Maybe not so much these days, but when I was younger I was totally obsessed by my hair. We’d had DIY hair cuts at home as kids and I hated my hair. It’s always tended to be fine and flyaway. One day I used my savings and went to the hairdressers in Aldershot with a friend. I had a Princess Di style haircut and I felt a million dollars. The cut was shorter than I’d had before, was shaped and transformed my face. Does your hair give you confidence? Well yes, I’d say as a pre-teen it certainly did. It also helped me feel braver when we moved to Oxfordshire and I had to make new friends as a lanky 14-year-old.
My natural hair colour is mid brown, to me it’s boring and has no interest. I’ve always been a bit shy really, I’m never going to be the life and soul of the party, but my hair has often helped me feel more confident. The day I discovered hair dyes and peroxide could transform my appearance as well as a certain haircut, was a revelation. Through my late teens and early twenties I went through a number of hair transformations – from really bleached blonde to burgundy and every colour in between. Add in the must have 80’s perm and boy did I probably look a sight. Thank god this was all before the digital age.
I remember clearly one day, my hairdresser looking at my hair and telling me point-blank that I had to stop bleaching it. My hair was breaking off, it needed a break from all the abuse I’d been throwing at it. My hair was falling out. It scared me to death. I don’t think I’m particularly vain, but the thought of losing hair didn’t sit well with me.
Does your hair give you confidence? Yes I think it really does. It’s certainly something people often remember from a first encounter isn’t it. When I was pregnant with my son, my hair felt so lush. It really thickened up, I got married when I was six months pregnant, and my hair had so much more volume than ever before, it was fab. It gave me an extra boost when I really needed it.
Then of course, after my son arrived, my ‘extra pregnancy’ hair started to fall out. I knew it would, but it’s still quite alarming when you see it happening. I’d love having more volume in my hair, and knew that fine and flyaway was going to make a return. But it also made me realise how lucky I really was. I had friends who’d lost hair going through Chemo and knew a couple of people and children with alopecia. Really I had nothing to complain about.
I’ll turn 50 next year and I guess in the years ahead my hair may thin some more, the grey hairs are definitely making an appearance, under my blonde highlights. But actually going grey doesn’t bother me at all. I’m hoping I’ll take after my gran and have lovely tonal shades of graduated grey through my hair. Time will tell.
How about you, does your hair give you confidence? What would you do if you hair was thinning out?
disclosure: this is a collaborative post
Your new haircut looks great! I definitely think good hair adds to confidence, I’m certainly more confident on a good hair day when it looks voluminous but not frizzy and also when it’s freshly dyed – by the end of each month those pesky greys are making an ever noticing appearance!
lol, you can’t avoid them can you. I’m seeing them more as a way of naturally highlighting my hair in the years to come.
I have always been told i have very fine hair but lots of it, it can be really flyaway – but when my hair feels good – I feel good!
Flyaway is such a pain isn’t it.
i love taking care of my hair to be silky and shine! i will have to tell Mr C for this treatment as his hair is quite thin now.
Hope it helps if he goes for it
I think I’m quite lucky, because my hair is very thick and wavy, so I don’t need to do a lot to it, for it to look ok. I think having children alters how much you can think about it, but it’s always a boost to feel good.
I think having kids changes everything doesn’t it. i envy you your thick wavy hair though
My hair has been such a pain to me. I’ve had periods where it’s been incredibly thin and short, but whenever I’ve had a baby it’s been so lush, long and thick. Fingers crossed it’s steady now and has been for a couple of years – definitely going very grey though! Mine is a very pale grey with white, and I can get away with it for a while, but it’s definitely time to dye now 😀
It’s amazing the difference being pregnant makes to it isn’t it.
I agree hair was everything in the 80’s and I can remember perm days. As the chi of a hairdresser mum cuts were the norm and my first other haircut was big trauma. I hate hairdressers now must be that I never came out looking how I imagined. Now I have a lovely hairdresser that comes to me and am not looking forward to being completely grey! Love your new hair cut it looks lovely.
Thank you. I’m lucky that a friend cuts my hair too
I love your hair! My hair used to give me a lot of confidence as a teen and It was the one part of my appearance I was always happy with. It was long, thick, glossy and has been a multitude of colours over the years. Unfortunately since having my children and battling with health over the last few years, I’ve not cared for it as much and I’ve developed a fear of the hairdressers. I now cut it and dye it myself and it’s full of grey and in poor condition. I have to admit that these days, it certainly doesn’t give me confidence any more.
Oh Jen, I hope it will again in the future and you overcome your fear xx
I’ve always hated my hair, it has never seemed to do what I want it to at all and all the hair dyes over the years haven’t helped. One day I’ll get it to behave 😉
Stevie x
I’ve always wanted long hair really, but my hair is so thin, it’s embarrassing how small a pony tail I produce
It looks lovely. Loads of mine fell out post baby, so much fluff!
Such a shame isn’t it
My hair does. I would wear far more hats if my fair started to fall out, I think.
Sounds like a good idea – hats don’t look right on me at all sadly.
You hair really suits you! I think my hair is in better condition now than it has ever been!
Thank you