A Change I Didn't Realize I Needed
Goodness gracious! Who ever thought we’d still be in this safer at home situation after a long 3 months, and how busy this period would be at the same time?! As I shared last time, I’ve been blessed with the ability to work from home, but that didn’t mean busy times let up. The first couple months were a lot more brutal with distance learning for a 1st and 4th grader. But even after I saw the end of that specific tunnel, the day job just became more of a bear. Now the kids are still home all day, every day. What to do with them now? Pretty much almost anything they want to keep us all sane. And yet, here we go again, like déjà vu - feels like March again with the new surge in Coronavirus cases.
In other news, I had to give my hair a break while we were all stuck at home. I knew I was dependent on my hairstylist but didn’t realize how much until this happened.
Braids - typically up in bun because this short-haired girl isn’t used to having hair touching her face/neck; and letting it down made me look like a teenaged school girl missing her backpack.
Long ago, someone (I can’t even remember who) commented that I my “whole look would’ve been perfect if only my hair looked as nice as my outfit.” That stuck with me for a long time, so when I began making enough to afford routine hair appointments and found the best stylist there ever was [shout out to @pictureperfecthair_], keeping my hair well maintained became not only a high priority but also a staple of my self-care routine. While I got it braided/twisted and tried a couple other things over the years, I otherwise kept the same routine for about the last 20 years. I never gave wearing my hair naturally more than maybe a 2-second thought.
My hair has gone through a bit of a rollercoaster though. I used to have fuller and somewhat longer hair (especially during and after my pregnancies), but my kids pretty much stole it all! I envy how nice and full their hair is. I get these thinned out bald spots when my stress levels are high, which was a reminder for me to refocus on self-care, increase my water intake and just chill out!
But relaxed, styled and dyed regularly - my stylist is an expert in laying it down and out perfectly! I may never get over how much I’ve loved my look...with that pixie cut just right. Not a whole lot could ruin my day as long as I had my hair whipped! I’d learned how to maintain it, so why bother fixing what wasn’t broken? My hair was my crown and I had it all figured out. It worked…until coronavirus came crashing in and estranged me from my hair stylist.
My hair grew out much faster than I thought it ever capable, and then there was the uncovered lie that consistent hair dying had me believe I didn’t have much greys. I was so wrong. it was a hot mess… a mixed of natural growth and relaxed weak hair on top made an uneven and unhealthy mess. If my hair could speak, it’d tell her how much she was missed.
I kept it covered up most times, but this California heat often made that unbearable. I whined about my hair loud enough that my friend, Lisa mailed me some beautiful scarves - although it was probably more to do with her being one of the sweetest and most thoughtful people I know.
But after bearing with it for a couple months, I grabbed a tiny pair of scissors (only tiny damages at a time) and against my stylist’s advice, trimmed off what would become dead ends anyway. It allowed me to focus on what became important - caring for whatever I’d be left with. I started conditioning more regularly and giving it some extra TLC. I felt more comfortable not to having to cover it up.
By the time my hairstylist was allowed to reopen her salon, I was no longer in a hurry to get an appointment although I got one pretty quickly. My mind was made up before then - I wasn’t going to revert back to applying chemicals to my hair, except for dye - because let’s be real. I’m not ready to embrace my greys just yet (baby steps).
I’m so happy with my new (albeit forced) choice. I feel free! Gone are the days of worrying about getting my hair wet or messed up some other way, batting my sons and sometimes husband off rubbing my head, or that one rogue section that sticks up uncontrollably. I can step out for my power walk on a dewy morning without having to consider whether I should be have an umbrella or a hoodie on to cover up. I mean, how confining is it to have to worry about these things when exercising, or say the kids ask you to get in the pool with them - or just splash all over you without warning? I wouldn’t say maintaining this will be a walk in the park, but I have a really good feeling about it!
Why I hadn’t made this change sooner. Truth is, it’s the sense of comfort that’s hard to shake off - and the transition would’ve been hassle had I attempted it while still going about work, etc. before Coronavirus-days. So, amid the inconvenience of having to stay home, I’m thankful this came out of it.