Saturday, February 03, 2007

I Put My Money Where My Mouth Is (and I may be sorry about it!)

Some time back, I told you I was considering letting my hair grow out of the brown dye and into my natural color (whatever that was). I quit having it dyed in October. By December, it was evident that I'd be mostly gray, but there were at least a few darker hairs in the mix. I said to my family at the time that I would let my hair grow that way for 2-3 months and then get it cut really short, so I could hasten the demise of the brown. Finally, I got tired of looking like a zebra.

Last wednesday was the day. I told the hairdresser to cut all but 2" off. He said, "Let me start cutting, and then we will see.....". He stopped at 2 1/2 inches, saying that if he went further, my hair would probably stand straight up all over my head. Picturing that led me to the opinion it would be horribly unappealing, I agreed with him. Pixie haircuts are cute on five year old girls, but very few older women can handle it. The only one I know is Judi Dench. So, I'm only three-quarters-pixie now.

I was surprised by how much brown remained. I had thought if I cut it that much it would show mostly gray, but that will evidently take a few more months. I haven't had hair this short in about 15 years and it is hard to get used to. Every time I pass a mirror, I get shocked. It is easy to forget about it until you get an unexpected glimpse (or until you go outside in the cold). I will have to wear hats for the next 2 months, I think, otherwise my ears will suffer frostbite.

Don't ask for a photo - I'm not ready to debut yet.....LOL

P.S. Mr. kenju now calls me Steve.



31 comments:

TJ said...

I love "Judi Dentch"!! I love her hair and the shape of her face...I can't pull off the look either...as you know I was recently scalped against my will...my hair "is" spike...*sob*
anyway it is hair and it is growing....
:-D
PS...I've been debating doing the gray thing, kind of like Jamie Lee Curtis

Babette said...

Judy,Judy/Judi! You are beautiful inside and out! I keep my hair long because I'm afraid I would lose strength, like Samson, if I were to cut it. Mine is growing grey, too, but my baby, who turned 8 today, tells me that it reminds her of silver threads. ;~)

Babette said...

Judy, Judy/Judi! You are beautiful, inside and out. Mr. Kenju is probably thinking of Stevie Nicks.

I wear my hair long because I'm afraid that I might lose strength, like Samson, if I were to cut it. Mine is going grey, too, but my baby, who turned 8 today, says it reminds her of pretty silver threads. ;~)

Anonymous said...

I think Judi Dentch looks great with her style, but.....I admit to a huge amount of vanity.
Therefore, I have an appoint. Tues. for my 6 week color. Maybe in 10 ten years, when I'm about to turn the big 7-0 I'll consider gray. But not now.
DO love short hair on women though. I think it's very becoming and stylish, so I bet yours looks great. But the gray...hmmm, why is it a man looks so distinguished and yet it ages a woman. Not sure...so I'm holding on to my brunette (with some help) for awhile.

rennratt said...

I can't wait to see it. I bet it looks GREAT.

Marie said...

Steve!? HA!

I have short hair -- it's very easy to care for, once you find the right products for your type of hair. I use a spray-in leave-in conditioner, just tussle & go, most days. Love it.

Good for you for going au naturel!

Michele sent me over...

Chancy said...

Judy

I bet you look as cute as a button with your short cut natural hairdo.

Anna said...

I think it is great that you are going natural Judy. I had to do that when we "came to the field" because I can't afford to pay for highlights in British Pounds! YIKES...

You will get used to it...and it is so much better for your hair. Mine has never been healthier!

Peter said...

Hi Steve, let me talk to Mr Kenju about that photo please.

carmilevy said...

I've always thought you're cool, Judy. After reading this, I think you're even cooler. Instead of waiting to see how it would turn out, you took the proactive route and had it cut. It was a bold, direct and honest move.

Kind of like the person who made it.

Panthergirl said...

Oh how funny... I was fully prepared to ask why you didn't post a picture and then I read why!!!

I'll bet it looks cute! And you're braver than I... I think I'd be mostly grey, and it wouldn't look good with my [olive] coloring.

bluemountainmama said...

i want to see!! :) sorry about the link on my page. it's been doing that on and off all day...kind of ruins the effect. check back again later and maybe it will be up.

bluemountainmama said...

i want to see!! :) sorry about the link..it's been doing that on and off all day. i know they have some very windy and wintry weather where it is, so that may be affecting it.

