my style : short hair

Hair.  A topic I love.  I believe in my heart that we all (even guys) have a 'hair story.'

Hair can be intimately tied to our emotions.  Even when it is other people's hair.  Example: When I was six and chopped into my hair so I could have bangs like my sister.  (I mean, come on, it was the 1980's...why didn't I have bangs????)  Well, my mom felt much differently and had quite the negative reaction to my self-induced haircut.  I got a heckuva spanking and lots of yelling/lecturing about that one.

BUT...I got my rad permed bangs!

Then my mother got her revenge by putting me in this dress and bow...

well played, mom, well played.

A year later I chopped my hair again.  It was literally down to my butt and I probably cut it to mid-back.  But, again, my mom seemed to be emotionally tied to my hair, and, again, I got punished for cutting my own hair, and there were many tears shed...by my mom.

Here is what I deduce from this : I really wanted to experiment with my hair!  Even at a young age.

Starting in high school my mom eventually "let go" and allowed me to do all kinds of weird things to my hair.  We didn't have money for lots of salon visits so she bought me products like "Sun-In" and whatever box of hair color I wanted.  And I chopped my own bangs on the regular...usually with very un-even and ridiculous results.

Needless to say I had horrible hair in high school.

junior year - "blonde-in-a-box."  not a good look.

In college, when I was independent and working all the time, I started going to the salon for my haircuts.  Wow! What a different that made!  Now I could experiment and have it look decent!  I mostly had long hair, but every once in a while would chop it all off.

Usually major hair changes in college followed some kind of break up with a guy.  I remember one particularly emotionally-jarring break-up. I broke up with him, but right after I did he said he actually wanted to end it anyway, and ripped me a new one about every flaw I had.  So, I did what any woman whose pride has been wounded would do: I went out and got all-over blonde highlights.  Now I don't look good as a blonde, really, but there was something cathartic about drastically changing my look.

"A woman who changes her hair is about to change her life." 

Or she's just bored.

My attitude has always been : It's just hair.  It will grow back.  (Which is easy for me to spout because my hair grows ridiculously fast.)

Not much has changed since college.  I still like to change it up.  Long, short.  Bangs, no bangs. Dark brown, natural, ombre.

Recently I really got the itch to chop it again.  I briefly considered a pixie, like I shared in this post a couple years ago.  But ultimately decided on a piecey, chin-length bob instead, with no bangs.

before and after...

I honestly feel more comfortable in short hair.  I feel like it fits my personality better -- and I simply feel more vibrant as a human being.  I know women who would say the opposite - that their long hair makes them feel more feminine and happy (and perhaps their significant other likes it better, too) and would never consider going short.

We all have the hair length + style we feel best in.  Or if you haven't figured it out yet - experiment!

And mamas...if you have a daughter who decides to give herself a haircut, with heartbreaking (to you) results...perhaps she is just trying to find her own personal style.

hair : an adventure of cuts and my new lob

Let's talk hair!

I'm definitely a person who likes to change up her style on a regular basis.  Always have been.  Even as a little girl there were several times when I decided I needed a chop and took the scissors to my long blonde locks - I think age four and six.  Sorry Mom!  (It was very traumatic for her, and now I totally get why.  Yikes.) But you must admit my longing for bangs and then just kinda making it happen was pretty brave/assertive of me.  Just sayin'.

So brave I have always tried to be, with both color and cuts.  Not exactly wild and crazy - but willing to try new styles!  I dyed my own hair all throughout high school, and this did not always turn out well (bright blonde, a weird shade of greenish brown, red!) but I didn't have the cash to have it professionally done so, again, I had to make it happen somehow.  

Post-high school and especially in the past five years I have gone from long to short and back again many, many times.  My hair grows really fast, so that makes it easier to change things up.  I thought it would be fun to look back at some of my recent cuts, and show you the latest cut!

Let's start back in 2009...

The Sleek Bob

Let me just say this is my favorite cut of all - a smooth bob just below an inch or two below my chin.   I have done it various times over the past ten years. The only part I don't like is that it is hard to put my hair up/back for the gym.  But it is definitely the cut that I feel suits me and my personality best.

The Shag

 This was supposed to be more of a choppy, textured bob - worn messy!  I really liked it because I had just had Cormac a few months earlier and wanted something updated but low-maintenance.  Once again, with this one I was happy to go short after having longer hair throughout my pregnancy!

The Long Pixie

I chopped it into a this cut after I lost all my baby weight with from my first pregnancy.  I had always wanted to try a super short style.  I know there are shorter, very edgy pixies, which I think are cute but I was not brave enough to go short and spikey.  Nor will I ever be.  I decided the pixie is not for me!  I have too giant of a head, and am not too cheap to go in and have it "cleaned up" every six weeks.   I liked the short and sassy look for a while...but not the upkeep or growing out process.  Next came - 

Long and Layered with Blonde Ombre

 So after two cuts of the pixie, I started growing out my hair -- about the time I got pregnant with Finola.  So it took about a year and a half to get from a short pixie to the length above, even with a few trims/re-layers.   I looooooved this blonde ombre (partial highlight.)  I don't look very good fully blonde due to my really dark eyebrows, but I liked it only in the lower half of my hair.  This style was really fun over the summer - I did a lot of braids and low side ponytails and messy top-knot buns.  Really versatile and feminine.    I like long hair every once in a while!  Hubby likes me to mix it up, too.  But then I got bored with it.  

