Ohmystinkinheck

Nearly a year ago I shared my “secret dreams of brushing long, bangless tresses and french braiding my salt and pepper hair” and asked you to tell me what I should do. I warned you against suggesting bangs because of my enormous front cowlics that render Eddy Munster-like bangs. I asked how long it’d take to grow out. YOU encouraged me to grow it - and so I began the journey.

This is about how short it was when I started:

Barely touched my ears. It had been that way for about 13 years or so.

And then, two weeks later I would have crab crawled all the way to my hair gal, Bonnie, to cut back the monstrosity, but you guys said, “No, you can do it…keep it up.”

And so, I did.

Sometimes it wasn’t as bad as others,

but for the most part, it was terrible.

Later, my hair took fungus form and mushroomed atop my head.

It happened overnight, really. I could have starred in Steel Magnolias with my helmet head. But STILL you would not give in to my begging and my not-so-subtle suggestions - you voted for me to continue on. I got the feeling that perhaps the joke was on me at this point, but I said I’d stick to the vote - and so I did.

A few of you voted “Seriously - quit whining. No one cares. Cut it.” You know, just because I GAVE that option didn’t mean you had to TAKE the option. Geez.

In fact, even when I was trying to lose weight (don’t ask - we’re talking about hair), you wouldn’t free me from my plight. I posted a demon possessed headband shot, but you held your ground. “GROW IT!” you said.

I think I was growing teeth at the same time. This shot was a bit too reminiscent of the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood.

“What big TEETH you have grandma!”
“The better to EAT you with…”

And after that, I figured I was well on my way and didn’t ask again until Whoorl had me on her site in October.

I gave a straight out of the shower shot - NOT a styled shot. This shot was supposed to show the wave in my hair, the color of my hair and beg for a style.

And maybe that was the problem, but can you BELIEVE the Hair Thursday bloggers voted to cut it? WELL!! I had one thing to say about that…

WHAT IN THE STINKIN’ HECK?!!

After 5 months of looking like anything from a granny to a character on Fraggle Rock, I was NOT gonna cut it. Nope, not gonna. At this point I decided to go AGAINST the majority and continue on…alone.

Helpless.

I nearly fell into despair, but then I remembered this was JUST HAIR after all.

So, now it is April 2008 and I have a hair update. No, really…don’t get so excited. Please, everyone sit down - really, it isn’t THAT exciting.

Here we go - the front:

The back - well, kind of the back:

Notice I had it stacked just a bit while I am STILL WAITING for my bangs to reach my chin. I would have significantly more length, but I really wanted to even it all up before I let it pass my chin.

THIS is the first photo that really makes me embrace my grey. I absolutely love the way my grey looks in this shot.

As you can see, I’m greying from the front to the back. When it began I had a skunk streak along my part, but as it has grown it has spread out a bit and just left the back dark.

Why am I writing about all this now?

Well, yesterday I was interviewed by the New York Times. Apparently they are doing a write-up in the Style section on the 17th of this month about how blogs can be used to make decisions on style. I believe I was found through Whoorl’s Hair Thursday. I believe I was very nervous. I believe I might have said some really stupid things in response to the nice Yankee’s lady’s questions.

I BELIEVE IN CRYSTAL LIGHT ‘CUZ I BELIEVE IN ME.

Oh wait, I didn’t mean to sing that - SEE HOW TELEVISION CAN AFFECT YOU. Dadburnit.

All I know is I had NO IDEA I would ever be in the NYT, but even if I had ever an inkling, I don’t imagine I would’ve considered it be about my hair. MY HAIR for crying out loud.

I can only imagine the conversations.

Me: “Hi, my name is Heather - did you know I’m going to be in the New York Times?”

Perfect Stranger: “Oh really?”

Me: “Yes, thought you might like to know that.”

Perfect Stranger: “Did you write something for it?”

Me: “Um…no.”

Perfect Stranger: “Did you do something important - like save a child, discover a cure for foot fungus, or rescue a Grandma from buying orange make-up?”

Me: “Um…not exactly.”

Perfect Stranger: “Well tell me, what did you DO?”

Me: “I…uh…well, I…you see, I grew…”

Perfect Stranger: “You GREW an award winning vegetable for a county fair?”

Me: “NO DANGIT! I GREW OUT MY HAIR. IT TOOK A WHOLE YEAR, BUT I DID IT!”

Perfect Stranger: “Oh.”

Me: “Yea, that’s it.”

SEE? Seriously, I don’t know whether to call everyone I know or to hide and pray I don’t get a lot of hate mail about how I’m so vain.

ANYWAY, they asked for before photos and asked whether I would mind sending some after shots (or they would send someone out to take them - um…no, thankyouverymuch.)

So, I took a shower and styled my hair today - you’d be so proud, I don’t always shower. And well, you saw the results. Look, I’m clean! Look, I’m smiling. Look, I did it!

Yea, me.
 
 
 
 

56 Responses to “How I came to be interviewed by a Yankee.”

1. Lori

   Well at least you’ve actually changed your hairstyle. Mine has been the same since I was 15:( I’m scared of change!