Shephard said...

Steve? lol

I love Judi Dench's hair. I bet you look smart/sharp. :)

Looking forward to a photo. :)
~S

Star said...

Wow. the freedom must be graat. no more roots.

Anonymous said...

LOL, would you believe I'm jealous?!! yes! I started going grey at uh 27, I think and I'm now about 99% Emmylou Harris Grey. I have to dye it every month, drives me nuts! I'm just not mentally ready to let it all go grey yet.

Loved this post though, thank you for being honest! It's hard to get a dramatic change when it comes to hair, but Judy, I'll bet you are beautiful. You can give Mr. Kenju a smack upside da head when he calls you Steve! LOL

Kristi said...

I bet it looks really cute. I love Judi Dench's haircut, so if yours looks anything like hers, I bet it looks fabulous. We need a picture!

Maybe Me said...

I have had short hair for a number of years, and I think you just pinpointed exactly what the only problem is: nothing to hide the ears from the cold wind anymore.
Oh, and I cut my own hair: it's so much fun I don't think I'll ever be able to let it grow long again! (But unless you want a spiky dishevelled look, I don't recommend the home-made cut. ;) )

Anonymous said...

Steve is looking pretty good these days.

You are dye free! That is fantastic.

Biff Spiffy said...

Yo Steve!

I've missed ya, but I'm finally in bidness with my blazing hi-speed.

I get shocked every time I walk by a mirror, but that's because my forehead keeps growing. I think it'll take over my entire being someday, I'll just be a walking, talking, shiny forehead. Count yer blessings.

I was at a restaurant with a friend and his 12-year old boy many years ago. The blond waitress left the table, and the kid innocently whisper-shouted, "Dad! Why does she dye her roots black?"

You have my vote, no matter what the picture is.

Sugar said...

I love short hair. I'm sure you look great.....good for you, Steve. =)

Michael K. Althouse said...

I can't speak on the subject of short hair. When the gray comes, it'll be long too.

Michele sent me,

Mike

OldLady Of The Hills said...

O look forward to seeing a picture Judy...I bet it is darling! I have had this strange occassional desire to just shave ALL my hair off---I am sure I won't do it, but it might be intertesting to see what I look like....Though, I'm not sure I want to see this Old Face with all that Bald! (lol)

srp said...

Now Mr. Kenju better watch what he calls you, he may have a lot of making up to do before Valentine's day comes around. I need a cut... can always tell when that gray shows up around my temples. I think I must be almost all gray, not a lovely silver white, but a dirty gray in the front and yet, still brown in the back.

Raggedy said...

I bet it looks darling!
I remember when I went short for the first time. Are you doing that thing where you run your brush through your hair and you brush to far? Oh and I remember my head felt lighter.
Have a wonderful day!
*^_^
(=':'=) hugs
(")_ (")Š from
the Cool Raggedy one

Anonymous said...

Hi Judy!

Isn't it a pain to go from one color to another? If you wanted, you could use a semi-permanent rinse in a lighter grey/brown to help ease the transistion, but I would definately go to a pro for the help!

I don't know if I would have the guts to cut my hair short. I salute you.

Oh, Michele sent me.

Anonymous said...

I did just the same thing but started cutting my hair short BEFORE letting it grow grey. Which makes it only one thing to get used to at a time. First you get used to your short hair and then to the grey.
I have never regretted it for a minute. I used to waste all this time at the heardresser's not to mention the money! I am sure you look wonderful. Waiting for a photo.

rosemary said...

You will love it...easy to take care of, no doodads needed like scrunchies or headbands....After I let mine go grey and then looked at old pictures I looked like a skunk a week after low lights.

Anonymous said...

You are brave Judy but it's great to have a change. I have some silver threads but everybody is adamant ai shoudn't change it even my hairdresser. Just recently I experimented with a temporary colour. Guess where I tested it?

fakies said...

My mom keeps dying her hair dark brown. It's sad to me, because she looks great when it gets to be a reddish-brown tint. But she hates the red, and goes right back to the fake look. I try to explain that just because her hair was that color 30 years ago, it does not mean it still looks realistic.

kenju said...
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