Silver Lining: Hair: how weird it is, and how I felt brave cutting mine off

May 6, 2013

Hair: how weird it is, and how I felt brave cutting mine off

Hair is a weird thing. Really. It's just a mass of dead proteins growing out of your scalp. But yet, so much of our sense of beauty depends on that mass of protein. Remember how big of a deal it was when Karlie Kloss cut hers off? And how celebrities are all about big, curly, voluminous hair? And then there's the money we put into our hair. We spend money buying shampoos and gels, straightening irons and curling irons, dyes and highlights. We cut it, we put extensions in, we put hairspray and deep conditioner and decorations into it. And the time we spend on it!


On Thursday, I got my hair cut in a big way. I had worn it long for years, and I was ready for a change. So I decided to donate to Locks of Love. It was a no-brainer thing until I was in the salon, wet hair rubber banded at the top and bottom, braided, ready to be cut off and sent in the mail.  Then my hair stylist went to get the industrial scissors (you need those?), and I sat there, looking at my braid.


What is it like for girls who have no choice what their hair is like? For girls who just watch it fall out by the fistful and don't get it back until months after chemo, when it grows thin and fuzzy and short? I guess I never thought about being grateful for my hair.


And then I was like you know what, let's do this. You may think I'm silly, but it took courage to cut off my hair, a big part of my identity, for a new identity. And maybe even the chance that someone else could have a new identity. So yes, I felt brave. And excited.



And then the lady came back with the industrial scissors (you have really thick hair, she said). And that was that! Now I have a braid sitting on my bedroom shelf waiting to be mailed in, and a short haircut that I love. Nice and short and cute for the summer. And maybe somewhere a girl will have a wig to wear and put bows in and feel like she has a new identity just like me.


And that's my entire blog post about hair.

P.S. it now takes 2 minutes flat to do my hair. 
Air dry during breakfast, 
add a little hairspray, 
done.
Best part.

14 comments:

  1. It looks so cute! I love it!

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  2. Love the new cut ! Look great on you ! You'll love it !

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  3. I love it. I love it I love it I love it. I also love you.

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  4. I LOVE your short hair! :] And you are brave! It really is crazy how important hair is/seems. I LOVE how easy short hair is to do too though! I've always been more of a short hair girl myself!

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  5. On your note on how fast doing your hair takes, I'm right with you! I love short hair and how it barely needs to be done!

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  6. Looks cute! A friend recently donated her hair to Pantene's program because supposedly locks of love charges the receivers of the wigs and Pantene doesn't. Not sure if that's true, but you could check it out.

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  7. You are so inspirational! And brave! It would be so hard for me to cut my hair! You look beautiful with long and short hair! Love it!

    xo, Jessica

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  8. Such a great post, hair is something so important for us girls and at the same time temporary =) Very nice & brave of you you look really pretty <3

    Nydia

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  9. Cute! You are definitely brave!

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  10. Cute! I love it! I just recently cut my hair too. And the person who did my hair said the same thing! Super super thick hair. But I love it :)

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  11. You look gorgeous.

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  12. AnonymousMay 11, 2013

    I love this blog Brooke. I was in your ward that you went to when you lived in Beaverton. Your mom watched my little boy for me a few times. She is an angel. Your hair is fantastic. But you are beautiful no matter what!! I read this blog when I need to feel uplifted and need something positive to think about in a world where the news is so disturbing. Thanks for being such an intelligent writer. Keep up the good work.

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  13. AnonymousJune 12, 2013

    Just stumbled on your site looking for some bob hair pics for my friend, just had to stop and say, you're just stunning with the bob. The long hair looked nice, but the shorter hair really accentuates your features so much more, I hope you keep it!

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