   Wow on the interview! Your last picture, all done up, looks just fabulous dahling;)

2. Chef

   You are my hero!

3. Barb

   Way to hang in there! I think the results were worth it! You look great!

4. Kristy

   WOW congrats on the interview! I LOVE your new do!!!! It is really cute :)

5. Carole

   I am laughing so hard!! Thank you my friend for that!! I love the new doo!!!
   Gorgeous as always!
   Oh and you have to tell me how you get your damn eyebrows so perfect!?!?!?

6. Anna

   Wow, I think it looks amazing!

7. JackieW.

   Been where you are.

   Just had mine permed.

   I use silverlights bluing to keep the yellow out.

   Only use the shampoo OR the conditioner. If I use both my hair turns blue.

8. whoorl

   Down with the majority! Personally, I love the length!

9. Golden

   Gosh, Heather, you really do have the most unbelievably gorgeous hair. I *love* *love* the color, the thickness, the abundance, the length…and yeah, the cut you have now is just dandy also.
   Ahh, I strive to have salt and pepper hair like you, but alas I have to have pepper before it can be salted and this fine, baby mousy dirty blondness is nowhere close. It’s even graying, but by the time it is that gray, I will have no hair left!

   You really are a beauty, Heather…inside and out!

10. Jill

    I LOVE the style! I’m right where you were too. I’ve been growing mine out since forever it seems because a year and a half ago I went really short (WHY!), struggled with getting used to it for a year but hating it. Now I’m thinking of a similar style to you, however, I’m not ready to embrace my grey. It’s not as evenly beautiful as yours. Maybe soon though. I don’t have a hang-up about being grey as long as it’s not old-lady short, curly to the scalp style grey. Good for you. Love the look.

11. Mrs. Wilson

    You are absolutely beautiful. I definitely voted to GROW IT OUT and it was worth it because you look GREAT! And I love the salt and pepper. You make it look good.

12. Sue

    I love your hair. Although I loved the before shots, too. In fact, you are inspiring me to not be so afraid of the gray i’m getting. I mean, come on — it’s who I really AM, right? So why should I have to change for society?

13. Mim

    LOVE the new ‘do! Can’t wait to see the write up in the NYT. Too exciting! Yay for you and sticking with it.

14. Kate

    Beautiful hair! And congrats on the NYT’s article! It’s an accomplishment no matter the reason!

15. suz

    I love this post. so fun. hysterial!
    And, I love the longer do. :)

16. bethany actually

    Did people really vote for you to cut it? I don’t remember that. They must have been people who hadn’t been following your hair chronicles. I totally love your hair the way it was at the time of your Hair Thursday, and think it looks fabulous now, too.

17. Alicia P

    Beautiful dahling!

18. thatgirl

    guess what? I’m growing out my grey also! I have convinced myself it looks better than highlights! I Looooooove your haircut.

    So there.

19. Lisa C

    I love, love, love your hair grown out! I’ve had my hair VERY short too … so yours was good to go … even when it was short … but it’s so healthy looking … & bouncy now! Yea you!

20. Anna

    Woohoo! Way to persevere! I think it looks awesome and I love the story!!

21. Starwoodgal

    Love it! And, the gray looks so pretty. Very soft, like highlights.

22. Emily

    Oh my gosh! I think it looks fabulous! How are you feeling about it?

23. AmyL

    Ooooo, I love it! Beautiful. :) I’m glad you stuck with it all year.

24. Kristin

    You GROW girl!!! Love the long locks. Glad you went against the majority. :)

25. Carla

    I love it, so pretty! And I am using my birthday money to buy the philosophy skin care kit in hopes to have gorgeous OMSH skin…

26. Amber (Bringing Good Home)

    Okay, so, it’s HAIR. But you’re in the NYTimes!! Besides which, accepting the grey is a big deal to a lot of women! I just recently started getting noticible grey right up front.. I haven’t dyed it yet. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t WANTED to.
    With a fab hair style like yours, you’re an inspiration to EMBRACE the grey! :)

    BTW - Several years ago (I think four?) I cut my hair about as short as your first photo. After several months of my hubby hating it, I started growing it out again. Instead of going every 2-3 weeks for a maintenance trim, I started going every 5-6 weeks for a reshaping cut. It made the initial getting to my chin take longer, but I didn’t mind. Once it got past my chin I stopped going so frequently and only went to trim the split ends, etc. Here it is, four and half years later and it’s almost to my elbows!!

27. Kate

    Wow, you’re a beauty. Your new style and cut totally suit you. You look fantastic!

    Congrats on the NYT article! Be sure to share a link with us so we can read it and say we “knew you when…”.

28. Angie

    It looks absolutely FAN-TAB-U-LOUS! Really, it was worth the struggles.

    KEEP BELIEVING

29. Liz C.

    Oh My Stinking HECK. You’re just gorgeous. I LOVE the style you’re working. Sleek, “Glam” without looking like you’re working at it, the colors are like quicksilver… lovely. Your struggle was noteworthy, and worthwhile. You have overcome the Eddie Munster Cowlicks.

