Yesterday, I woke up with the determination of Jo March. I was going to cut my “one beauty”. But thankfully it was not because I needed the money to send Marmee to my injured father in the American Civil War. (Any Little Women fans here?)
If you saw my Instagram or Facebook yesterday, you may have noticed that I’m looking a little lighter. As in, over 10 inches lighter. I chopped my hair off and I’ve got to say it was one of the most liberating experiences I’ve ever had.
My hair was the longest it has ever been, grazing over the top of my hips. I had grown it out for my wedding in August and haven’t gotten around to cut it yet. I’ve been wanting to go into “lob” territory for awhile and now seemed like a better time than ever. With my hair at its longest, I could donate it to make a wig… but more on that in a bit.
I’ve always had reservations about short hair and this comes down to two experiences in my life:
- “Mommy, you look like a man,” is what a crying 4-year old Julia said to her mother when she came home from the hair salon with a bob. This is a true testament to how women were portrayed in children’s movies in the 90s. I really thought that long hair meant femininity. I was so upset and my poor mother had to calm me down, dry my tears, and she probably questioned her new hair style. My mom is absolutely beautiful and has always looked gorgeous with a bob. I was just a very dramatic child.
- I was scarred the last time I got my hair cut short. I was about 10 or 11 years old, and my sister and I got bobs for our summer trip to California. My sister, Jessica, was cooler than me and she must’ve gotten her hair cut before I did. I had to be cool too and have the same haircut. This was before I hit puberty and lost baby fat. I did not have any bone structure. I was just chubby.
The haircut looked great on my sister, but I rocked this pumpkin look that whole summer all summer and cringe when I remember that look. I don’t have any pictures and I asked my dad to take a look at our photo albums. He couldn’t find any, but found the photo below which is a mood in itself.
My cheekbones have since made an appearance and I’ve been waiting for a good time to try out shorter hair. I have a fantastic hair stylist, James Valiant from Suki’s Granville, who would have told me if it was a bad decision. He has been cutting my hair for years and I trust him. Seriously, if you are looking for a new hair stylist, go to James. He will tell you fun stories about his travels, dancing at Celebrities, and fried chicken and you will leave the salon with beautiful hair.
So far I’m absolutely loving short hair. I’m very fortunate too and know that if I ever want long hair again, it will grow back in a few months. My hair will make a child feel beautiful when they are suffering from cancer or a life-threatening illness. If you want more information on donating your hair, check out the Wigs for Kids website.
I’m so excited to drop my hair off to Wigs for Kids this week and I know that this small donation will make a difference in a child’s life.
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