
And that if we put our heads together (even if they're not dyed to look like nebulae), we still sometimes look up in wonder.
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.