Hair

[craftytam]

My mom was a hairdresser (she was called a beautician at the time). She had done my hair from the time I was a baby up until she couldn't anymore - about the time we moved to Idaho. I have had some wild (sad, scary) haircuts over the years. But, she had finally gotten it to where it worked well with my hair. I have VERY fine, and pretty thin hair.

We found someone here who I love and does a great job, but she doesn't seem to be able to do a consistent cut. I went in yesterday and just wanted a trim with long layers.

What I know about hairdressers (based on my mom) is that they decide what they think will look good on you and go with it. Ugh!

So, my sweet girl (This isn't meant to be condescending at all - that's what we've always called our hairdressers) cut my hair at my shoulders. I've been letting it grow and wanted it left below my shoulders. And styled it so it laid flat. I should have taken a picture so I could do a layout of my frustration with hair.

I told her that if I looked good bald, I would shave my head. I didn't get the hair "gene". I literally hate everything to do with hair (okay, maybe that's partly my "mommy issues" )

Okay...rant over... for now

Do you like your hair? Do you like your hair style? Have you had styles that you have absolutely hated? Loved?

If you're brave enough, post some photos below (I'm searching my files now).

 

[craftytam]

My grandpa came home & asked who the little boy in the yard was after this haircut - 1969

I did this to myself. I used "SunIn" when my mom was at work. There's a (not so) fun story about getting it back to normal.


Permed 80s hair


Growing back from another very short haircut - 1991


Almost where I want it - 2015



This last one is cheating... I asked ChatGPT to use this photo and make my hair fully silver. It enhanced everything.

 

[nesser1981]

How frustrating for you! I've been using the same girl for years now, I'm not sure probably 7 or 8.

I've always loved my hair. It's thick and I love the color. I have naturally strawberry blond hair, but as I've moved past my youth, LOL! I've started to have a lot more white (not gray, mine is white), so I started doing partial highlights about 10 years ago, it took me a while to find someone I really liked and didn't try to make me too blond.

It is funny though if I look at older photos, how much redder my hair seemed, the summer it always would lighten a lot, but even compared to underneath, that I'm not adding color to, it's weird how it's changed.

I try to keep mine as natural looking as possible.

Here are a few, I'm at work, so I pulled a few. I have had weird, short bobs that didn't turn out great, but I'm pretty boring. Although, I did rock perms in my day. The last time was in 10th grade, so 1996/1997. I'd have to find those pics to scan.

First picture I'm probably 2, maybe 3 with my granny, second this is probably right before I started highlighting my hair, 2015. And our most recent pic last week.

 

[nesser1981]

View attachment 679467
My grandpa came home & asked who the little boy in the yard was after this haircut - 1969
View attachment 679468
I did this to myself. I used "SunIn" when my mom was at work. There's a (not so) fun story about getting it back to normal.

View attachment 679469
Permed 80s hair

View attachment 679470
Growing back from another very short haircut - 1991

View attachment 679471
Almost where I want it - 2015

View attachment 679473 View attachment 679472

This last one is cheating... I asked ChatGPT to use this photo and make my hair fully silver. It enhanced everything.

The silver is very pretty!

 

[craftytam]

How frustrating for you! I've been using the same girl for years now, I'm not sure probably 7 or 8.

I've always loved my hair. It's thick and I love the color. I have naturally strawberry blond hair, but as I've moved past my youth, LOL! I've started to have a lot more white (not gray, mine is white), so I started doing partial highlights about 10 years ago, it took me a while to find someone I really liked and didn't try to make me too blond.

It is funny though if I look at older photos, how much redder my hair seemed, the summer it always would lighten a lot, but even compared to underneath, that I'm not adding color to, it's weird how it's changed.

I try to keep mine as natural looking as possible.

Here are a few, I'm at work, so I pulled a few. I have had weird, short bobs that didn't turn out great, but I'm pretty boring. Although, I did rock perms in my day. The last time was in 10th grade, so 1996/1997. I'd have to find those pics to scan.

