Four months after cutting my hair

It has been four months since I cut my hair. How am I doing?

JUST GREAT!!! I do not believe it or could I imagine that I could feel so free.

So that you may understand my babbling I will have to make a confession. I straightened my hair. There, I said it. My mother started with the processing of my hair when I was 11 years old and I spent my entire adult life thereafter doing just that. I could not image a life without processed hair. Every 6-7 weeks I HAD TO GO to the hairdresser to get it straightened otherwise it became unmanageable, it started to break and it got fussy etc. Before I went to have it straightened, I had to wash it at least a week in advance, so I had to keep track of the weeks. With a full time job and being a single mother of two boys who lives alone, getting to the hairdresser was a struggle. I would say all the time that I was a slave to my hair. Oh did I mention that I could not wash it myself? At the point of cutting my hair I was just at my wits end. Now four months and 3 more haircuts later I finally feel like the weight has lifted. It is dawning on me what a burden it was to be straightening my hair.

At first I was excited by the brand new look. This turned to sadness as I became accustomed to the look and I felt that there could be no change. Now I am on the top of the world. I can wash it myself and it still looks good, I can get it combed in less than 30 seconds and get away without combing it on weekends. I do not have to consider the wind, rain or even the sea. For the first time since I was a child I was able to really relax in the sea. I lay floated and did as it pleased me while at the beach.

The main benefit to the hair cut it that I feel that I am not living a lie anymore. No more working so hard to give an image that was not really who I was. No more deception of what my hair is really like. I am now FREE!

On cutting my hair

So there I was two weeks before my 41st birthday sitting in the hairdresser’s chair. My mother is calling me to ask if it is over yet and the other customer is staring at me with her mouth opened wide. I was cutting off almost all of my hair. I always had long hair and reports have always informed me that I had lovely hair. I am conservative by nature and never dared to cut off my hair or try any real styles. But it was time for change.

I was feeling pressured in a schedule of work, kids’ activity and hairdresser appointments and I was sinking. Then three people that I knew died suddenly in a space of three weeks (two just dropped down dead and one had a stroke and died a week later). Layouts were imminent at the company where I work and no one knew who will stay or who will go.

I had always wanted to try a short spiky look so I though I would go for it. Let go of the pass. Look forward to the future. As the hair fell away the hairdresser asked me if I wanted to keep it. I did not. That would be holding on to the pass so I left it all at her place.

I was a little fearful of the responses that I would get especially from those who wanted me to swear I would NEVER cut my hair. I devised phrases and countermoves to answer the attacks. Then I ventured out into the new world. I had all kinds of comments and fortunately most were good. I even got more appreciation comments than usual from the ‘guys’.

I feel powerful now as I sport my new look. I even feel more classy, beautiful and stylish. I love the look and the easy and convenience that comes with being able to handle my own hair. People think that I did it as a new look for a new year but I did it because I could.

In a way it has strengthened me for 2009 with constant reminders of the recession, lost of investments and job loses. If I could cut my hair and survive then I am ready to face 2009, of course with God’s help.