Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

So let's talk hair.

I love, love, love having long hair to play with, but my hair is really thick. Long hair takes FOREVER to dry -- ain't nobody got time for that!!

My last haircut was a trim back in August 2013, a week or so before Dad and Michele's wedding. The ends of my hair crunched. Seriously disgusting.

My first major change of 2015? Getting a major hair cut!!!

Part of the reason it grew out so much to begin with was that I didn't know where to go once we moved here. I have a tough time committing to a new stylist. Flashback to student teaching in the spring of 2011. I went to a salon my co-op suggested, and I had pictures of what I wanted. It required taking off about 4 inches and also layering it. I asked her to do it in a way that would thin out my thick hair to help it dry faster. That Texas humidity was no joke, and my hair would go crazy if I didn't dry it all the way. So we're chatting away and she's snipping away for a while. Things seem to be going well until halfway through the cut she utters the unthinkable: "Oh, I don't know what I'm doing."

Ummm...what?!? 

She asked the other stylist to help her. I had TWO PEOPLE working on my hair -- one on each side -- making jokes about me being the guinea pig. I don't know that it would have been as upsetting if I had liked the haircut, but I absolutely hated it. I know it wasn't totally hideous because people complimented it, but it was not what I wanted. I also had graduation coming up not long afterwards and was grumpy that my hair was going to look stupid.

This crazy mane was getting to the point where I would get tangled in it while I was trying to turn over when I was sleeping. I would randomly inhale it when it was windy out during recess. My favorite was when I would yell "OUCH!" when it got pinned under Tim's arm when we sat on the couch together. It was just...a nuisance. A shapeless, crunchy, time-consuming nuisance.

Before....

I didn't have to cut so much of it off, but I had a strong desire to donate my hair to a place that would make wigs for women battling cancer. I have to admit that it took some pep talking to get myself to commit to cutting it. I was worried I'd be or feel less beautiful with a haircut, but I stopped whining when it hit me that I had the luxury of a choice. I can't imagine the emotions when your hair is falling out completely.Women battling cancer don't get a choice to lose their hair. It's a small thing compared to a cancer battle, but if I can help one woman feel more beautiful during her battle then I can and will definitely do what I can for her.

So here you go, 8 inches shorter, a much lighter head, and a faster morning routine. I feel like I look more my age now, and I am excited to be giving 8 inches to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths for a woman to feel more beautiful.

After! 

If you're interested in donating your hair, please check out the information on this awesome cause here.