My hair again
Hi. Just a quick post to say my hair actually looked pretty good today! I don’t know whether I’m just getting used to it or if it does actually look better, but I managed to get it a bit straighter in the back. I used a round brush to attempt to curl the back inward to negate the outward flip while I blow-dried (I typically just use my fingers until the hair is dry enough to straighten) and then I really took my time straightening the ends of my hair. I also parted it slightly off center, which seems to look a bit better (and a bit less Snape-y). So, I guess I’m happy with it now. Though I still think it may look better in a few weeks.
Also, Facebook is being a pain tonight. I can’t do anything without getting an error. It’s annoying.
Haircut
Ok, ok. I know it’s been forever since I’ve posted. Things are just kind of slow, and does anyone really want to read “Well, today I did approximately the same thing I do everyday” or “Today I cleaned the toilets!”? Yeah, not so much. But anyway, I have something to talk about today, so here goes.
I got a haircut. Not the haircut I was talking about a few months ago, because I was too scared to do it, and it’s not quite fashionable anymore, what with Posh chopping all her hair off and even Crush (who the haircut idea came from) growing her hair out, which leaves me just with a potentially “weird” haircut. I still wanted a change since I’ve had basically the same length hair since 6th grade or so, so I did end up chopping off a good amount of length. I found a picture of Tyra Banks that looked really cute and still has a bit of an angle from front to back, but so minor it was pretty normal looking while being kind of chic (I think it’s best seen in that last shot with the weird lipstick).
…it didn’t quite turn out like I expected. From the front, I don’t mind it. It’s only a bit shorter than I had it before, so not too shocking. The back, though, refuses to do what I want it to do. It WILL NOT straighten. So rather than a cute, sleek haircut, I have this flip in the back that reminds me of some 50’s housewife mixed with Snape:
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge Snape fan. He was one of my favorite characters from Harry Potter – certainly my favorite to theorize about before the last book. And I love Alan Rickman. He’s one of my favorite actors. That doesn’t mean I want to look like him though. And I don’t live in the 50’s, so the flip isn’t quite working out for me. I’m not even sure you can tell there’s an angle – and if you can, it looks like it was an accident. Anyway, here it is:
Front, not so scary.
Side, the infuriating flip...
Dun dun! Ugh, why?? *
So, what do I do? I’m not sure I want to go much shorter in the back, so do I just wait for it to grow out a bit? Are there any products I could use to weigh it down or force it to be straight? I’m pretty good with my straigntening iron (I’ve always been picky about having no bumps, even in the back), so I’m not sure there’s anything more I can do with that. Chris says he likes it, as did a few friends, but I’m just not sure. I just want it to be straight! Any ideas or comments?
*Gosh, that last shot really shows how mousy brown my hair has gotten. I prefer it a bit darker, but getting it colored at a salon is a bit expensive and we’re trying to save as much as possible right now. Anyone know of a good dye I can buy from the store? Something in the very dark brown/black family that won’t look really unnatural or kill my hair?
Some Updates
Well, my sister has informed me that I’m going too slow with the posting (which I am…what can I say, things are slow around here), so here’s some updates on things that are going on:
-No, I have not gotten up the courage to get that haircut yet. I do feel that I’m getting closer. I really just need to find a salon around here that I trust to do it, since it’s a big change. I’ve just been getting my trims at MasterCuts, which is fine for trims (how can you screw that up?), but they’re a bit cut-quickly-and-get-you-out-fast for a big change that I’m nervous about. I also need to find a happy medium between walking in and saying, “Well, this is what I want and if it ends up looking bad I guess its ok…” (said in a progressively quieter voice) and “If you mess it up I will protest outside your salon and sue you all!!” …Ahem. I’m not crazy… Really.
-We’ve got a friend coming to visit in September or October, so that’s exciting! I’m also hoping to have some family visit (you hear me!?). I really like when people come visit.
-I got a new pair of shoes last week for $12! They were on clearance for $24 and the cashier gave me 50% off just for the hell of it (I asked to make sure he hadn’t made a mistake, aren’t I a good girl?)! They’re different and fun, which is why I like them.
-Chris is away till tomorrow evening for more trial work on his project (more long, long hours) in Charlotte. I miss him.
-Women’s team gymnastics is tonight at 10:30! Yay!
-The worst of my dental work is done. This is not to say I don’t have a lot left, but at least the root canal and subsequent permanent filling is done. I should only need 3-4 more visits to finish the rest. This will be done over 3-4 months though. I’m not looking forward to getting more novocaine, especially if it makes me freak out like last time.
This seems appropriate here.
-I currently have 16 application requests on Facebook. Just from today. You wonder why I have so many, Nicki?