First picture I'm probably 2, maybe 3 with my granny, second this is probably right before I started highlighting my hair, 2015. And our most recent pic last week.
View attachment 679477View attachment 679478View attachment 679479

Your hair is such a gorgeous color! I'm with you about keeping it as natural as possible.
My "gray" is really "silver" and I use a toning shampoo to keep it that way. It helps a lot.

 

[craftytam]

The silver is very pretty!

I like it a lot. I won't get mine dyed because it would strip my hair way too much, but I'm looking forward to it getting there naturally!

 

[nesser1981]

Your hair is such a gorgeous color! I'm with you about keeping it as natural as possible.
My "gray" is really "silver" and I use a toning shampoo to keep it that way. It helps a lot.

I was so bummed when Keira was born and she had dark hair, then it go really blond, then dirty blond. LOL!

That's smart to use a toning shampoo, I wouldn't have thought that.

 

[LynnZant]

I love the silver on you! I wanted to go silver, but you have to strip the color first. So, I'm just going naturally at this point.
I haven't been in a chair in almost 30 years. Like you, I got frustrated with not being listened to, so I just cut my own. When it gets long enough, I pull a ponytail, bring it around the front, and hack it off. lol

 

[craftytam]

I was so bummed when Keira was born and she had dark hair, then it go really blond, then dirty blond. LOL!

That's smart to use a toning shampoo, I wouldn't have thought that.

It's so funny how our kids are such a blend of not just us, but past generations. And what we expect them to look like isn't always true.

Both of our older kids have dark hair and brown eyes. Our youngest has blonde hair and blue eyes (David & I both have brown hair & brown eyes).

I'm amazed at how well the toning shampoo works. I give credit for finding that to my hairdresser mom!

 

[craftytam]

I love the silver on you! I wanted to go silver, but you have to strip the color first. So, I'm just going naturally at this point.
I haven't been in a chair in almost 30 years. Like you, I got frustrated with not being listened to, so I just cut my own. When it gets long enough, I pull a ponytail, bring it around the front, and hack it off. lol

Thanks, Lynn! I love it, too! Yeah, that's why I didn't go silver and like you, will just wait for it to happen.

I'm almost at that point, but I'm not to be trusted with scissors around my hair!

 

[aussiegirl]

I haven't been to a salon in quite a few years. I have a friend who is a hairdresser, and she will come to our house to do easy cuts/trims/layers for us. Otherwise, my husband cuts our hair (he's pretty good! He can't do layers, but simple cuts or trims work the best). I am also just letting mine do what it wants to do naturally. I have some grey at the temples, but it sorta blends into my lighter brown hair enough that it looks like it is highlights. IF it bugs me enough, I will probably do an at home color.

I grow mine longer in the summer, so I can wear it in a bun or ponytail. I hate hair on my neck in the summer. But I usually cut it shorter (shoulder to chin length) in the fall and winter because I dislike it bunching up with turtlenecks/cowl necks, hoodies. This year, it's been growing longer since fall. I am at the point where i want it cut, but if I cut it too short I won't be able to put it up in the summer! I may just do a trim.

My hair is naturally straight, and I am a wash and go girl. Sometimes I wish I did more with it, but the few cuts or styles I have had that require the extra work, I dislike doing it!

 

[craftytam]

I haven't been to a salon in quite a few years. I have a friend who is a hairdresser, and she will come to our house to do easy cuts/trims/layers for us. Otherwise, my husband cuts our hair (he's pretty good! He can't do layers, but simple cuts or trims work the best). I am also just letting mine do what it wants to do naturally. I have some grey at the temples, but it sorta blends into my lighter brown hair enough that it looks like it is highlights. IF it bugs me enough, I will probably do an at home color.

I grow mine longer in the summer, so I can wear it in a bun or ponytail. I hate hair on my neck in the summer. But I usually cut it shorter (shoulder to chin length) in the fall and winter because I dislike it bunching up with turtlenecks/cowl necks, hoodies. This year, it's been growing longer since fall. I am at the point where i want it cut, but if I cut it too short I won't be able to put it up in the summer! I may just do a trim.

My hair is naturally straight, and I am a wash and go girl. Sometimes I wish I did more with it, but the few cuts or styles I have had that require the extra work, I dislike doing it!

