Monday, July 27, 2009

TAKING IT ALL OFF

Have you ever come across a chick with a super-short haircut and sputtered, Oh, I so wish I had the guts to do that! And then the gal smiles and responds, Thanks. I get that all the time?

Well, apparently I have the guts to do that.

For years, I have wanted, have been talking about, have been yearning for, a short, short haircut. The Husband has been a vigorous cheerleader in favor to the point that he’s even asked pixie-cut women in the world if he could take their picture to try to convince his wife to do that ‘do. And at times I have been awfully tempted to bend to my wishing and his bidding to the tune of a pile of my hair on the salon floor. Just tempted though.

But last Saturday, after a perfectly delightful lunch with my friend Rabid (yes, Dear Reader, we did have a second date), it was the mom I saw pushing a stroller down University Avenue in Provo with three little ones in tow that tipped the scales. She, like hundreds before her, had an a-lined bob just like mine. I stared for a moment and thought, It has to go. I’m cutting it off. Everyone and their daughter has an a-line, and I just can’t do it anymore.

So that pixie haircut I said I wanted before I reach dead or crazy—I did it. Or rather Caitlyn, per my behest, did it to me.

What was I thinking?

I sat Cat’s chair to do our usual rigmarole and said, So what do you think about taking it all off?

Love it, the girl said definitively.

And we spent the next 15 minutes rifling through hair ‘zines looking for the proper pixie. My hands shook a bit as I turned the pages. I can’t do this, I thought. I’ll hate it. I’ll look fat, fat, fat. But I wanted to follow through; I’ve truly been talking about this for years, and I'm tired of seeing a similar bob to my own whenever I turn around. We found a cut to suit, and Kitty went to work, depositing my treated locks on the shiny black floor.

No going back now.

Throughout the chopping, my mug was frozen in fear and horror. Sister Haley, an encouraging spectator, kept telling me it was a great idea. It was going to be so cute. I have the right face for it, et cetera. Yet that face was stuck in a simulacrum of Terror.

Are you going to cry? she asked.

No, I’m going to throw up. We should start over.

But once began, the cutting had to continue, and Cat did her job well. The style looks as it should. My color is awesome. I have new appropriate hair product. I've been taught how to style my new head. My stunning stylist snipped a fine pixie to be sure. But it's a haircut that doesn’t seem to belong on my noggin. I look like a homeless little boy. Or a Fraggle. I look nothing like a pixie.

The mp3 that's on repeat in my head: This was a bad idea. This was a bad idea. This was a bad idea . . . I miss my common bob. So welcome to my era of serious adjustment. I hope that it's short--as short as my new coif. Or that my strands develop superstar growing power, launching me back to familiarity. For as things sit now, each time I find a mirror's crept up on me, I am forced to shake my nonexistent locks in sorrow at my poor decision-making ability.

Just exactly what was I thinking?

Not entirely sure at this point, wherein I find myself periodically running hands through hair that's no longer there. But here's what I'm thinking now: Well, at least I know I won't be continually confronted with other pixie-cuts. This kinda thing takes unique guts--which, incidentally, I'm not all that thrilled to discover I've got.

•••

A gift--because though you dutifully read through the above, what you were actually looking for was the visual evidence:


Fret not, folks, I am in the process of correcting the blue self on the right side of your screen. We are all about the honesty here.

38 comments:

Kate said...

You look fabulous!
I'm a short hair girl myself, mainly cos if it's any longer I actually have to do things with it (rather than wash, towel, wax and go).
Plus, if you really don't like it you can grow it out and then burn all the photographs...

it'sliketheweather said...

Megan, it looks awesome et tres chic. Definitely not boyish.

Jaime Stephens said...

I love it!

Saretta said...

Hi Megan - What a beautiful cut and color for you! It's sophisticated and you look so gorgeous and fresh. Your husband's jaw probably dropped when he saw you!

Jessica said...

LOVE IT! fantastic that your husband loved the idea. some men are so attached to the idea of long hair, you know? nice job crossing this item off your list.

Megan said...

Thanks, all. The Husband loves it. He's trying to give all the right earnest compliments so that I'll like it, but I'm still adjusting. I'll tell you what though, you've never experienced real bed head until you've pixied your hair.

Also, should you ladies return, Ash and Whit, you'll see that your comments are missing. I would have liked to have left them there, but we are still avoiding using my spouse's name here per his own request. Most people know it and it's not hard to figure out if they don't know, but here, on this blog, he has to stay nameless; so when I get comments that have his name in them, I ruefully delete. His issue, not mine, but I'm humoring him and going along.

Kelly Mo said...

Love it, Meg! I have a short hair cut and I love it that way. Enjoy the ease of getting ready in the morning!

lindsey v said...

It's true, everyone (including me) has an a-line bob. I notice them everywhere too. It's a safe yet stylish choice. But you're right. It takes zero guts to have the bob.

I think you look very cute with your pixie. Way to go for being brave! You'll have to fill us in on how often you wash now. Does it still work better on a non wash day?

The Fear Fam said...

Fantastic! I'm not even brave enough for the a-line bob!

Shelby Lou said...

thats hawt.

seriously. I LOVE IT.

Julie said...

I love it! My husband would be elated if I did this to my hair. And you don't look like a boy....you do not have the face of a boy. At all. I think it suits your features.

Anonymous said...

i love love love it. the pixie is the greatest hair style, ever. there's so much more time for sleep!

Julie said...

I looked again...I think its very Audrey Hepburn.

