Cutting It All Off

I have been growing out my hair since January 2012.  It has been a LONG and at times, exhausting process.  You can check out my first thoughts about hair here.

I have had long hair, short hair, curly hair, and straight hair.  I have had haircuts I've absolutely hated (circa 7th grade photo) and haircuts that I adore.

Since I've been married, my hair has mainly been on the shorter side.  Then after having kids, it has been even shorter.

My sole purpose of letting my hair grow this time, was to donate my hair to Children With Hair Loss by my 40th birthday.  I chose CWHL because they DO NOT charge their clients for wigs, they work mainly with cancer patients, they accepted color treated hair, and most importantly, they only needed eight inches!

I had no idea it would be such a process.  Most mornings, I dreaded fixing my long hair.  I had aspirations of doing all these fun and exciting things with my long hair, but it either ended up straight and flat or in a braid of some sort.  Curling and fun up-dos just were NOT going to happen.  I seriously tried and tried and tried, but my hair wouldn't do a thing!!

The last few months, I have been sick and tired of my hair.  Everything I tried to do to get my hair to grow faster didn't work.  I was also picking up my hair on and in everything!!  My hair was falling out by the hand full.  And when I'd leave the house, I felt like I'd look in the mirror and say, "This is as good as it gets!!"

I knew exactly what haircut I wanted - a PIXIE!!  I got my first pixie cut when I was about 34.  I loved it!!  It was easy to fix and maintain.  This time, I wanted a little more length in the front.  A little more asymmetrical, which is a bit scary for me.  I've had one asymmetrical haircut and I didn't really like it, I felt like I could only wear my one way.  I finally decided it was worth the risk because if I didn't like, I'd just cut it a bit shorter!!

I also wanted to play with my hair color a bit.  I haven't played with my hair color much because when I have in the past, I haven't really like the results.  I finally decided to take another risk by adding a bit of bleach to my hair.

My inspiration photo for cut and color was this photo of Shailene Woodley.

I was able to donate four small eight inch ponytails!!  I was thrilled when I heard the snip, snip of the scissors!!  When I filled out the paperwork, I was excited to make my donation in honor of my friend, Denise.  Denise lost her battle with breast cancer in May.  I hadn't even thought about that being a possibility until I saw it on the application.

I loved the way it turned out!!  This hair cut is so me.  I'm not a long haired girl and I'm totally okay with that!!  I still want to let the front grow a bit longer, but I can actually wash, dry, and fix my hair in less time than it would take me to try to style my long hair.  The color in the front is still a work in progress, I am wanting it a bit more blond, but it will take a little time, since I've never had bleach on my hair.

Have you ever for went for a dramatic new look??

Sunday Style - Bouquet of Flowers

This wasn't the outfit I had planned this morning - my original outfit just wasn't working, so this is what I went with!!

The Talbots beaded sweater is one of my favorites; I love the beading around the neckline and the  three quarter length sleeves.   I thrifted this last spring and am constantly pulling it out to wear.

The Jaclyn Smith floral skirt is a little outside of the box for me.  I love skirts and I love floral, but the combination of the material and style of the skirt is bit outside of my comfort zone.  I usually go with a pencil skirt in a solid color and usually only wear polyester on my top half.  One of the nice things about thrifting most of my wardrobe is being will to take a gamble with some of my pieces and not spending an arm and leg to do so.  If it doesn't work out, then I'm not out much money, and if it does work out - JACKPOT!!

I completed my look with some fun hand me down earrings and boots, and Walmart black tights.

It was a bit cold this morning, so I pulled out my new to me gray wool coat and purple scarf.  I picked up this Mossimo wool coat at my Salvation Army Family Thrift Store a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely love it!!  I could hardly wait to pull it out to wear.  Then I threw on a purple scarf that I picked up at Dress Barn on clearance a few winters ago.  I love the length and the bold color of this scarf and it picks up the purple in my skirt.

My outfit, complete with all my accessories was under $30!!

On Saturday nights, I like to paint my nails.  A couple of year ago, one of my sister-in-laws shared with me a line of nail polish that actually works for me!!  My nails never seem to dry 100% and end up smudged before I even get to show them off.  This Sally Hansen Insta-Dry is amazing and have it in several shades.  Today I wore Pink Blink.

I also LOVE a good red lipstick too.  I'm pretty picky when it comes to red lipstick.  It can't be too red, orange, or pink.  My favorite lipsticks are two discontinued colors from Mary Kay - Ruby Night and Midnight Red.  I don't know what I'll do when I run out!!

Since I'm growing my hair out, I'm trying to play with it a bit more.  I tell people, I just don't do long hair.  Most days, my hair is in a pony tail.  I loved my short hair soooooo much and one of the reasons is I didn't really have to fix it.  I'm not good with a straightener, the curling iron, bobby pins, teasing comb, or headbands, but I can braid, twist, and create a bun!  I've searched YouTube videos, bought hair products, and pinned ideas on Pinterest, but I always end up frustrated when I try something new.  By the time I get the hang of this long hair thing, I be whacking it off!!

Enjoy your Sunday!!

Hair Today, Gone Maybe by September!

In the fall of 2011, I decided it would be an amazing and wonderful thing to grow out my hair to donate to a charity. I officially started growing it out January 1, 2012.  At the time, I had a pixie cut, which I loved by the way!  It was super easy to fix and maintain.  I had no idea growing out my hair would take so long!!

When I was younger, I felt like my hair grew super fast and was relatively healthy.  Now that I'm almost forty (did I just write that out loud), my hair is growing at a snail's pace and since I have a ton of gray I'm trying to cover up all the time, I don't think it's very healthy either!!

Year One, involved lots of trimming, Justin Beiber like hair (I have the pictures to prove it, but not brave enough to share them!!), and trying to keep my hair from looking like I wanted to have a mullet!!  I also had to wear a lot of headbands, bobby pins, and clips to keep my hair out of my face.

Year Two, was a little less trimming, but had to keep the back short to keep it close to what the length of the front was.  I was finally able to put my hair up in an actual pony tail for the first time in a decade!!

Year Three, has been the easiest year because we haven't had to trim hardly at all and I can actually wear my hair in a few more fun styles - buns, pony tails, and curls.  This year, I have tried a few concoctions to help my hair grow faster, but don't really think they've helped.  Recently, I started drinking a calcium tea, that I do think is helping my hair grow a little faster and it's pretty tasty.

I have decided I really don't like long hair on me.  I can't fix it like all these youtube videos and pins on Pinterest show you.  I don't like taking the time to try to fix it and when I do, I usually don't like it and just wear it down like I always do (unless I'm hitting the gym or going for a run).  And the biggest reason I don't like my hair long. . . I shed like a cat.  I feel like I'm always sweeping up hair, pulling off my hair from someone or something, and cleaning it out of my sink!!  Totally, YUCKO!

My plan is donate before my next monumental birthday in September.  I am totally ok with my hair being super short if need be, but I'm hoping it's long enough that I can play with the length a bit and have a bit longer, asymmetrical bob or pixie.  

Source: http://thriftandshout.blogspot.com

Have you donated your hair to charity?  If so, who did you donate it to and why?  So ready to be done with crazy mane of aging hair!!