Having a friend who does hair is wonderful. My mom did friends' hair for years.
I'm all for letting it do what it wants. So much less work!!

 

[AmieN1]

Our hair stylist (she does the whole family) is my husband's cousin. She's a single mom so we try to support her when we can & she's amazing. My son loves how she does his hair.

I have always had hair like yours- really fine & thin and straight. My sister got super thick, volumous hair. Annoying! I've never had a "bad" haircut but I did always have it short once my mom let us decide probably 4th or 5th grade on- so all my high school age photos are short hair. I have since just kept it long. My mom did give me a perm once when I was little cause I wanted curly hair!

For many years I would highlight and do fun stuff, but after Covid, I just let all the color grow out & have been rocking my 'natural' which is a weird dark blonde/light brown color. My mom used to say "dirty dishwater blonde" and I think that just sounds disgusting! There was one year I went really dark brown- and while I loved it- it was just a lot of maintenance. I just don't care to spend the $$ or time to maintain hair color anymore! I've started getting a lot more grays now and decided I'll just let it go all gray. But- WHY are gray hairs the WEIRDEST texture? I have curly gray hairs and have NEVER had curly hair before!

I have really long hair right now, but usually will get it chopped (to my shoulders) once or twice a year. I have to keep it long enough to put up for work & out of my face. But right now it's long enough that it's starting to annoy me & I only seem to wear it up all the time. I'm probably due for a chop!

 

[Sherly]

I have thick and wavy hair with a mix color of reddish dark brown & black. Mom always had my hair chopped short until middle school for easy maintenance, since she did not really want to take care of my hair much at the time (too busy with life and my 2-years-younger brother at the time). And I hated how my head looked like a mushroom all those time, because my hair had so much volume.
In high school, I got to grow my hair longer and only have a cut twice a year when I go home from Aussie, because it was soooo pricey. But I never had my hair grow really really long. The longest it's been was mid-way of my back. I had it cut because with how thick it is, it takes forever to wash and dry my hair.

I use to not have the best hair condition. I suffer from hair loss, even until now. My hair was so dry and frizzy. I hated touching it, it was so stiff and impossible to style. It's probably due to all the coloring I did when I was around 20s.
But now that I stop coloring (my last one was probably 15 years ago...) & find the right shampoo and protein treatment for it, it is at it's healthiest and the least hair loss I've had, so I am happy about that. I am thinking of growing it long this year, so let's see if I'll get an impulse of chopping it short again like last year. I have also started to have white hair showing up a lot more around my fringe and I am just going to let them be (I have always had some white hair since I was little, though they were more hidden at the back of my head).

As for hairdressers, I have yet to find one I like here in Beijing (and Lan is really NOT helpful on this). I dread having a haircut here, so, unless I am really desperate for one, I wait until I go visit my parents to have a haircut. I found one near their home that I love how good he does my hair and Michelle's!

 

[LeeAndra]

Between PCOS and my medical event a few years ago, I have very little hair left. I'm nearly bald on top and what is left is super thin, super dry, and a little wavy. I keep it long enough to pull back into a clip for Zoom meetings for work, and I cut it myself.

Choosing to wear wigs 2 1/2 years ago has changed my life. I got my confidence back, and it's fun to choose a new color or style every few months. I've never been good at doing my hair so it's also great that it takes less than 10 minutes to put on my wig cap, spray & comb out the wig, put it on, and then spray the lace.

Here are a few of my faves:

 

[Brendazzle]

My hair is thick and curly and black; I got all the curl and pigment genes from both parents for sure. Of course, I also got the "going gray early" genes and am more silver than black.

I bleached my hair for a long time to dye it purple; these days I just do various purples over my grays to make a smoky quartz look with amethyst veins. My hair has been purple pretty consistently since I was 13 and I don't like how I look without it now.

I have photos of the time my mom broke her "hair must be all one color" rule to give me turquoise bangs... right before one of the most photogenic moments of my life. My once-in-a-lifetime swimming with the belugas photos (with bad flash!) have me with awful bangs! I showed my son the other day but I don't want to show you all because it's so bad. At least the next day of our trip, my cousin took pity on me and straightened my bangs (and only my bangs) before we went to another theme park.