[Morgan] said...

boyish? heaven's no.
no. no. no.
and fat?
no. no. no!
in fact, i think you look even more slim than before.
you look great.
and i'm not just sayin'.

i admire your guts girl. i really do.
they paid off!

Unknown said...

I know that society puts a lot of pressure on ladies to the right haircut. I don't know how many women would look as good in short hair as you do, but I'm guessing it's far more than you'd think. My wife is one of those ladies who gets the "I wish I had the guts to do that" comment all of the time now. In the years that I have known her she has had her hair shoulder long, mid-length, angled, mulleted and cropped to as short as an inch or less and as far as that goes I have yet to see her ever look bad and not to elicit comments from other women about her hair. I admire her confidence and even more the fact that she can throw fashion to the wind and not be held back by something as superficial attachment to the length of the dead follicles growing from her scalp. Don't get me wrong I didn't used to be so unattached myself! When my wife first cut off all of her hair I was in shock, but then I came to appreciate other things about her like the graceful lines of her neck now exposed for cuddling, the character of jawline and the daintiness of her nose and ears. Like many men I used to be firmly camped in the "only long haired women are beautiful" crowd but now I have officially crossed over and have become an advocate of short hair and an agent of change among those same exact women who say, "I wish that I had the guts to do that, my husband would probably kill me if I ever cut my hair that short." My advice? Cut it, it will always grow back and if you don't like it the whole experience will only build character! So, if you can't tell... this male is enthralled with your story of self-discovery and would gladly give your DH a high five from pixie enthusiast / convert to another.

Ashley Thalman said...

Richard, I like your comment and perspective.

Chris and Whit said...

Megan, you're such a fox.

Katharina said...

Delurking here to say that I deem the new look hot. No, no...it's H-A-W-T.

I have long had Halle Berry's former pixie cut on my to-do list. You make me wish I had the guts.

Jena said...

Absolutely stunning! Tell Cat she did a fabulous job.

{Erica} said...

Pixie perfect and the color is awesome!

Alicia said...

I was thinking it would be more like Halle Berry's catwoman hair. A-lines are def cute - but I agree that everyone and their dog now styles their hair as such. I like that the pixie cut is unique and it really is a stylish cut. You will adjust, it does look good!

Megan said...

Richard, you're right--what I said to myself when I decided to do it was a little reminder that hair grows and if I hate it, I'm not married to it. My husband is glad to know that there are advocates out there like him. The silly man can't stop giving me compliments. It's adorable.

Greeneyes, nice to meet you. Thanks for coming out to give me a compliment. A very nice introduction.

Erica, "pixie perfect"--what a clever little play on words.

People overall: Wow. You're making me blush. I should chop off my hair more often so that I can find a treasure trove of compliments waiting for me on my blog. Thank you for your encouragement!

crissy // mama boss said...

I like it. It is definitely an adjustment and a brave thing to go super-short, but you pull it off well. Once you get used to it, and especially if/when you start to really enjoy it you'll find that you have a hard time growing it back out (which is what I'm currently attempting for the umpteenth time in 5 years), because short hair is just so terribly wonderful.

Unknown said...

I agree with all the ladies here.

it's hot. feminine. lady-like. sassy. and hot.

and you are brave.

Saretta said...

I thought you'd appreciate my firecracker of a friend's blog entry about her hair experience (or lack of hair for a good cause) in Dhaka, Bangladesh where she's been teaching French for two years. Apparently it was only recently that women were allowed to cut their hair shoulder-length. Check out her hair story here: http://gypsyqueensdaughter.blogspot.com/2008/10/as-hair-grows.html

Michelle said...

It is darling! The one thing about short hair is, it always grows back!

rabidrunner said...

Do you think I'd get 26 comments if'n I were to cut off my hair? Doubtful. I'm not as cool as you are. Might be worth a try, however...

(You know I like it. Shows off your sexy neck. 'Sides you pegged it when you said "everyone and their daughter has an a-line."

cat+tadd=sam said...

I'm afraid you deleted my comment. I'm hurt.

Megan said...

I didn't. If it's gone, you deleted it. Swear. I tell when I delete.

Kri5t3n said...

You look fat, horrible, like a homeless little boy.

Anne said...

That style looks great on you! Your sister did a fabulous job.

Megan said...

Anne, you're not partial to this type of cut or anything, are you?

Yours is awfully cute.

Anne said...

Um...of course not...

Ok, so maybe I am.

I chopped mine off 5 years ago and will never go back. Best thing I've ever done! Thanks!

whitneyingram said...

Proud to say I don't have an A-line. I have long, luxurious, dark hair and it is my one pride and joy in my life.

Wow, I suck.

cat+tadd=sam said...

Hmmmm...Rookie, you don't have even two other prides of joy called...say...Jack and Van?

Unknown said...

Looks like the bob and variations of it will still be around for quite a while. Speaking of A-line bobs... I was showed a girl the other day who used that DIY product at www.cutabob.com and the haircut looked like one done at our salon. Very impressive and I don't doubt it will save her some money without looking like she did it herself!

aezra noell said...

you're just to hot for your own good and I hate you.(ok not really) but seriously, oh how i wish i could go pixie. its been a little desire inside of me since i was a freshman. mainly b/c my sis came to a performance of mine and afterwards showed me her new do and it was pixie and she looked awesome! oh how nice it must be to own a face for pixie. its so spunky and Sass. i think its definitely you. i guess heres my two cents...and then some.

Justin Hackworth said...

You are so darn cute.