I Really, Really Tried...

I tried for ten months, but after heat, rain, summer and hours spent with blow driers and round brushes, I finally admit that I'm basically lazy when it comes to my hair.

Tuesday was the turning point. I couldn't take it any more. I decided to go from "edgy" (my stylist's term) back to "me". Not quite as short as I had it before all this growing-out-my-hair business began, but much shorter than it's been in recent months...

...and much less curly. To those of you who were rootin' for me to grow it long again, I offer my sincere apologies for wimping out. I just couldn't stay with the program. (In case you're confused...my hair now looks like the first photo. The second photo is how it looked the beginning of the month after my first haircut.)

I have to admit, I've been doing the Happy Dance since I saw the last of the curly stuff hit the floor in the salon. I feel much better, thanks.

A Woman's Crowning Glory...

Me, in all my curly glory.

I'm sure you're heard the term "her crowning glory" in reference to a woman's hair. (If you haven't, don't blame me. I didn't make it up!) It doesn't matter how young or "mature" a woman becomes, she still gauges her appearance by her hair. (We won't talk about weight in this post!) It's really quite interesting how a good or bad hairdo can set your mood for the day!

I told you a while back that I was going to try to grow my hair longer. I've been wearing it in my short crop for nearly ten years, and thought it might be fun to try something different. I've been growing it out since last October, with mixed feelings. There are two things I hadn't considered. 1) That it would be so bloody hot this summer and 2) that my thick hair would be growing back so curly!

The fact that it was growing back as curly as it has wouldn't actually be an issue (women can use blow dryers and other hair tools to compensate for curly), but the heat and humidity cause my hair to revert to it's natural look within minutes of being outside...and having such a thick head of hair makes it feel even hotter.

Curly from the back, too/

So, coming or going, I look like a curly-haired grandma - whether that was the plan for the day or not. ( I love to be a grandma, but not to necessarily look like one. Lord, please forgive my vanity.) So, this happened to be a good look - newly washed and styled - but waking up with this hair first thing in the morning before I have a chance to style it again is a truly frightening sight. This is a high maintenance look for me.

I finally decided to give The Hair Goddess, Nicole a call and schedule an appointment to discuss my options. I walked into the salon, fully expecting that I'd leave with the short-short, easy-care hairdo that I've come to know and love. Heck, put on my glasses with the sparkly rims and I'd look tidy and dressy even before I changed out of my pjs!.

We chatted for a little while after I sat in her chair and she suggested we try an interim cut for a little while. She told me that if I still wanted to go back to the short-short cut, I could come back in and she'd gladly take off the rest of the curls.

My new look. Easy care? We'll see.

So, I planned ahead and asked Handsome to take the "before" photos yesterday morning, and then these "after" photos to share as well. The "afters" were taken straight from the salon. I haven't done anything since getting back home from the salon, and we'll see how it looks tomorrow. I think I like it, though.

Trying to be objective, I think that less hair makes my face look slimmer (no trick photography involved - lol), and I can tell you that it's definitely less hair to wear in this heat.

Still curly, but less hair.

Of course, curly hair still does it's own thing, but heck, so do I! That's something I can live with. I'll try this for a week or two and then decide whether or not to go back to the hairstyle that requires nothing of me except "wash and go" and three-week trims.

Isn't it interesting how a new "do" can change your whole outlook? I feel so much better already.