 

[Tiffany B]

I have been having a hair struggle lately. Menopause has thinned it even more and the texture is changing too but not in a good way. My hair naturally has wave/curl in the back while the front sections tend to be more straight which also creates it's challenge. I have a friend who recommended a girl that cuts your hair to best work with your waves and curls and teaches you all about hair products to use. It is about twice what I am used to paying for a haircut and style. She charges $125 and the first available appointment is May 29 - almost 2 months away. I went ahead and set up the appointment and I am hopeful that it will do me some good - not just waste the money. TIME will literally tell.

 

[craftytam]

Our hair stylist (she does the whole family) is my husband's cousin. She's a single mom so we try to support her when we can & she's amazing. My son loves how she does his hair.

I have always had hair like yours- really fine & thin and straight. My sister got super thick, volumous hair. Annoying! I've never had a "bad" haircut but I did always have it short once my mom let us decide probably 4th or 5th grade on- so all my high school age photos are short hair. I have since just kept it long. My mom did give me a perm once when I was little cause I wanted curly hair!

For many years I would highlight and do fun stuff, but after Covid, I just let all the color grow out & have been rocking my 'natural' which is a weird dark blonde/light brown color. My mom used to say "dirty dishwater blonde" and I think that just sounds disgusting! There was one year I went really dark brown- and while I loved it- it was just a lot of maintenance. I just don't care to spend the $$ or time to maintain hair color anymore! I've started getting a lot more grays now and decided I'll just let it go all gray. But- WHY are gray hairs the WEIRDEST texture? I have curly gray hairs and have NEVER had curly hair before!

I have really long hair right now, but usually will get it chopped (to my shoulders) once or twice a year. I have to keep it long enough to put up for work & out of my face. But right now it's long enough that it's starting to annoy me & I only seem to wear it up all the time. I'm probably due for a chop!

It's awesome to have someone in the family who can do your hair. And it's a win-win. I love that!

My mom always called my hair "dishwater blonde" (thankfully without the "dirty" ). I'm with you - it costs too much and is too much hassle to maintain colored hair. I stopped ages ago and never looked back.

Maybe your hair will be course and curly once it's all gray? My gray/silver is the same texture as my brown hair, which is nice, I guess? I could use more texture!

 

[craftytam]

I have thick and wavy hair with a mix color of reddish dark brown & black. Mom always had my hair chopped short until middle school for easy maintenance, since she did not really want to take care of my hair much at the time (too busy with life and my 2-years-younger brother at the time). And I hated how my head looked like a mushroom all those time, because my hair had so much volume.
In high school, I got to grow my hair longer and only have a cut twice a year when I go home from Aussie, because it was soooo pricey. But I never had my hair grow really really long. The longest it's been was mid-way of my back. I had it cut because with how thick it is, it takes forever to wash and dry my hair.

I use to not have the best hair condition. I suffer from hair loss, even until now. My hair was so dry and frizzy. I hated touching it, it was so stiff and impossible to style. It's probably due to all the coloring I did when I was around 20s.
But now that I stop coloring (my last one was probably 15 years ago...) & find the right shampoo and protein treatment for it, it is at it's healthiest and the least hair loss I've had, so I am happy about that. I am thinking of growing it long this year, so let's see if I'll get an impulse of chopping it short again like last year. I have also started to have white hair showing up a lot more around my fringe and I am just going to let them be (I have always had some white hair since I was little, though they were more hidden at the back of my head).

As for hairdressers, I have yet to find one I like here in Beijing (and Lan is really NOT helpful on this). I dread having a haircut here, so, unless I am really desperate for one, I wait until I go visit my parents to have a haircut. I found one near their home that I love how good he does my hair and Michelle's!

I always thought having thicker hair would be nice, but it makes sense that it comes with its own set of hassles.
I'm so glad you've found a good shampoo and it's helped! Hair loss sucks.
It's so hard to find someone who does your hair well. I'm glad you have one to see when you visit your parents. Hopefully you'll find one in Beijing.

