A Stress Shed?
While discussing my dissatisfaction with my hair with my husband recently, he pointed out that I started really feeling like my ends were thin and my hair wasn’t as pretty in 2020. While I didn’t get COVID, the state of the world (and some personal changes) had me stressed out, and I suspect in retrospect that I had a bit of a stress shed. Stress shedding has happened to me before, in college, and I had some of the same signs but wrote them off at the time. I think it would at least partially explain the difference I see between photos from a few years ago and now.
A Haircut
Because I was dissatisfied with my hair, in February I decided to switch things up and get “bangs”/face-framing pieces to pull out of updos. I also cut back again, to just past classic. Both changes are now a bit grown out.
I almost instantly regretted the bangs. I went to a professional hairdresser and I think I would have been happier with the outcome if I had done it myself and had more control. They are too thick and one side is longer than the other, and in the end I think I just prefer to have my hair all one length. It’s discouraging to realize that, because it’ll take years to grow out my mistake.
Most people haven’t seen the short pieces because I hide them in a French braid or wear a high bun to tuck them away. They were chin length when I got them in February and now I’d say they’re shoulder length — long enough that they haven’t been hard to hide, thankfully.
I’m not as torn up about the trim she gave the ends, but I do sometimes see old pictures of my hair at nearly-knee length and feel sad about that too, even if my ends weren’t always picture perfect.
Silver Linings
I’m trying to focus on the things I do like about my hair. The short bits create a softer look around my face even when they’re not loose because they’re not as weighed down — for example, I like French braids much better now. They also force me to be more creative with my hairstyles. And the shorter overall length makes it easier to wear a braid without sitting on it too much.
Going Forward
Plans may change, but I’m planning to grow back out and hopefully get to knee for real someday — regardless of thin ends. I want to accept the imperfections of my hair when it gets super long and not obsess as much. For example, I’d like to take length pictures only once a month at most. I’m just generally trying to recommit to enjoying my hair hobby and relax about it as well. (I honestly think that not posting to Instagram might help with that.)
Future Content
I bought a new ring light tripod because I broke my old one months ago, so I’d like to do more photos and posts going forward. This is still exclusively a hobby and I don’t want to make it a job, so I’m not going to pressure myself overly if I don’t feel like generating content.
I’d like to focus on hairstyles and challenges rather than getting into the nitty gritty chemistry of hair care, since I’m not a chemist and I’ve been wrong before. I’ll still offer some advice and maybe tutorials. If there’s anything along those lines you’d like to see, leave me a comment or send an email.