30. Jeana

    I love it! It really looks good.

    “I think I was growing teeth at the time.” Hahahaha!

31. kat

    omg. you are ME. i also chatted with the NYTimes lady and had all these freakin’ brilliant things to say and just sounded like a huge dork. i wrote about my own dorkish interview here: http://dancingkitchen.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/oh-btw/

    anyway. i love LOVE LOVE this look on you. i love how thick it looks. and the front frames those cheekbones beautifully.

32. Ree

    I absolutely love it. Seriously gorgeous.

33. Kuky

    It looks very very nice.

34. Mandy

    I love it…it looks JUST like my haircut. No, seriously. I recently got my long, thick, down to my lower back, hair cut just like your in the last picture. Going from long after so many years to short can be just as traumatic. I cried while the lady was cutting it. Twice. But we hung in there and now we both look fabulous dahling!

35. Busymomma66

    Hey, Yankees aren’t all bad!!

    I LOVE the haircut. Very chic!!

36. Aileen

    OneScrappyBaby and I both agree that your hair looks fresh and healthy and beautiful. You could pass for 21!! Seriously!! I think your hair is just perfect the way it looks right now.

    I asked the older two kids for their opinion but they ran away from me. Ingrates.

37. Tempered Woman

    Your hair is gorgeous!! You honestly make me want to cut mine now, that style is SO cute. I’ve been growing mine out but am starting to think I should chop it all off and act my age. I’d kill to be cute enough to pull off a pixie cut like you did!
    PS: burn all evidence of the mushroom cut ASAP

38. Jummy

    You look absolutely gorgeous in every pic, and you seem like you can rock the short cut like no one’s business! I really like your new cut and the pics you took of it!

    Rrrrawwwwrrr!

39. Jummy

    Ooops! I meant to congratulate you on making the big leagues…please let us know when we can read all about it!

40. kerflop

    I can’t believe we’ve traded hair.

    I’m coming to the slow but disheartening realization that my new short haircut is all wrong. I look like a lunch lady.

    No offense to lunch ladies.

    Time for extensions?

41. Pumpkin

    I love your hair! It looks fun and sassy.

    Congrats on the interview. Who cares what it was for…it is the NYT. How cool is that!

42. jessica @pianomomsicle

    You look really good! Like a respectable Victoria Beckham!

43. nottryingforaboy

    It looks great!

    Congrats on the Yankee interview.

44. DeeBee

    The very first picture at the top of this post…. is adorable. That’s all I have to say about that.

45. ie

    I’ll add my clapping to the above.
    Also, I would love to read the article when it appears. Will you be linking it (please)?

46. Jersey Girl

    Loooove the hairdo!!!!! You have the most gorgeous hair! Please let us know when the article is printed in the Times so I can check it out!

47. Gina

    It’s a good thing you let perfect strangers make your hair decisions or where would you be today?? I hope you thanked all of us that voted to grow it out to this cuteness you have now!! ;-)

48. Angella

    You’re purty :)

    (Happy for you! Post the link!)

49. going like sixty

    Here via Blog365: have you had fun with taaz.com yet for online makeovers?
    I just cracked myself up doing me.
    I decided I would not make a good tranny.

    Oh, congrats on the NYT interview!

50. Shannon

    Yeah my comment is nothing about your hair! But I do like it longer. I ditched my web server and went with Liquid Web. Now hopefully it doesn’t take forever to get it up and running. I am not good with waiting.

51. Kristy

    Keee-RACKED up at this one. You are a hoot!

    Love, love, love your hair. Short, long, fraggle-rocked, mushroomed…all of it. It’s all fabulous.

    Seriously, when the first shot of the short ‘do popped up, I blurted out, “OOO. Love it!” But then with each picture after that, I did the same thing.

    So, it’s all good.

    Here’s my question: Why do you get to have gorgeous, thick, SHINY gray hair that falls soft and silkily — and I have these awful, witch-like, beard-consistency gray hairs atop my scalp that SCREAM: DYE ME!!! RUN! NOW!!!

    I mean, come on! That just ain’t fair.

52. SparklieSunShine

    That is so funny. It is amazing the things that bloggers get media for. I love it! You look gorgeous in your photos. I hope you let us know when the issue goes on sale. This yankee will definitely buy a copy. I’m glad that you stuck with it. I am still working on growing mine out and it is making me crazy.

53. c

    YES! You look great. Your hair is gorgeous!

54. Bonnie

    I’m so excited did you mention my shop? We could be famous you and me (HA HA) Thanks for making my do look so great!!!

55. Oh My Stinkin Heck » Blog Archive » All the news that’s not fit for…the news.

    [...] a few days ago when a real live Yankee from the New York Times called me for an interview about my hair? And remember how I made a big “to do” over it? And [...]

56. nancypants

    That is so cool! (How did I miss this post before?) And I love your hair (loved it before too.) It looks awesome. I really love it when women embrace the grey and don’t think they have to go out, chop it all off and get a tight granny style perm or dye it purple. I think your hair is beautiful!