 

[craftytam]

Between PCOS and my medical event a few years ago, I have very little hair left. I'm nearly bald on top and what is left is super thin, super dry, and a little wavy. I keep it long enough to pull back into a clip for Zoom meetings for work, and I cut it myself.

Choosing to wear wigs 2 1/2 years ago has changed my life. I got my confidence back, and it's fun to choose a new color or style every few months. I've never been good at doing my hair so it's also great that it takes less than 10 minutes to put on my wig cap, spray & comb out the wig, put it on, and then spray the lace.

Here are a few of my faves:

I never would have guessed that you wear a wig. It looks gorgeous on you! I'm so glad you were able to find a solution and it works so well for you.

 

[craftytam]

My hair is thick and curly and black; I got all the curl and pigment genes from both parents for sure. Of course, I also got the "going gray early" genes and am more silver than black.

I bleached my hair for a long time to dye it purple; these days I just do various purples over my grays to make a smoky quartz look with amethyst veins. My hair has been purple pretty consistently since I was 13 and I don't like how I look without it now.

I have photos of the time my mom broke her "hair must be all one color" rule to give me turquoise bangs... right before one of the most photogenic moments of my life. My once-in-a-lifetime swimming with the belugas photos (with bad flash!) have me with awful bangs! I showed my son the other day but I don't want to show you all because it's so bad. At least the next day of our trip, my cousin took pity on me and straightened my bangs (and only my bangs) before we went to another theme park.

Did the bleaching make your hair dry or fall out? My mom did my cousin's hair for ages and would bleach it to add all sorts of different colors. But, my cousin had to stop because she was losing too much hair.

I'd love to see what your hair looks like with the grays dyed to amethyst! And, I'd love to see your turquoise bangs if you want to share it. Totally no pressure or judgement. Believe me, I understand bad hair!

 

[craftytam]

I have been having a hair struggle lately. Menopause has thinned it even more and the texture is changing too but not in a good way. My hair naturally has wave/curl in the back while the front sections tend to be more straight which also creates it's challenge. I have a friend who recommended a girl that cuts your hair to best work with your waves and curls and teaches you all about hair products to use. It is about twice what I am used to paying for a haircut and style. She charges $125 and the first available appointment is May 29 - almost 2 months away. I went ahead and set up the appointment and I am hopeful that it will do me some good - not just waste the money. TIME will literally tell.

Menopause sucks! I don't think we're prepared for what happens to our bodies.

I've always had wavy hair, but after having our boys, my hair got really curly. Now that my hormones have changed, it's curly, but icky curly. It gives my hair some texture, but I can't just wash & go like I used to be able to do.

My daughter has very curly hair, actually all of our kids do. She went to someone like that once - that cut each curl. It was mega-expensive. She said it was a good cut, but never did it again because of the cost. I hope you get a good cut and then maybe after a couple of weeks go into your usual girl and have her run her fingers through it. Sometimes that's enough to understand how to cut your hair (hopefully for less!).

 

[Brendazzle]

Did the bleaching make your hair dry or fall out? My mom did my cousin's hair for ages and would bleach it to add all sorts of different colors. But, my cousin had to stop because she was losing too much hair.

I'd love to see what your hair looks like with the grays dyed to amethyst! And, I'd love to see your turquoise bangs if you want to share it. Totally no pressure or judgement. Believe me, I understand bad hair!

I didn't bleach very often; basically just the roots as it grew in. The brand of dye I use (Manic Panic) is a conditioner base so that helped a lot with dryness. The only time I ever had hair fall out was when I tried to get box dye out of my hair

This is more of a smoky quartz than an amethyst


This is the mix of the amethyst with some gray growth at the top and the smoky quartz at the bottom

 

[craftytam]

I didn't bleach very often; basically just the roots as it grew in. The brand of dye I use (Manic Panic) is a conditioner base so that helped a lot with dryness. The only time I ever had hair fall out was when I tried to get box dye out of my hair

Such gorgeous colors!

