Friday, October 24, 2008

The One with the Locks of Love

I have yet to meet a woman that's happy with her hair. Most women have a love-hate relationship with their own hair. Ask any woman about her hair and she will point out something wrong with it. It's too straight, too curly, too thick, too thin, too THIS, too THAT... you get the point. In the last few months, I've received several comments about how beautiful and healthy my long, black hair was and like any other woman I could not fight the internally-wired urges to criticize my hair.

Begin complaining-about-my-hair rant:

My hair is really thick, which makes it heavy. It's wavy in a non-pattern way - there's no rhyme or reason as to how it decides how to wave. Most people actually didn't know how long my hair was because I usually wear it up. Being so heavy AND wavy, with hot weather, it was incredibly annoying.

Okay, rant over.

So I grew out my hair for the wedding so I would have enough hair to curl in an updo. My hairdresser literally would not trim my bangs because she said it needed to be long enough to pin behind my ears. Of course, she was right. Post-wedding, I let it grow for a couple more inches so I would have enough to donate and enough to still look semi-adult age. :)

Awhile back, I heard about this organization called, "Locks of Love." This is their mission statement: Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need. How awesome is that?!

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The ironic thing about all of this was that right before I went to finally cut this hair that I've been complaining about for over a year, I actually started rationalizing that maybe it wasn't THAT BAD. That taking almost 45 minutes to flat iron it wasn't THAT BAD. Or the fact that it took hours to air dry, if it even did, wasn't THAT BAD. Or that I felt like Cousin It and not like a Tahitian beauty when my hair was down. Or that I would go through bottles of shampoo and conditioner like no other wasn't THAT BAD either. Luckily, I have a loving husband that helped to remind me of these daily annoyances.

Even though I was still fearing separation anxiety, I bit the bullet and finally got it cut. Here is how long my hair was to begin with. I didn't realize how long it was because it's been so long since I've flat-ironed it! This is the longest my hair has been my whole life.
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My wonderful hairdresser put my hair into four ponytails, asked me if I was ready, and snipped them right off. Hair that took me almost three years to grow!

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It was weird seeing my hair in ponytails unattached to my head. I really had no idea how long it was!

Walking out of the salon, I felt like I had a wig on. I had not had my hair this short since 2003, which I like to affectionately call the period of "Ol' Skool Jasmine." My hair used to be really short in my college days - so short that my hairdresser used to shave the hair near the nape of my neck.

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This was when we were first dating. Probably in the first two months.

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:)

So without further ado, here's the new haircut!
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The first couple of days was the hardest. I actually kind of missed my hair and felt a bit naked without it. I forgot to only use a little bit of shampoo. Every time I would put on a shirt, I would out of habit pull my hair out of the back of my shirt. I even had a twinge of regret about cutting it.

Two weeks later, I'm quite happy. Even though people keep telling me that I look like I'm 12, I suppose it's better than people saying I look like I'm 40. :)

20 comments:

nel said...

i love the new 'do, Jasmine! You look good with short hair, too!

MM said...

Wow you look like a different person! It looks great!

~kelly marie~ said...

You look so good!!! I'm glad you donated, too! Cute, cute, cute! I can't wait to see the haircut in person! Hint, hint! I want to see you soon! :)

Melissa Koehler said...

I think you look SUPER cute! People always think that I look 12 too, so don't worry about it
xoxo

Bryan Villarin said...

It's weird seeing you with short hair, but it looks good. :)

Ann said...

So cute!!

Judy Tang said...

Being called a 12-year old > Looking 40.

Will Locks of Love take your hair if its not all even? My hair is maybe an inch shy of the length of your hair. I wanna donate too!

I'm sick of the drying time/loss of hair everytime I shower/random strands wherever I go/etc.

Anonymous said...

Wow Jas, I didn't realize your hair was so long before. I think you do the new look well. :)

Beautiful Moments Photography said...

What a beautiful beautiful thing to do Jasmine! I love your new hair cut, it suits you very well :)

Chatti said...

it's so cute though! it suits you!

Anonymous said...

Your haircut is so cute! I absolutely love it :) It must feel so refreshing and it's great that your ponytails went to a good cause!

Rachel Brooke said...

OH my gosh!! First of all, I think it is awesome that you gave your hair to Locks of Love. Second, I LOVE your new haircut!! It looks great on you!

Anonymous said...

Hi! I'm new to your blog, I came across you through a comment you left for Amelia Lyon.
Just wanted to say hi and that I love your new hair cut :) It looks amazing on you and is very "in". haha
Also, I was looking through your pictures and love your work :) Its fab. have a lovely day!

Anonymous said...

I like your new haircut! It's really really cute! :)

OHANA PHOTOGRAPHERS said...

locks of love yay!!!! you know how we feel about your cute lil do!!! we love it!!!

AHS Photography said...

I love the new cut!

Anonymous said...

What a positive way to look at age. lol

Your new cut looks wonderful. Wish I had the courage to cut it so short.

Lisa Gisczinski Photography said...

SO ADORABLE!

Anonymous said...

I love the new haircut! And such a fantastic cause. My sis just did this and parted with her locks... it wasn't easy BUT it was very rewarding. Good job!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jasmine: Found your site through twitter! :) Just wanted to say hello and cool shots! Also what you did with your hair... that's a great idea! Locks of Love - I'll check it out :)