How Dyeing My Hair Briefly Restored My Faith In Humanity

I'm your normal everyday guy here in New York City with brown hair, a nose ring and an adorable smile (you're welcome).

With so many people in this world, it's often easy to go around thinking that no one really notices us.

Most of the time we see the same people every day, but do they actually notice us? Or are we just faces to them, people they see and acknowledge, then the second we walk away they forget about us?

Well, I put it to a little test.

I went and dyed my hair blonde, and the amount of people who noticed and actually commented on it made me realize that maybe, more people pay attention to us than we think.

On the first day after I dyed my hair, I had immediate remorse. I instantly thought of running to the store, buying black hair dye and pretending it never happened.

Then, like most things, it grew on me and I was ready to go about my activities and see who actually pays attention.

The first thing I did that morning was walk into the coffee shop that I go to almost every day.

Before I could even walk up to the counter, the barista said, “Wow, you changed your hair, I LOVE it” (not the barista I'm secretly in love with, cause I knew he wasn't working that day and I didn't want him to be the first to see it, just in case everyone hated it then our non love/love affair would be over).

We talked for a minute about it, we both decided it was drastic, but cool, and how we can't wait for summer to come. You know, the usual small talk stuff. I was pleased that someone noticed my hair at the first place I tried going to.

After getting my coffee and walking around Central Park for a bit, I was ready to try the next place and see what happened.

I go to Chipotle probably more times a week than a normal person should, but I can't help it; it's so good and the people at my particular location are so friendly.

So I decided to grab lunch. I walked into the Chipotle, and three of the regular staff members were there. They all greeted me with a smile, and every single one of them noticed and said something about me changing my hair. It's weird, but I started to feel really good about myself.

I work in a gay bar in Hell's Kitchen on the weekends, so I knew that would be the ultimate test. I'm a gay guy, so I know how gays are: We're shallow people for the most part who look at people and don't actually see them.

Was I just the bartender who made them drinks? Or was I a person they had come to know? Well, 95 percent of the regulars noticed and commented. Some were very brief in their comments, which we all know is "gay shade." Whenever someone says “it's interesting” that's SHADE.

Others loved it; we talked about it and most people mentioned they've wanted to do something similar. For the next couple of days at all of the usual places I frequented during the week, someone would notice and say something.

Now I know in the grand scheme of things this may sound menial and somewhat narcissistic, but if you're thinking that I just have two words for ya: f*ck off.

We live in a world where life goes so fast around us, and most of us walk around with our heads down and looking at our phones. We often think no one notices us, and in return, we try our best not to pay attention to others.

For me, this simple little test and acknowledgement from others restored my faith in humanity a little.

It made me realize that even when we feel alone, we're not. People do notice us, and sometimes we make impressions on people that we think go unnoticed.

So go forth in the world today, hold your head up high, smile and know that even though people may not say anything, someone is noticing you.