This week, Joanne wrote to me about her powerful personal experience with a haircut that was wrong for her. She generously agreed to allow me to share her story with you.
"I left a lengthy comment on one of your blog posts about how important the right hairstyle is. Here is a rare decent picture of the pixie I had. I am stunned at the impact it has had on my life. I want to chime in about the importance of a good haircut that suits your face. I had a pixie cut and loved the feel of it during the summer. It was nice and cool. But it did not suit me, so I grew it out."
"I grew the pixie cut out to about the bottom of my collar. I had no energy. No life. Just felt blah all the time. I blamed my diet. I became very irritated with my hair and went to get it all whacked off again into a pixie. My hairstylist of several years suggested I go back to the angled bob as it is low maintenance and suits my face so much better."
"I cannot believe how much better I feel about myself and life. This all might seem shallow, but it is true! I feel good about myself. I want to get up in the morning. I want to dress up, I want to put makeup on, and most importantly, I want to be involved in life again. I had no idea that the proper hairstyle was so powerful!"
"I was starting to wonder if I was suffering from depression. I don't consider myself a vain person, but the right cut improved my sense of well-being more than I ever thought possible or logical."
"I am 55 years old and do not color my hair. I do have plenty of grays; they just don't show in pictures yet."
Thank you so much, Joanne, for allowing me to share your experience here with my readers. I created this blog to show examples of the style that might inspire others who might need a change but are unsure how to make those changes.
Joanne's story is a perfect example of how style, texture, and form can affect our outlook on life and our self-image daily on so many levels.
Joanne,
ReplyDeleteWe are raised with the phrase that our hair is our crowning glory. Wanting to feel good about your style is not vain at all. It shows you take pride in yourself and how you portray yourself to the outside world. The angled bob does suit your face and looks fab. Don't ever apologize for having pride in yourself.
I do my hair and makeup even days I'm not going out and I live alone. I do it for me, not for anyone else. Deb M.
Deb M., Thank you so much! I have always felt if I put my makeup on when I am not going out or dressed in nicer clothes when not going out (not sweat pants and t-shirt) that I was wasting money by using up my makeup and shortening the life of my clothes. I am changing this today! Thank you! And thank you Susan for teaching me how to dress!
DeleteA wonderful example of how well chosen personal style has transformative power. It isn't vanity, I've learned. It's a mental health tool.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post!
M
I so believe this. I am currently growing out my pixie and its very hard..Your friend looks so beautiful with her new haircut..
ReplyDeleteHang in there! There is a young blogger, blog name is 'Maybe Matilda', that has excellent pist with puctures of how she grew out her pixie. I believe the post is tagged simply, Growing out a Pixie.
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DeleteThis is a wonderful story Susan. Joanne looks beautiful in her angled bob. Hair is anything but frivolous!! My hair is thinning and my stylist wants to cut it into a pixie style. But my face is too large for short, layered pixie cuts and I never liked myself in them. I may just have to go to a shorter bob. And wear more hats:)
ReplyDeleteI love this story, Susan. When I went through my makeover 12 years ago, I started with my hair. It inspired me to go forward to my clothes. Getting a haircut a woman feels confident in is so important! thank you friend for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSoooooooo true thanks for this story Susan. I was born with musky brown hair. Long. Wore it in the 80's style of big hair in the 80's. But I'm petite 5'1 and when my hair is longer, all that you notice is my hair. And it's very thick (I'm Italian). When I was about 20, I went to Ogle School of Hair & asked for a haircut and boy did I get one. The lady hacked it all off. So I started wearing it really short in a pixie style. But it was still dark dark brown. Fast forward to my 30's and for some reason, I decided to do some blonde. Went blonde for about 10-15 more years and more of a Meg Ryan shag cut. After winter, I usually like to get it cut all off to get rid of the dry stuff and start fresh for spring. Well I let my hairstylist talk me into my short pixie again (which I've done off and on for about 2 years.) But I was still blonde. Last Sunday I decided I didn't like the reddish blonde she put in it, so I dyed it back to my musky color, intending to do heavy blonde highlights. Well it didn't take and is more musky color. I have been walking around like a different person!! It just doesn't feel I'm myself! I feel like I'm back in my early 20's. Which is a good thing, except everyone now knows me with my blonde Meg Ryan cut. It just feels weird. As soon as it grows out better, I'm going back to the way I was - blonde and shaggy! I totally get what Deb M. means. I don't even like to look at people when I talk. I feel that they are judging me - like underneath their breath they're saying "Lori's dark hair is ugly - what was she thinking?!" I'm probably overreacting because my aunt said I could shave my head and still be beautiful. But you all know what I mean. It's about self-confidence.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this! Having a growing-out-the-hair crisis at the moment as well - cut on Monday, can't wait!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Lisa! Just try to be patient with your hair. I hooe you share your before and after on Monday!