-Ooh, we found out Trans-Siberian Orchestra is coming back to town this November!! I’m so excited! We got ourselves put on the fan list to be informed as soon as tickets get put on presale so we can get some actually good seats this year. We had a blast last year. If you like Christmas music and orchestras and rock, totally check them out if they’re going to play near you this year! It’s an amazing show. Added bonus – they actually stick around after the show to meet anyone who wants to meet them (this may not be every location, but they said they do it regularly). The tour of gymnastics superstars is also coming to town in October, so I’m hoping we can get tickets to that too. I’ve never seen that level of gymnastics in person, so it would be really cool to go.
Well, that is all for now. I’ll post again if I think of anything I forgot here. What is everyone else up to?
My Hair
I’ve been thinking of changing my hair for, I don’t know, 6-7 years now. Every time I think of making a change, I chicken out once I get to the salon and end up with the same style I’ve had for years and years.
A little history:
-I’ve had reddish highlights and they always faded way too fast (like within 2 weeks).
-I’ve had sideswept bangs, but they never cooperated. I don’t know if it’s a cowlick (or whatever it’s called) or what, but even with a blow drier and hairspray, they never actually swept across my forehead as they should. Here’s a picture of the reddish highlights (freshly done) and sort of sideswept bangs (the bangs have also been a bit shorter than this):
-I’ve had very very dark brown (almost black with a reddish-brown sheen in the sunlight) overall color which I really liked, but that also faded into my natural color.
-When I was little, my hair was about chin length. In all of the pictures I’ve looked at, my hair looked very fine and limp (unless I crimped it, and sorry, I won’t be returning to crimping!).
-In elementary and middle school, I had bangs. I grew to become quite a perfectionist over how they looked, and unfortunately, they became almost like clip-on bangs, they were so hairsprayed. I think they’d be easier to handle now, having a straightener, but I fear the perfectionism and the helmet-look…
Here’s what I’ve got now:
-Color is dark brown. I haven’t colored it in over a year. The last color I had was the very dark brown I mentioned above, so I don’t think there’s any noticeable distinction between my natural color and what’s left of that.
-Length is just past my shoulders. It WILL NOT grow much longer than this. I don’t really know why. I used to think it was damage from straightening, but I don’t straighten much anymore and it still doesn’t grow.
-Wavy texture – if I let it air dry with no product, I end up with frizz and pouf out the wazoo.
-I’ve always straightened it (up to this year). I like how it looks straight (it’s even pretty shiny), but it takes more effort and is more damaging to my hair.
-I’ve started wearing my hair curly this year, simply because it’s quick and easy. With a curling mousse (I’ve tried all sorts of gels and sprays and cremes – the mousse gives me the best, longest lasting result), I can get it to curl decently. I don’t know how to use a diffuser on my blow drier (or if I even should) so unfortunately, when I use product, it looks fairly crispy and wet until at least midday. By the end of the day, I have soft curls which look pretty nice. Also unfortunately, the longest part of the back of my hair doesn’t hold the curl well, so I end up with curls all around my face and in the shorter layers around my head, but a straight chunk in the base of the back. It’s infuriating. Here’s a few picture of it curly:
From the front, near the end of the day
From the back. Notice the straight bits at the bottom.
-I also have no idea how to use curlers or a curling iron. Every time I try, the curls on my right side are gone by the time I get to the left side with the curling iron. I’ve also had a professional use a curling iron on my hair for my wedding and this is me, a few hours later – still somewhat curled, but this is much looser than right after it was done:
Picture by Gina Frederick of Allan Reider Studio
As for changes, I’m fairly open. I just want something that looks good on me – doesn’t emphasize my chub, make me look stuffy, or make me look too much older. I prefer to keep the color at least somewhat close to what I have now, just because I can’t afford to maintain touch-ups right now. Also, as I stated above, my hair won’t grow too much longer than it is now, so longer than present is out. Anyway, I need ideas!
As a side note, I really dig this hair, but 1. I’m not sure I could pull it off with my face and bone structure and whatnot, 2. I’m not sure if it’s really a look for a suburban, southern, everyday life, and 3. I would definitely be restricted to straightening it (this isn’t a deal breaker, especially if it looks awesome, just slightly less convenient).
Crush from American Gladiators
Yes, American Gladiators, I know. This is why I’m a bit hesitant. But, doing my search for good pictures of her hair, I’m finding that a lot of people seem to like it! It’s kind of just a longer version of the Posh haircut. As a little experiment, I found a few pictures of Crush online (before I found the ones above from a video), and inserted my head! I mostly just thought these were funny, so I thought I’d share them:
