Friday, April 30, 2010

Vanity, Vanity

I cut off my hair again. This traumatic event occurs about every 5 years, and it's only traumatic for my husband. I introduce the subject of how much I hate my hair and mention that I'd really like to shave it all off. He argues that he LIKES LONG HAIR; I retort that he must like STRINGY, FRIZZY, UNSTYLED LONG HAIR because that's what I have. We go 'round and 'round for several weeks, until I finally wear him down and he mutters, "Fine. Do what you want." I always planned to . . . just needed his blessing.

The five-year interval has never been conscious or planned. Yes, I am a control freak, but I don't sit around scheduling my haircuts five years in advance. In fact, I never even realized I was cutting my hair every 5 years until recently, when I started feeling the need to shave my head again, and began recalling previous coiffes.

My first big chop was in junior high. I visited my very first hair salon ever and asked for the Dorothy Hamill wedge. The next transformation occured when I was 18; I don't remember the details, but I know I removed my long brunette locks because I have a snapshot of me sitting in my dorm room with super short hair grinning like a weirdo college freshman. Then every 4 or 5 years after that, I'd do it again. I had a really cute, spiky style in the 90s that I just loved; I'd dyed my hair black for a part in a play, and I felt very edgy with my slightly goth look.

My last short hair occurred when I was pregnant with the twins, and felt like a cow. A slightly disabled cow. No, make that a small house. I felt like a house had fallen on top of me and two people were still living in it, moving around inside, shaking the entire structure. And no one would let me just lay down and rest with this house on top of me. No, I had to keep walking around and bending over to pick up bags of groceries and pushing the vacuum across the living room floor and driving my daughters to and from school, all with a big ol' house crushing me. Actually, I like the cow analogy better.

I was a big cow with a sore back and aching hooves. And my hair was like a mutated mane of some sort that made me feel hot and exhausted and more cow-ish. So I cut it all off and felt much better.

But it's grown back.

I know it's difficult to notice my hair when you're mesmerized by the slenderness of my hips, but try to focus, people!



I took something like 20 pictures, trying to get my entire head into the frame. I finally gave up. A self-portrait artist I am not. Anyway, here's my short hair, which I would like to remind my husband is not really THAT short. I've had much shorter, so he needs to SHAKE IT OFF.

It'll grow back, sweetheart.



Dinner last night: chicken and garlic pizza


Exactly one year ago:

Exactly two years ago:

14 comments:

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Mine is on the 3 yr rotation. And I'm beyond the 3 yr mark and going nutty, especially as the days get hotter, but I just need someone to watch my kids so I can go get the 10 inch chop done!!
I bet you lost about 3 pounds of hair :-)

Katherine said...

I like it! Although, if my hair ever got as long as yours was, I don't think I would be brave enough to cut it off. I keep mine about shoulder length, although I threaten my husband with a Meg Ryan cut almost every day.

Unknown said...

I'm in a mood to cut mine off too, but my 20 year reunion is coming up. I'm waiting till that's over, then I'm cutting it. Probably. Maybe. Crap.

Liz Mays said...

But it looks good and it's summer so it will feel good!

Karen Mortensen said...

Looks good.

barbaramaarit said...

Hi Kim, It has been a long time. I just wanted to assure you that I am still definitely one of the faithful. I look for your new entry everyday and am always disappointed when there is nothing new. I feel like I know you and your family so well. It's great. I like your short hair (I have never seen you with anything but long.)

We take off for Isle Royale May 6. Next week at this time we will be on the boat for the Island. We'll be back May 27 It'll be a good trip and the first time we've had a spring trip in two years. Then in mid-July we head to Fairbanks. Probably we won't (sadly) make Anchorage this time. We'll be visiting for three weeks, though, so who knows? Maybe I could take the train or fly down and we could have a brief visit. I'd love that.

Happy upcoming birthday to the twins. Can they really be four? Our two little adopted ones had birthdays this past week. Brandon was 4 on Tuesday and Emily was one yesterday. We were lucky enough to go to both parties. Fun, noisy, and boisterous for Brandon. Much more sedate for Emily who doesn't quite get the concept yet. Next year I'll bet she will.

My hair is really short. I love the wash, brush, and go aspect of it. I swim a lot, so long hair is not an option.

Love to you and yours, Barbara

Unknown said...

your self photo looks like my mom when she was 20! 5 years is a long time not to cut your hair, whereas I went 10 years with a pixie! Good decision on both ends :)

Heather~sheaaa6 said...

wow, your hair was long and pretty! =] The new cut looks pretty too. =] Enjoy your new change. =]

Joey Lynn Resciniti said...

I used to do the same thing until the Tony Danza hair fiasco. Now I'll be like Rapunzel before I risk that kind horror show again.

I like your new style and your husband can begin again enjoying the long hair phase!

Mother Mayhem said...

I like mine short... Can't remember the last time that it was actually what one would consider long...

I like the new do! :o)

Mrs. B said...

i think it looks great! i always had long hair too, but i think that short hair is so much more manageable.

and my hubs was unsure at first too, but he got over it eventually. ;)

Karen M. Peterson said...

Wow! Your hair was LONG! It looks great.

I'm starting to get the itch to cut mine off again. I do it ever few years, too. I love it long, but I love it short, too.

But I guess since I haven't made up my mind yet, I'm not completely prepared.

Amy DM said...

Those long curls were gorgeous!

I cut my hair about every two years but I'm trying to get in the habit of cutting it more often. Your hair looked really healthy. Do you trim the ends?

Dianna@KennedyAdventures said...

WOW! It really was long!
I don't know what it is about husbands and long hair. Seriously.
Mine looks good up until a certain length, and then my face just gets lost.

I like the new, shorter 'do!