Hairy Changes

Ever since I can remember, my hair has been longer than at least my mid-back. I've gotten it trimmed and layered like nobody's business to keep it looking nice and to keep it from weighing down the back of my head whenever I put it up in a ponytail, but I never failed to make sure I kept on the length. I like my hair long, but after graduating (and for some time leading up to that), I knew I wanted to change it up.

It wasn't only because I kept sitting on my hair or kept having to pull it over my shoulders and out of my face, but (as corny as it sounds) I felt like I was ready for a significant personal change. Towards the end I knew I would miss my long hair, but I was ready this time to let them go. That being said, here is a following of the afternoon of May 10th, the day I let my locks go.

It started with me having my younger sister take pictures of my hair, some of which obviously didn't turn out, but we got there eventually.

My hairdresser, Jamie, was super nice and let me take as many pictures as I wanted...

Jamie: Are you sure you want to take it all off?

Me: Yup.

Jamie: Alright! Cuz I don't want want to hear you crying when I do.

Me: ...Can we take a before and after picture?

(Paraphrased, of course.)

First thing Jamie told me was that she was going to take off some of the length first. I was kind of trying not to be hysterical in that moment, not because of what she was going to do, but because another female customer sitting under one of the salon's hooded hairdryers was making faces at all the hair that I was getting cut off. But at 2:32pm, the long-ness was gone and she began to style my hair. When she finished and I stood up she said, "Don't look down," or something to that effect. I did anyway and took a picture of all the hair.

The question that tends to arise the most after people say to me, "You got your hair cut," is, "Did you donate it?"

Me: No.

Person: Why not?

Well, I'll tell you...Because I didn't want to. Yes, I realize that sounds incredibly selfish/self-centered, but even when I was growing it out yeeears ago and it reached a recognizably long length, there was a period of time when people would ask me if I was going to donate my hair. It was almost as if that was the only thing I could do with my hair once it got long enough, as if I couldn't just have long hair. After I got it cut, someone actually said to me, "shame on you," for not having donated my hair. The comment was not meant cruelly, but I don't need to justify my reasons for not donating, just know that I didn't.

The Before The After

Length Before Length After

I honestly enjoy having my hair short now. I like being able to whip my hair back and forth over my head and I definitely appreciate how much quicker it dries. I have a lot more energy and, I've been told, a more sarcastic nature, which makes me laugh, but I like my hair even more now and I'm glad that...

...I finally did it!

~ Olivia