I'm chopping it off.

from JoeUser Forums
My husband loves my long red hair, but I've been hinting for a month now that it is time for it to go. I set a date and I've reminded him frequently that my hair is going to be SHORT.

I'm tired of having my hair stay damp for days unless I blow dry it. I hate that it takes forever to dry, straighten and/or style my hair in anything other than a ponytail. It's hot and heavy and on top of that, damaged. All the color changes, curling, straightening, blowdrying, elastic bands etc. are causing it to get split ends, split middles and so on.

I've had long hair for most of my life. As a little girl my mom would chop it so short that I looked like a boy. I was teased and picked on until I was in foster care. There, I was encouraged to choose for myself...I chose long. It took a few years, but since then I have only cut it short once and that was not as short as this will be. I told my friend that chin length or shorter is the goal.

So we will see.

Goodbye this......

and watch for updates with photos of the new me!
blogging
6,579 views 33 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
shameless bump while I wait to rinse out the color.....
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
That is one gorgeous head of hair. Have you considered donating it to Locks of Love?
Maggie
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

well you are a beautiful young woman,  and I bet you'll look fantastic with your hair however you wear it!

I have to admit that it's just "fan" tasic hair!  gorgeous!

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

Reply By: Ms. MitchellPosted: Tuesday, April 11, 2006
That is one gorgeous head of hair. Have you considered donating it to Locks of Love?

very insightful!  great idea!

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
That is probably the only red head of hair that I have ever seen that I love!  I dont want to see the after photo.  I am not strong enough!
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Wow, if you're sure you want to let go of that amazing hair (your face will remain as beautiful as ever, so no worries, right?)...Locks of Love sounds like a great idea if your hair isn't as damaged as you say. It looks cover-girl perfect to me!.

In one of your family pictures from a couple of years ago your hair was pretty short, wasn't it? Like right at the ears?
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
What a feast for the eyes! It's your hair and all, but ... oh! What a beauty. Tell your husband that he's a lucky man.
I'll just linger on your pic for a few more moments... good luck!
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Have you considered donating it to Locks of Love?


Actually, I now have 12 inches of red hair to donate! Woo Hoo.
well you are a beautiful young woman, and I bet you'll look fantastic with your hair however you wear it!

your face will remain as beautiful as ever, so no worries, right?)...


Haven't you ever heard of Photoshop? I have a HUGE ZIT on my nose. But thanks to the wonders of technology, my kids will think I was blessed with perfect skin!

In one of your family pictures from a couple of years ago your hair was pretty short, wasn't it? Like right at the ears?

I looked through my photos and can't find one that short. I know I've had it pretty short....jaw length once. Maybe I'm blacking it out? I hope it wasn't THAT traumatic!

Pardon me while I upload.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
All things aside, it ain't bad. i thought it would be shorter and I may call her back to trim it again, but for now it's good. The hardest part to get used to is the color. I've been a redhead for so long that it's hard to adjust to the brown and caramel/blond highlights.

I'll try to get a better photo up later, but this should give you an idea

Link
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top


Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
That, my friend, is an abrupt change. Must be difficult to get used to.

Your hair was gorgeous before and guess what? Your hair is gorgeous now.

Besides, it's the mind and the smile underneath the hair that counts.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Haven't you ever heard of Photoshop?


I was going to ask...but I didn't want to be rude...like I often can be But there's not much photoshop can do to make a pretty person. God created you that way.

The new 'do looks great! You can get away with anything. I bet you feel about 10 lbs lighter. It will be great for a hot Texas summer.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
P.S. So where are the clippings? Did you save them? Donate them?
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
That, my friend, is an abrupt change. Must be difficult to get used to


Yes it is. I've had it for less than a full day and I feel weird. i've already had people not recognize me!

Besides, it's the mind and the smile underneath the hair that counts.


I'll keep that in mind.

was going to ask...but I didn't want to be rude...


It's not rude when a friend asks. I did photoshop my zits away and to softend the picture. I also adjusted the contrast a bit too. The truth though, my hair really has spent a great deal of time this shade of red since I got out of the Army. It was hard to see in the cancan photos becuase it was so dark (and pulled up and waxed) but yeah, I photoshopped my face a bit. Plus uping the bright on the face overexposes it and then you lose detail (zit be gone!) I could babble forever on the PS miracles but I'd better save it for later.

It will be great for a hot Texas summer


Definetely! That was the big motivation.

P.S. So where are the clippings? Did you save them? Donate them?


I have 12 inches of hair in a ponytail on my desk, I just have to find out which local shop will donate them for me.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
nice face kid, I donated my hair to locks of love in 2002 August to be more precise, I had a 17 inch ponytail and if i could donate my old beat up hair yours will be gratefully aacepted.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
wow you're hair is pretty. I am in a similar situation. I have had super long red hair for a really long time, and i want to cut it shorter and dye it blond-ish, but all of my friends tell me not to, so I haven't. Part of me is afraid of the change. I admire your courage to get such a huge change, and you look great now! It's a super cute cut. Maybe I will go through with it as well, we'll see...
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
P.S. I like your title. I definitely didn't think about hair when i first read it. It reminded me of something a bit dirtier... A good laugh.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was skeptical, and wondered if HW was okay with your decision... but you look great after, and I'm certain he has no complaints.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was like Wow on the first picture and Wow again on the second one! You look so different, looks like you're a your sister or something lol! Very pretty indeed!!! I'm dreaming of cutting mine too à la Halle Berry when she had short hair, lol, but everybody has kept discouraging me!! So i just have to tace care of my hair, *sigh*

Good on you tho, you go girl!!
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
Lifehappens, you will ALWAYS be beautiful, but you just killed me here!!!!

I understand it's your hair, your decision and you had some very good reasons to do it... but....
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
I will (begrudgingly) admit though, your new hair is adoreable ;~D
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top

Lifehappens, you will ALWAYS be beautiful, but you just killed me here!!!!

I understand it's your hair, your decision and you had some very good reasons to do it... but....

Maybe we can start a cult that will idolize her old hair?

Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
Maybe we can start a cult that will idolize her old hair?


Maybe you ought to put your 12-inch ponytail on ebay. It looks like a couple of weirdos here might be willing to give anything they have for it
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top

It looks like a couple of weirdos here might be willing to give anything they have for it

I represent that statement.,