I Refuse to Dye My Gray Hair for My Wedding; I’ve Had It Since I Was 16
Confidence is essential on a wedding day, and this bride radiated it brilliantly. She challenged society’s perception by using her wedding day to show that gray hair can be stunning and elegant.
On July 2, a touching moment captured the attention of millions when Miami makeup artist Tia Codrington shared a TikTok video of her client, Kadeja Baker, who embraced her natural gray hair on her wedding day.
In the caption, Codrington expressed her admiration, writing, “I loved my bride’s natural gray hair. She’s had it since she was 16.” Little did they know that this powerful display of self-acceptance would go viral, garnering 1.4 million views and over 170,000 likes.
“I didn’t have any expectations when posting the videos other than to share her beauty through my eyes,” Codrington said. “But seeing how she embraced and embodied the beauty of her hair was something I felt compelled to share.”
Codrington added that it was “amazing” to know that Baker had the option to change her hair color for her wedding day but chose to stay true to herself and wear her natural hair color. Before planning her wedding, Baker was not active on social media. In an interview, she admitted to being “shocked” by the overwhelming attention her video received, describing the response as “plentiful” and heartwarming.
Reflecting on her unexpected viral fame, Baker shared humbly, “I did not expect the responses to be as plentiful as they were. I look at myself in the mirror every day and did not think it was a big deal that I was embracing my natural hair and look.”
The 38-year-old bride was surprised by the overwhelmingly positive comments on social media. Kadeja revealed that it took her many years to fully appreciate her gray hair after it started during her teenage years.
Despite her initial reservations, she was deeply moved by the support and inspiration her video brought to others. Grateful for the kind words, she said humbly, “They’re saying I’m embracing myself, but I would tell them, ‘Thank you for seeing it that way and allowing it to inspire you. Thank you for embracing me.’”
