I finally did it!

So I’ve been planning on cutting my hair and donating it to either Locks of Love or Pantene Beautiful Lengths…but was leaning towards Pantene because the minimum donation length was 8″ as opposed to 10″ for Locks of Love. (I had enough to donate 10″ but I just didn’t want to go THAT short.) And if you remember from a few months or so ago, I was debating over about 10 different hairstyles. But new hairstyles scare me so I just kind of put it out of my mind.

Fast forward to our upcoming vacation, and I knew I really REALLY needed a haircut before we left. Well, it was getting really scraggly so I at least needed a trim. I wasn’t quite sure I was ready to donate it yet, so I was leaning towards a trim…and then in a few more months when it needed another trim I would cut the length and donate it. Except that Owen has become MUCH more grabby lately. And I am sick to death of wearing my hair in Pippi Longstocking braids or a pony tail. So I was actually leaning more towards a full chop.

So today, just for the heck of it, I took these two pictures to show just how long it was getting. Ironically, the back didn’t look NEARLY as bad/scraggly as I assumed it did.

I even put it in a pony tail and measured it, to make sure I had enough—and to make sure I’d still have some hair left afterwards! But, remember, I still wasn’t planning on getting anything but a trim…although I was CONTEMPLATING getting it chopped.

So I was planning on going to the salon on Friday, the day before we leave for vacation—because a professionally-styled hairdo will last a long time and I could probably avoid doing anything with my hair the entire time we were gone. 😛 So I talked to my mom about what time they were going to be arriving (because she was going to be my babysitter) and…she said she had no idea. EEK! Which means I had to go Thursday. So I called the salon and my stylist wasn’t available Thursday! 88| So I desperately asked if she happened to be available now—and she was! She asked what I needed to have done, and I briefly told her a trim OR I was cutting it all off to donate it—and I was VERY nervous. She said they would take care of me—and then I was literally out the door in less than two minutes.

I was VERY nervous when I walked in, but the two women there were VERY nice and VERY welcoming and VERY understanding with what I was about to do. Yes, I had decided to chop. it. all. off. 88| It was off to get washed, then get it combed out—and I told her she had to take pictures. Of course, she was totally game for it, and was excited that I was donating it!

And then she offered me a glass of wine to calm my nerves. And I eagerly accepted! :>>

So, here is my hair “before” completely combed out. It touched the top of the chair!

We discussed how much to cut—enough to make sure we got the required eight inches, but not so much that I wouldn’t have my own ponytail left. And then we measured twice, cut once. (Just like woodworking, dad!) Except we actually cut twice, because there were two ponytails! Here is the first one gone:

And then here are both ponytails…and my glass of wine! 🙂 I think the ponytails were about 9″ all said and done…and it was definitely a lot of hair…but just sitting on the counter they looked so small and pathetic.

And then here I am minus 9″ of hair!

And the final product!! I love it!!

Now, of course, the challenge will be if I can replicate how it looks!! And if I can make it do something in its wavy form.

The ponytails just need to dry now (which will take at least a day) and then I can mail them off! YAY!