 

[porkchopsmom]

No my hair is unruly sometimes very curly and very coarse. When I lived in San Diego I was lucky to find a wonderful stylist from Japan who did wonders with my crazy hair. My daughter is a hairdresser and does a good job and is developing her razor skills but she's on Nashville now

 

[MamaBee]

I'm too much of an introvert (I hate small talk so going to get my hair done is not my idea of a fun time)... and cheap... so I haven't had my hair cut by a professional in probably 8 years. I just keep it long and trim it myself. I grew up with short hair always - it was easier for my mom and she would give me perms until the one time she curled my eyebrows, haha. When I was in my 20's I would go get my hair highlighted and it wasn't uncommon that I would grow it out and then get a whim and have it chopped off again. Today, at 50 - I don't really care that I have gray hair coming in... I wear that like a badge of honor.

 

[joelsgirl]

My hair is the bane of my existence! It turned curly during puberty, and I've rarely had a good hair day since.

It's actually only the top layer that is wavy; the bottom 2/3 of my hair is basically straight. The top was always clearly not straight but also not curly, so for most of my 20s and 30s, I kept it long and pulled the sides back. When I turned 40, I discovered the curly girl method and started styling it curly. After almost a decade of watching videos and trying different products and techniques, I still don't get consistent results.

Because I'm impulsive and optimistic, I have had dozens of bad salon experiences; my husband trained my kids when they were young not to say anything when I came home from getting a haircut. My most recent one was Nov 2024, and I went to a curl specialist to get a little shape, and she cut it up to the nape of my neck; it's just now gotten back to where it was before she cut it.

Finding a stylist who can give me a good haircut is like finding a genie in a bottle; the last one I found in 2018 quit cutting hair shortly after I found her because she found out she was pregnant from IVF (on the day she cut my hair for the first time, no less). I had such mixed feelings because her pregnancy was so bad for me but obviously I was so happy for her.

 

[craftytam]

No my hair is unruly sometimes very curly and very coarse. When I lived in San Diego I was lucky to find a wonderful stylist from Japan who did wonders with my crazy hair. My daughter is a hairdresser and does a good job and is developing her razor skills but she's on Nashville now

It's hard to find someone who really works well with your hair, especially when it's coarse & curly.

 

[craftytam]

I'm too much of an introvert (I hate small talk so going to get my hair done is not my idea of a fun time)... and cheap... so I haven't had my hair cut by a professional in probably 8 years. I just keep it long and trim it myself. I grew up with short hair always - it was easier for my mom and she would give me perms until the one time she curled my eyebrows, haha. When I was in my 20's I would go get my hair highlighted and it wasn't uncommon that I would grow it out and then get a whim and have it chopped off again. Today, at 50 - I don't really care that I have gray hair coming in... I wear that like a badge of honor.

I totally get that! I don't enjoy the small talk. I'm so glad you have the skill and can do it yourself! It helps on a lot of levels. If I trusted myself, I would probably do that, but I definitely don't. I especially don't after lots of years of my mom telling me about people cutting their own hair and the disasters she saw.
I'm with you on the gray! We've earned it!

 

[craftytam]

My hair is the bane of my existence! It turned curly during puberty, and I've rarely had a good hair day since.

It's actually only the top layer that is wavy; the bottom 2/3 of my hair is basically straight. The top was always clearly not straight but also not curly, so for most of my 20s and 30s, I kept it long and pulled the sides back. When I turned 40, I discovered the curly girl method and started styling it curly. After almost a decade of watching videos and trying different products and techniques, I still don't get consistent results.

Because I'm impulsive and optimistic, I have had dozens of bad salon experiences; my husband trained my kids when they were young not to say anything when I came home from getting a haircut. My most recent one was Nov 2024, and I went to a curl specialist to get a little shape, and she cut it up to the nape of my neck; it's just now gotten back to where it was before she cut it.

Finding a stylist who can give me a good haircut is like finding a genie in a bottle; the last one I found in 2018 quit cutting hair shortly after I found her because she found out she was pregnant from IVF (on the day she cut my hair for the first time, no less). I had such mixed feelings because her pregnancy was so bad for me but obviously I was so happy for her.

