I am a bit bipolar when it comes to my hair. I want it long, then I want it short....oops, mistake. I want it long again. I've been doing this since I was about 17 or so. I don't know why.
This time I'm going to change things up a bit. For one thing, I've been researching hairstyles on Pinterest for a month or two. Just when I've decided on one, I see another I like. So many hairstyles; so little time! If you are looking for a new hairstyle, follow Only the Manager on Pinterest and check out my hairstyles board. Don't be surprised if you feel overwhelmed by the choices, though. As I type this, it is a matter of only hours until I go get the deed done and yet I've not decided on my style.
Imagine my delight when I heard of Locks of Love! It gave me a mission! Who knew that growing and cutting off hair could serve such a purpose! Also people who may have thought a middle-aged women shouldn't have hair this long surely wouldn't complain if it is for a charitable purpose! Yep. I went from crazy-hair-lady to noble-lady! I'm still bipolar about my hair, but at least my craziness helps others.
The first time I donated to Locks of Love (2004) I gave 22 inches of hair. It was kind of fun! I went in to my hairdresser's on a Saturday morning. No one else was there when I arrived. However, just before she cut off my ponytail, her husband stopped in with her 4 or 5 year old son. He stood watching as she cut. Really, 22 inches is a lot of hair and when it comes off all at once, I guess it looks rather dramatic. Her son started screaming, "Mama! You broke her hair! You broke it!" He was so distressed; I quickly reassured him that I wanted her to do it but I am not sure he ever believed me. He may have been scarred for life. I hope not.
I kept my hair short for awhile after that. I thought I was too old to grow my hair long again. I was also expecting it to go gray any minute, but it didn't. So, I started growing it out again.
In 2009 I donated again to Locks of Love. At that time I was working as a chemotherapy nurse. Ironic, huh? I was giving other women drugs that made their hair fall out yet I easily grew mine long again. I got the bright idea that I would ask one of the patients if she wanted to cut my hair off before I went to get it styled. I chose a woman who had battled cancer repeatedly for years. She told me she had lost her hair at least three different times. She had a good sense of fun and was delighted to accept my offer. As it turned out, someone at our clinic asked me to have her do it at a cancer survivor party. I agreed. I didn't realize that the local tv stations would be covering the event, as well as our newspaper! What a strange experience.
I wasn't blogging yet then, but my daughter did a post about the event. You can read about it here if you'd like, just keep in mind that my daughter wrote it. She's the president of my fan club! When I look back at those photos I remember a day of fun and joy. We were celebrating life and friendship. The woman who cut my hair, Sharyn, survived a long time after her first diagnosis of cancer. Sadly, the day did come when we had to say good-bye to Sharyn. I will always remember the fun she had that day, though. She really got into it and charmed all who watched her short hairdressing career. I went to my hairdresser later that day. I didn't choose my own style but instead, let my hairdresser do whatever she wanted.
For another change this time, I'm thinking I will send my ponytail to Wigs for Kids. I don't really care which organization handles it, as long as someone who can't grow their own hair gets a turn at combing and curling and primping and styling.
So, how do you manage your hair? Do you like to try different styles or have you found one that just feels like YOU and so you stick with it?
Good-bye long hair...for now.
9 comments:
I,m sorry my style is me..
I have pretty thick and coarse hair, so it's the 500-pound gorilla that I let do whatever it wants. ;-) Luckily, I have some nice natural waves -- although it was stick-straight as a kid! How weird that that happens with age sometimes! -- and it usually looks pretty nice with just a little blowdrying effort. Last month I got bangs for the first time since high school (I think), and I decided that it's just not me. I'm able to just blowdry them to the sides and you can't even tell, so I'm happy until they grow out. I like my hair medium-to-long, all one length but with a few slight layers in the front. I also colored it dark red-brown last month, but it's already faded to brown with just a bit of red highlights. I love it red, though, so I may go bolder next time!
I've wanted to donate to Locks of Love myself, but I can't seem to get my hair to grow long enough and stay healthy. Perhaps I'll try again, though! It's so wonderful that you donate; I remember Maria's post and I loved it!
Whoever gets your hair is winning the hair lottery!
Thank you for doing that. It is strange that we let someone pour toxins into our body and it is the loss of hair that we mourn. One little known fact is that locks of love will accept grey hair, they just sell it to wig makers to support the enteprise of making the wigs for cancer patients. Since my hair has grown back I have donated twice. It really is a worthy thing to do.
I look forward to seeing your new style. You are blessed in that you look lovely in anything from a pixie to very, very long hair. Don't let age tell you how to wear your hair! I love that your good hair genes give both you and some cancer patients great hair.
You have beautiful hair! I would like to see it red...Cardinal Red? Actually, on one of our trips to St. Louis I got the bright idea to use a red rinse on my hair. It was sort of interesting. Unfortunately, it left red on the pillowcase. That was the same trip that I used a not-very-good tan from a bottle. It faded onto the sheets! Yes, I was so very lovely for that trip.
Ah, you are sweet. Thanks.
Hi Lisa, fellow donor! Yes, they do take gray hair. I kind of forgot about that. I really just didn't want to grow long gray hair but since then I've actually seen some ladies that carried that off well. Maybe I will keep doing this when I am gray.
Thank you, Michelle! I think I feel most like me when it is long, but it is fun to try out some new looks from time to time (every 3-4 years). We certainly do have some potent hair genes in our family, huh?
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