In January of this year I had an itch to do something drastic to break the mold of my daily routine. I felt like I was in a rut. Every morning I woke up, ironed my husband’s work clothes, showered, dressed, and dried my hair. By mid-day my hair would be in a pony tail and out of my face. I hated how much time and effort I had to put into something that wasn’t important to me – it was just something that stood between me and what I wanted to accomplish that day. And I was tired of things standing in my way.
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| August 2014 vs. May 2015 |
I am fearless.
I did this for me.
Lately I’ve started thinking about the other gals I know who have gone the route of the “pixie” before me and what affect, if any, it has had on their lives.
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| Sinatra |
Occupation:
Self-employed artist, designer, and adventurer
Long hair is so boring. My hair is thick so it was such a pain to deal with. I have the face for short hair. I can do more with it, style it, and dry it faster.
About 2 inches past my shoulders.
Fierce
Yes, people are always commenting on my hair or taking pictures of it to show their stylist!
I love it! It fits my personality and it’s edgy.
Women who want short hair should never fear the cut. I always see it as just hair; it will grow back. I used to be a hair model for Bumble & Bumble when I lived in NYC. I was picked for short hair cuts; nothing extreme, mostly asymmetrical pixies or a-line bobs. There’s something empowering about having short hair. It’s like freedom from the weight of a low self-esteem that is cut away one strand at a time. You feel like there is nothing in the world that you cannot conquer!
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| Jansen |
Occupation:
I’m a stay at home mama to three crazy kiddos. I blog in my spare time (Ha! Spare time!) I mean, I blog really late at night.
I have had my hair every length, style, and color under the sun in my adult life, but in February, I shaved my head. A very special little boy in my life was diagnosed with Leukemia (AML). When he began his chemotherapy and began to lose his hair, his dad had the idea to host an event where we (family and friends) all shaved our heads in support of Chase’s fight. The evening was inspiration for many tears both happy and sad. I’m thrilled to be able to say that after six long months, Chase is home recovering and cancer free. (Read about it on her blog!)
My hair was in a jaw-length cut-in bob when I shaved my head. Only a year before it was well beyond my shoulders.
Honestly, it makes me feel like a grown up. For some reason, I’ve always equated short hair with maturity. As I’ve become a woman in my thirties, I’ve noticed fewer and fewer women pull off long hair as well as they tend to pull off shorter hair. Maybe it is some hormonal connection? I’m not sure. Either way, short hair makes me feel like I’m comfortable with where I am in life – wife, mother, adventurer!
When my head was shaved I was certainly treated differently. I think most people were just curious as to why. Was I in cancer treatment? Was I some kind of rebel? Or making a statement? I’m a stout six-feet tall, so I should mention that I think my height plays into how people react to me. With that said, I think short hair elicits an air of confidence. Long hair is considered traditional. Any time a woman bucks tradition there tend to be responses both good and bad. My short hair seems to be complemented by most women and few men, and questioned most by older gentlemen and young girls.
There are times when I think longer hair helps me feel more feminine. This feeling of lack of femininity is also a by-product of my aforementioned height. Most of the time, I view my short hair as fashionable, feminist, and something I like to think I can “pull-off!”
I love the fact that both of my daughters also shaved their heads this past winter in support of their friend. So often young people, especially girls, tie their identity too tightly to what they look like (adults do that too – I’m guilt of having done so before). Figuring out who you are isn’t always easy, and sometimes experimenting with things like hair can help to cultivate and express who we are. I’m glad I’ve never been afraid to experiment. “It’s only hair,” my mother would say when I was growing up. It is… and it isn’t.
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| Lisa |
Occupation:
I try to change the colors to keep from being bored. Last year it had an orange patch.
I loved chopping all my hair off and getting an A-line bob! That is the shortest I've gone since I was like 8 years old, and when I was 8 I had a nightmare experience where the lady basically just buzzed my hair without my permission (she colluded with my mom, and since I've been scarred by the experience..so I'll probably never get a super short cut again). But you're right! It is nice to do something that separates you from traditional conventions of beauty. I remember when I chopped all my hair off Adam was sad that I didn't have long locks, but I was happier because it was easier to manage and I felt super chic with a stylish cut! You are rocking the pixie and mohawk look, lady!
I love your long hair – but I feel for you in the bad haircut department. I went in to a Supercuts when I was in middle school to get the \”Rachel\” and I ended up with a frickin' mullet! My mom had to fix it for me when I got home. It was awful and it certainly scars you! I imagine with the heat in AZ, your hair can get hard to manage (or appreciate) at times! 🙂
I love your long hair – but I feel for you in the bad haircut department. I went in to a Supercuts when I was in middle school to get the \”Rachel\” and I ended up with a frickin' mullet! My mom had to fix it for me when I got home. It was awful and it certainly scars you! I imagine with the heat in AZ, your hair can get hard to manage (or appreciate) at times! 🙂