Big Bang

I forget that so many of my blog readers have only really known me since my third trimester, and have really no idea who I was before I was "mommy" Shelley. We were discussing something on knitting night that made me think of this - haircuts. Someone mentioned that someone she knew spent $85 recently on a haircut. I admitted that that is less than I used to spend on my hair before I had Shaelyn. Some of the girls were shocked to discover it. I used to be a real glamour girl. I subscribed to In Style, shopped exclusively for Clinque make-up, and had my hair cut and colored at least every three months.

I've been coloring my hair since I was 15. Weird, right, since I'm naturally blond? But adding highlights and lowlights really makes my hair so much prettier. I started this practice when I moved to Tucson and all my girlfriends in high school were going to this one salon and using this stylist named Alisa. So I started using Alisa too. It was the first time I had a stylist that knew me by name and that I would call up and schedule an appointment for her specifically. It made me feel very mature and grown-up. She did my hair every three months or so until I went to college. Then I was afraid to try anyone new - once you find someone you love, you just can't replace them. So I would get my hair done every time I went home, stretching my visits to every 4 or 5 months instead of every 3. Once I got married, I wasn't going home as much, so I had to find someone to do my hair up in Utah. Because we were newly-weds, I couldn't afford to go to a salon anymore, so I had a friend do it at her home. She had gone to cosmetology school, but wasn't really good with color. You should see some of the pictures!

When we moved to NC, I had to find a new stylist, and stat! All the girls at work went to the same guy, so I decided to give him a try. Let me just say that once you find a colorist who really knows what he is doing, you never go back. And he is the best colorist I've ever seen. So I became addicted to getting my hair colored in a way I never had before. We did something different every time. Red highlights, brown low lights, chunky streaks, all over color - you name it, I did it. The only time I didn't color my hair was when I was in my first trimester.

Now we're living on one income instead of two, and things had to be sacrificed. First thing on my list - all my glamour girl accessories. No more high-end makeup, clothes, or trips to the stylist. And I actually don't miss it, but that's mainly because I'm in mommy mode and it would be a waste of money anyway. I pull my hair back in a ponytail almost every day, but even still, I really miss getting it colored!

Anyway, tragedy struck yesterday. I've been letting my hair grow out since Shaelyn was born, but I do have to trim my bangs. I've had bangs for so long I just finally had my stylist show me how to do it at home so I wouldn't have to pay a bunch of money just to get my bangs trimmed. I always somehow manage to do a good enough job, but yesterday I was in a hurry... They look AWFUL!!! I cut them way too short and they make me look like I have some sort of weird mullet or something. Needless to say, I will not be wearing them down for the next 2 weeks or so while I wait for them to grow out. I bought some pretty barrettes to hold my bangs back until I deem them ok enough to wear normally again. So if any of you see me any time soon and wonder what looks different about me, now you know.