DeleteJoanne if you save "the good makeup" the next time you go to use it will smell rancid. As for saving the "good clothes" you'll go to wear it and realize it's dated. Use the good stuff and at the end of it's life remind yourself you got your monies worth out of it.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm going to admit something I can't believe I'm doing on a public forum but here goes. A few years ago I started losing my hair. Male pattern thinning and was devastated. I hated washing my hair because so much would come out and I just didn't know what to do. One day after washing my hair I got out of the shower and cried until there were no more tears. And then it dawned on me. It's only hair. I went right out to the phone, called a place that sold wigs and made an appointment. I came home a few days later with the cutest little wig. Since then I've taken the position that if I'm going to wear a wig then have fun with it. I look at wigs the same as wearing a different lipstick colour. Go have fun with it. My hair is starting to grow in but I love the ease of wigs so much I think I'll stay with them. Nobody would ever guess I wear a wig but if they do, who cares. My point being do it because it makes you feel good. Use the good stuff. Wear your good clothes and the good makeup. You've already spent the money now get your monies worth out if. Nothing lasts forever, not clothes, not makeup, not us. Deb M
Deb M., that is beautiful story! I think wigs are a wonderful alternative! I have a couple of friends that wear wigs and you better believe I will wear them if I loose my hair! You are truly beautiful!
DeleteI think that angled bob cuts suits a wide variety of people--I have one with a full fringe and love it. I had a pixie for a while too but I am tall and size 14 so I think the proportion is wrong. It's amazing what a good hairstylist can do for you!
ReplyDeleteWhen my hair started to thin a little, I immediately started using Rogaine for men, not women. It is a higher concentration of active ingredient. It stopped the thinning and I am actually regrowing some hair too. I will always have to use it (or at least till I don't care anymore!) but it has helped a lot. Just an idea for those of us who want to try it...
I totally agree!! But how do you find the right style? I've been trying for years with different stylist and haven't found it yet! Hiw do I find what works for me??
ReplyDeleteThis is easier said than done. However, when you are out and about and see someone with the same hair texture as you and their hair looks nice (even if thr style is not for you), ask her who does her hair. The trick is finding someone that knows how to work with thinning hair. My stylist, Sabrina Carter at Tease in Summerville, SC.,knows my hair, it is thinning as well and has alwas been thin on the sides. Therefore, when she cuts the longest part in the front on the sides, she does not layer it as she would with someone with thick hair. Good luck!
DeleteThank you for sharing your hair journey! Never let a stylist turn your chair away from the mirror LOL!
ReplyDeleteThe worst thing you can hear is " It will grow back - it's only hair".
Ha! I know what you mean! Once, I wanted a bit of red in my hair (I have natural red high lights) and showed her pictures of the color and cut I wanted. OMG! My hair was burgandy when she finished and the cut was nothing like the picture. It is the only time I have ever told a stylist I hated the cut/color. After that experience is when I found my current stylist, Sabrina Carter.
DeleteI have a pixie cut. My hair is thick and wavy. I also wear glasses that tend to be statement pieces. This is my look, and it works for me. My hairstylist agrees.
ReplyDeleteI think Joanne made the right choice for her face shape and hair type. Pixie cuts are not a style that suits everyone.
from one Joanne to another! - - - Your hair is the one thing- in addition to your face - - - that you wear EVERYDAY! It is important to have your hair and your face reflect what is in your head and heart and a smile and a good attitude about your life in general goes along way to make any haircut and your makeup or outfit look so much better! It's all in your head and if it isn't there work hard to find out why you don't think you are deserving of looking and feeling your absolute best. Nuts4dogs said it right- life is too short to save your makeup or your good clothes. Impress yourself! That last pic of you looks BEAUTIFUL- and not because of the great haircut- I think it is because you finally saw something in yourself that made you smile and the rest just comes naturally! You have to find that every day! Look in the mirror- that beauty is there somewhere!
ReplyDeleteJoanne, I love the way you spell your name! (Wink) Thank you so much for your words of encouragement and support. Since reading these encouraging posts I have been putting make-up on and dressing up. My husband took me out to my favorite Thai restaurant today. Just before we left he said I looked so nice he should change his clthes (I assured him he did not need to). I was glad my husband apreciated it!
DeleteThe right haircut can make such a difference! For years, I had long hair that just didn't work for me and didn't make me feel good. I feel so much better and more confident with a bob!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Joanne's wonderful example!