I don't think I've ever heard of hair like yours! That must be so frustrating.

I love that your husband trained the kids! That's a life skill for sure!

 

[JillW]

I love this thread - I think as women our hair is so important!

My hair is straight, no ifs, ands or buts about it. Straight. It's never been terribly long, even in school it was just below my shoulders.

In my younger years, my mom would give me home perms. Sometimes I didn't get a lot of curl. One year (the 1st year I was celebrating the new year with my NEW boyfriend) mom gave me a perm on NYE day. Since the last time I didn't have many curls, she put perm solution on my hair - then put the rods in my hair and added MORE perm solution.

Oh my goodness! When those rods were taken out and I rinsed it - I had more curls that I knew what to do with! It was like one HUGE afro! I cried! She cried! We both cried! I told her there was no way I was going on a date "looking like this!". Dad could not understand what the hub-bub was about - lol. Luckily our neighbor was in cosmetology class at the time and was able to calm it down. So in the end, it was curly, but I was able to pull it back a bit and it looked okay and that boyfriend eventually turned into my husband - lol.

Today I wear my hair super short - right now it is growing out after having it spikey for a few years. I do not like my natural color so will probably continue to have it colored for some time yet.

Our granddaughter had the most curly hair when she was a babe - it's calming down a bit now that she is a teenager (what?!?!) and of course, she likes it straight instead of having curls!

 

[StacyLynn]

Oh how frustrating....

Growing up, both my aunts did my hair. They had a shop and I always got exactly what i wanted... then one moved a few states away and then life and business... my other aunt still occasionally does my hair but its probably been about 5 years now.

My hair was straight most of my life then about a few years ago it started to curl (All the money i spent on perms in the last 30 years lol) so I started to straighten it... but I was embracing my curls n waves in the last couple years. I also had decided to let it go gray and not dye it.

But now... I had all my hair cut off into a pixie-ish cut before chemo started to make it a bit less traumatic, then last week as handfuls were falling out, I had my husband shave it, so now I am wig shopping.

 

[LJSDesigns]

OMG, the hair wars. I think we all fight them. I know I did until I decided to find a style that worked with my hair, which is super straight and thick and grows forward. This means I wear it short and simple. If I can't do it in less than 10 minutes, I don't want to be bothered.

When I was young I wore it long, but then in 8th grade, I got it all cut off into a Dorothy Hamilton cut. Anyone else remember that? LOL Afterward, I let it grow out again for a while and then cut it short again in my senior year. When I hit college, I started perming it and had a lot of curl. Then there was the year that I got the asymetrical cut, one side was pretty much shaved and the other was curly and big. It was the 80s after all.

When I got pregnant, I stopped the perms and let it grow out and wore it long. I always wore it up and since there is so much of it, I used to get horrible headaches. Then when I was going through thyroid cancer, it all started falling out, so I cut it off again and have had it short ever since. In fact, I have pretty much had the same haircut ever since. Super short on the sides and back and longer on top. Like in the picture. LOL

The texture has changed somewhat as I get older, it is more straight and stubborn than ever. I do color my gray because I gray in clumps. It literally looks like someone dropped bleach on a spot and wiped out the color. Last month it was right in front in a swatch of my bangs. It just went gray almost over night and ended up looking like a bird pooped on my head. So frustrating.

 

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

First, Tammy, I love all your pics and your stories. Really, from everyone here, it's so cool to see how we change our appearance!

My hair has seen a lot of action over the years. I had very dark hair as a young child. I started highlighting my hair sometime in 2002. I went back dark for about 6 months and despised it, so I went very blonde after that for a while. Now that I have autoimmune psoriasis on my scalp, I've had to discontinue highlighting and lowlighting. The last picture you'll see is of me and my sister yesterday and my gray hair is all that's there now with the exception of a little bit on the ends. I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow, so all highlights/lowlights should be gone then. I didn't want to go gray this early, but I need to take care of myself. I'm only 5 years early on what I presumed would be my going gray age (60).

I've had the same hairdresser since 2000!

 

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

More pics . . .