Embracing who you really are without caring what others think is really important in order to live a happy life and to start loving yourself. People will always have opinions on you, good and bad. But in the end, the only opinion that matters is yours. That’s exactly why Miranda Parker, 41, from Michigan, decided to stop listening to the haters and look the way she wants to.

Miranda had always dyed her hair brown. She noticed gray hairs on her head when she was 20 and from then on, decided to keep dyeing it. Because that’s just what people do. Eventually, she realized that it was just causing her stress and costing her a lot of money. Miranda calculated that she’d spent around 21,000 dollars at salons, getting her hair done.

More info: Instagram

This is Miranda Parker and how her hair looked like while she was dyeing them

Image credits: mirandaparker

She told Bored Panda: “I stopped coloring my hair at 38 years old. I was tired of the frequent salon visits and planning my life around my root touch-up schedule.

I was excited and nervous when I stopped dyeing my hair. I knew there would be judgment and I wasn’t sure if I was strong enough for that. But I also felt like if I could get through it, that I would really like the color.”

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Then she decided to embrace her naturally graying hair

Image credits: mirandaparker

“Nowadays I love my hair! I love the color and how healthy it is! My confidence has grown tremendously through this process. I learned to not care what anyone else thinks or has to say about my hair. It’s my hair and my choice to wear it as I wish. That concept extended into all aspects of my life through this process. My hair, my choice. My body, my choice. My life, my choice. Do what makes YOU happy and not what others want you to do or think you should do. It’s so freeing!”

Image credits: mirandaparker

And here’s Miranda with her gray hairs half-way grown out

Image credits: mirandaparker

On her newest Instagram post, she wrote: “I’m 41 years old and have been getting gray hair since my mid-20s. 2.5 years ago, at 38, I decided I had enough of the coloring every two weeks and being embarrassed by something I have zero control over. I took it into my own hands to own the gray and just make it a part of me.

I have documented my entire journey in highlight bubbles on my Instagram. So if you want to start at the beginning, you can find lots of photos and videos from along the way there.”

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Miranda inspired many women to grow out their hair and not be ashamed anymore

Image credits: mirandaparker

“It’s a long journey, but it has been SO worth it. I am proud to rock my silver. It’s made me a stronger and more confident woman (because you are going to get some pushback and negative comments, but they just fuel my fire to be me.)

It can look different depending on lighting… the silver shines bright in natural light and can look darker indoors. I have a streak down the middle that I love when I pull it up in a bun or pony.

I encourage you to view the highlight bubbles for information and they will answer a lot of questions for you, but I’m an open book and you’re welcome to leave comments and questions and message me!”

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Here’s what the people had to say

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

Image credits: mirandaparker

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