Bear Chick's Journey: Snip Snip!

Here’s the biggest reason I refused to cut my hair short: Too many times I’d hear that once you get to A Certain Age, it’s time to cut your hair. Just like at A Certain Age, you buy your first bottle of Geritol and your first pair of orthopedic shoes. I always admired Dyan Cannon, who kept her hair long and fabulous way after she “should” have.

Of course, that was back in the day… Seems that now, anything goes--long (Demi Moore, Michelle Pfeiffer), short (Judi Dench, Jane Fonda), gray (Helen Mirren, bless her)… But still, I was dismayed when the urge to cut my hair veered into obsession mode. I didn’t want to look the dreaded Certain Age…

As much as I deny it, I am of that Certain Age when hair starts to suffer. Breakage left me with a fist full of strands after every shower and my hair started to feel a bit coarse and dry. Hot oil treatments and vitamin B complex have helped but I really wanted a fresh start with my crowning glory--excise the unhealthy, frizzy length and get the rest really healthy.

Over the course of a few weeks, I kept reminding myself that it was my hair--long, short or in between--people will form their opinions and those are none of my business. I’m just trying to be happy and healthy. Have I mentioned that my hair is an unusual purple shade? If I’m not worried about how people perceive that, why in the world worry about the length?! Sometimes, we make ourselves crazy over the dumbest things. I’ve heard it referred to as “unexamined beliefs” -- buying into something for so long and not giving it the thought required to determine if it’s true or, more accurately maybe, relevant.

So, I went to a chain salon to get my hair cut, having faith that it was the right thing to do and I’d find someone great to do the deed. I had a picture of Carla Gugino with just the style I wanted. Christina and I had a great conversation about how my hair would act with a cut like that, how I may have to use mousse, etc. and she made sure I understood it might not look exactly like the picture, which put me at ease, having proved she knew her stuff.

When she made the first big cut, about 8”, I felt so much lighter. And when she was finished cutting and styling, it felt totally natural. I let it dry on it’s own and the wavy curls I ended up with had a bounce and fullness my hair hadn’t had in a long, long time. The part is slightly off center--I’ve always had mine right down the middle--and it makes a nice, subtle change.

I don’t miss the length at all. At first, I was making that classic flipping motion long haired girls do without thinking, tossing hair back over their shoulders, but that didn’t last long. And it’s still just long enough to tie back if I want to. And it’s so much easier to take care of!! Wash, scrunch, go!