Which brings us to....

 The Lob

This is pretty much "the Rachel" of haircuts right now, so I had to try it.  I really like the long pieces in the front and how it angles back shorter.  I did an even lighter ombre this time, starting the highlighting even higher.  I love the loose waves and beachy vibe.  It makes me excited for spring -- and our upcoming vacation.  Another reason to change it up!  

Has anyone else tried 'the lob'? 

What is your favorite 'cut for yourself?

//my subtle blonde ombre//

I cannot believe summer is winding down and Cormac is on the verge of starting pre-school.

Eek!

In honor of "back to school" season I recently got my hair cut and highlighted.

(Just kidding...I did it just because I desperately needed a trim.)

I decided to try the ombre trend by keeping my natural light ash brown on top, 

and adding some subtle blonde highlights on the bottom half...

Okay, so I realize my dark + grainy phone pic makes it hard to tell... but I love the beachy, updated vibe it gives my long hair.  The price tag was a little steep, though...so I will definitely be keeping it long for a while to make this splurge worth the cash!

Ah, if only ombre had been in style when I was fifteen!   Then growing out my hair after dousing in with Sun-In all summer wouldn't have looked so ridiculous...

'1996 ombre' - aka "really bad roots"

Perhaps my new 'do will help people stop asking where in the world my kiddos get their blindingly bright blonde hair?  Probably not.  But here are some more photos dug out of the archives to prove that, yes, I once had some natural blonde locks...oh, and a bit of natural curl!

little g - age 2

probably 3 or 4

my 6th birthday party - still rockin' some blonde wispies in that ponytail

My hair started getting darker around age eight.  So perhaps my two little blondies will turn out to be brunettes in the end.

Has anyone else out there tried ombre?   I think it is one of those really fun trends that we will all kick ourselves for in twenty years and whip out embarassing photos.  Along with the high-waisted shorts and crop tops (that I definitely won't be rockin' any time soon.)
Check out my hair inspiration board on Pinterest if you are thinking about ombre yourself!

Hope everyone is having an amazing week!

pixie cut

I finally chopped my hair. I've been wanting to do for a while, having admired pixie cuts for years, but always felt maybe my face was just too round.  ???  Anyway, decided to just do it.

I went for the longish version,
inspired by these gorgeous {round-faced!} ladies...

Source: trendyshorthaircuts.com via Greta on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Greta on Pinterest

Do I like it?  Yes.

Now I want it even shorter! Then I think I would love it.

Cormac and Hubby like it, too...

which is good, since they have to look 

at me every day!

Ever chopped your hair short?

Did you love it? 

Have a hard time parting with your long locks?

g

14 days of loves: day 12 {the fauxhawk}

Hmmm...

...not really enough hair to rock this fabulous look...

...but at least we tried.  

:)

g

14 days of loves: day 1 {B&B Surf Spray}

{From now until Valentine's Day I will be posting one thing each day I "love" right now - in addition to my regular posts.  Enjoy!}

Love for Day #1: Bumble and Bumble 'Surf Spray'

I have always hesitated to buy these salty surf sprays because I thought they would make my hair sticky and gooey.  My hair is prone to get oily anyway, so I don't want make matters worse.  However, my stylist convinced me when I recently chopped 10 inches off my hair that my new haircut would require a little product.  Product.  I never like to hear that word uttered by my stylist as I always feel like I'm being pressured to buy stuff I don't need.  As you probably know, I am really cheap.  So I usually listen to the spiel and then politely say, "Um, I'll think about it." even though I don't really need to.

But my recent haircut, named "the shab" by the fashion mags because it is a cross between a "shag" and a "bob" 

Source: usmagazine.com via Melissa on Pinterest

(apparently "the slob" didn't sound as cute) had me feeling like I needed something.   My stylist convinced me that all I would need was this Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray.  A couple of spritzes, whether my hair is wet or dry, and a few "scrunches" with my fingers was all it would take...

And she was right.  I don't blow dry.  I don't curl.  I don't flat iron.  I don't even need hairspray or dry shampoo.

Sure, it does look a little disheveled...but it's supposed to!

Plus, this is on my third day of styling (as I only wash every 3rd day.)  Not too "shabby." :)

I love it.  It's easy, modern, and did I mention easy?  Perfectly easy for a new mama stayin' at home...and sassy enough for a night out.  And I only need one fabulous product.

Another lovely 'love' tomorrow for Day 2!

g