the story of my life-long follicle follies

"there are times when...i think i'm in danger of becoming a prisoner of my own hair." - Brian May

i began feeling this recently.

want proof? here you go.

exhibit a: fifth grade. i was visiting my sister during her first year at baylor. hair = parted in the center and straight. no bangs, no layers, no style.

exhibit b: sixth grade. isn't that sweet? a sears portrait...hair = parted in the center and straight. no bangs, no layers, no style.

exhibit c: tenth grade. i was wearing striped socks to celebrate the last day of school! hair = parted in the center and straight. no bangs, no layers, no style.

are you noticing a pattern?


exhibit d: eleventh grade. this was my prom hairstyle...something sophisticated and different, obviously. hair = parted down the center and straight. no bangs, no layers, no style. but i did have a headband.

exhibit e: freshman year at baylor. a trip to the mall with some friends. hair = parted in the center and straight. no bangs, no layers, no style. no surprise here.

exhibit f: sophomore year at baylor. headshots for my first mainstage! not even a neat fountain can hide the evidence. hair = parted down the center and straight. no bangs, no layers, no style.

exhibit g: a few days ago. i was holding a toucan at garden ridge. hair = sucks. that's all there is to it.

"hair has always been important." - diana ross

i never realized that changing your hair could make you feel like a completely new person. and then this happened.

hair = BANGS! LAYERS! STYLE!

okay. i realize that in the grand scheme of hair, this is a very minor change. in the grand scheme of life in general, this is a very minor change. but for me, this is a HUGE change...not just because i've never had anything like it before, but because it is a change that represents the person that i am working on becoming. i didn't just cut off split ends...i cut off ten or more years of being stagnant and boring. i cut off negativity and anger and unhappiness and doubt and fear. who knew that changing this one little thing could be so cathartic and make me feel so amazing? i feel lighter somehow...and almost confident. its a new feeling, but a good one. i hope it doesn't wear off any time soon.

"if truth is beauty, how come no one has their hair done in the library?" - lily tomlin