Saturday, September 27, 2008

Carpe Diem

When Sophie was born, my hair was six inches or so below my shoulders. Even as a tiny baby, she would get a grip on a hunk of hair and yank and shake her fist until my eyes watered. So to keep it out of her reach, I cut it up to shoulder length about eight weeks after she was born. As her arms have gotten longer, my hair has gotten progressively shorter. At five months, it went to chin length, and most recently to a short shaggy bob just below my ears. Today, I finally went all out.

I hadn't planned on chopping it all off. I went in with the intention of bringing it up a little in back but otherwise just a trim and shape. But while looking through the books to pass the time awaiting my appointment, I came across a style that I liked. Before I knew it, I had sold myself on this new cut.

As the locks of hair began falling to the ground, I started to get a sort of nervous/excited feeling. Well past the point of no return, I said to Aparna, my best friend who was there with me while waiting her turn, and my stylist that I had that feeling that you get when you've just narrowly avoided an accident. You know, like "HOLY CRAP! I'm so happy I'm okay" but with the adrenaline still running through you so you feel all cold and shaky. I meant it in no way as an insult to my stylist, who's great, but just that making a big change in your appearance is so scary. And wonderful. My hair, or rather the longer version of it, was sort of a security blanket. I think I hid behind it to some degree.

It's been a long time since I've had short hair and I wasn't sure how I would look. For about five years now, I've wanted to go back short, but I kept telling myself that I could do it when I lost 10 pounds, or 20 pounds, or as the case would be now, 40 pounds. I'm tired of dangling that carrot, though. At some point, you just have to live for today. Carpe Diem. My stylist, who has a picture of Zak Efron on the wall of his area because he has a crush on him, tells me that I have a face that can pull off a lot of styles and that this one looks fab on me. I'd like to think that he's giving it to me straight (a little play on words there because this guy is as un-straight as they come), but who can say for sure.

So without further ado, the new me:


















Don't feel obligated to tell me how wonderful I look. And by that I mean, do. Please. I'm feeling very fragile here.

28 comments:

  1. I'm with the Queer Eye... you look faaabulous! Not a lot of women can pull that off. Successfully, anyway.

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  2. You look sooooo cute! So metropolitan. I'm jealous. I did that with my hair about 14 years ago and I looked so weird.

    I love your new do!

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  3. I love it! I would so have that haircut if I thought I could pull it off!

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  4. Change is good! Very cute indeed ;)

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  5. Wow--it really does look great! You do have a face that can wear a short hair style--I could never pull it off, though I wish I could! Lookin' good!!

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  6. Wooo-hooooooo! Gotta date?

    (complimenting someone on how hot they are requires objectifying them)

    :)

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  7. Da-ling, you look fab-u-lous!

    I cut mine (almost that short) a few yrs ago. But now my rule is, 'the length must hide the second chin!) lol.

    (You've got a few yrs yet on that one!)

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  8. Yes, you definitely have a face that can pull off that style. It looks fantastic! And I'm not just saying that... because if I didn't think so, I wouldn't have left a comment. ;)

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  9. Love the hair. Love the glasses. I have plans for a short cut in the works as well. Right now, I am rocking the "put-it-all-in-a-pony-tail-bun-thing-when-it's-wet-so-that-it's-still-wet-at-night" style. The main attraction of this style is that it takes 1 minute to achieve.

    One more time. Love the hair. Love the glasses.

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  10. If I didn't like it, I wouldn't comment at all. And you really DO pull that off well! It looks adorable! You look chic and it looks so easy!

    Beautiful, hon.

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  11. Adorable!!! You are pulling off this look so good, girlfriend!!

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  12. I LOVE IT! That's the style I've wanted to be able to wear. But you see, I DON'T have a face that can pull off lots of styles. I have a chubby ROUND face that is the bane of my existence!

    I too hid behind my hair, pretty much my whole life. I have this wicked wild curly hair that got numerous compliments on a daily basis, especially when it was long. But with two wee ones to manage, I had no time or patience for it anymore.

    I too wanted to lose about 40 pounds before I put my face out there without all that hair.

    Ah well. I can't pass much for a hottie anymore (my hair was always much prettier than my face). But at least I can roll out of bed and shower and be ready for the day within 40 minutes. These days, that's worth more to me than being sexy.

    Sucks to get old, eh?

    And per your comment over at my place, yes...your sleep will very likely continue to be interrupted long past nursing and potty training. This is in the top three reasons on my list of just why exactly I will not be bringing a third child into the world. I don't do well without sleep. Neither does anyone within a 5 mile radius of me.

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  13. WOW cara you look great! I Love it

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  14. I love, love, LOVE your new cut! You have the perfect shape face to pull it off (not me, I have an extremely round face.) You look great!

    I can relate to hiding behind the hair...just a little bit! :)

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  15. Love it! It looks great.

    Isn't it so weird the first time you wash your hair after a hair cut like that and you run out of hair to wash?

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  16. Looks like I'm with the majority (all? I didn't read all the comments here), because I really like it! I don't think I have the guts to chop off all my hair, but it looks good on you. I hope to be getting a haircut this week, and when I do, I'm simply going to tell her to what she wants, as I trust her...

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  17. TOO FREAKIN CUTE!!!!!! Now that is a change that makes you feel new & exciting. Can't wait to see you on Friday.


    - Melanie

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  18. uh oh, Neil best keep an eye on things, Hot Momma on the prowl!

    Seriously it looks fab!

    -D

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  19. I have no idea where you plan to lose the 40 pounds from, but you really do look great, especially with those glasses!

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  20. Totally hot!

    I agree with the other commenters. I don't think everyone has the face to go that short, but you look fab.

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  21. I really like it. I don't know what you looked like before but I like this.
    I like to grow my hair long just to cut it short again. To me, its kind of refreshing.

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  22. I think it's ADORABLE! I wish I could pull off a style like that!!!

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  23. I. Love. It.

    For real.
    Seriously.
    Truly.
    Completely.
    Kid you not.

    It's fabulous...and chic...and sassy...and YOU!

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  24. Oooh I love it!!!

    Love the glasses too!

    What did the rest of the crew think about it?

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Give me some sugar, baby!