Dirty Clean Hair

Hello and Happy Friday!  Actually I have to admit I'm actually not happy that it's Friday, because we have been on vacation this week, and so this is my last vacation day from work, which is way beyond depressing.

One of the things I did this week was get my hair cut.  I had originally made an appt for cut and color, but since we have been investing a lot of dollars into Dug's rehab therapy, I changed it to just a cut.  I was hoping that my gray hair would work to make it look good.

Well, I am pleased with my haircut - nice and short for the summer, and I don't have to blow it dry unless for some reason I want to (you know, a state occasion like someone's wedding or something).  But my gray hair has let me down, I'm afraid.  There's not enough of it to make the rest of my hair color look OK.

Growing up, I had blonde hair.  By the time I was 30, it was not the light blonde of my earlier life, but more of a dark, muddy blonde.  I used to get highlights, which helped a lot in making the rest of the muddy color look acceptable.  Then a few years ago, I decided to try getting all-over color, since I keep my hair short and the highlights grew out too fast.  My stylist at the time talked me into a shade of red, and not only did it look great, but it grew in just fine, with no weird-looking roots.

The last time I had my hair colored was about six months ago, when I had a falling out with the guy I had found and originally liked who was cutting and coloring my hair.  He insisted on doing what *he* wanted, and I was not pleased with the result.  So by the time I went to get my haircut on Wednesday, it was all grown out.  I had a nice splotch of gray in the front, and then other gray throughout, and it broke up the dull.

Sadly though, most of the gray got cut out.  And I'm left with sprinkles of gray, but 99% of my head is the color that my blonde hair used to be when it was dirty!

The good thing: I'm really the only one who cares.  I have finally realized after a bazillion years on the earth that 99% of the people I see don't notice me, or my hair, no matter how good or bad it looks.  Plus, at some point, I will have a ton of gray hair, and hopefully it will look nice.  In the meantime, I can save my $$ so that the next time, I can get some color.

The bad thing: I own mirrors. ;-)

Maintenance Level

Before I say anything else, I have to tell you that I am SICK of rain.  This entire week it has rained every single day, and today I felt like I just should have tried to swim to work rather than attempt to walk!  I know rain is needed for plants, flowers, the planet, etc., but I enjoy it more when it is occasional and not constant.  And when it is not pouring as it was this morning.  I've spent the entire week longing to feel dry instead of damp ...

OK, now that I've gotten that off my chest, let's proceed.

A couple days ago, I read this blog post, and it got me to thinking about my own thoughts and ideas about beauty, aging, appearance, etc.

I think I've stated more than once that I enjoy fooling around with makeup, and that I like to try new things from time to time.  There are times when I think I spend too much time reading or thinking about it.  At those moments, I consider myself High Maintenance.

Then I'll read an article with a title like "How Supermodel Pretty McLovely Looks Natural" and realize that maybe I don't even *have* a level of maintenance, compared to others!  To me, using approximately 15 products on your face and/or person before you go out the door with your "everyday" look is nuts.  Granted, I don't rely on my looks to make a living, but it's amazing to me how many different things some people use on a daily basis.

My sister Nancy, for instance, never leaves the house without a full face of makeup.  I mean, lipstick, eye makeup, mascara, the whole thing - even to go to the gym!  WHAT?  And I know that she longs to get Botox, cosmetic surgery, etc., but cannot afford it.  Don't get me wrong, she's a lovely woman who always looks nice and extremely fashionable, but when she visits or I visit her, just watching her get ready to go to the grocery store is exhausting, you know?  And I have no idea what Nancy's actual hair color is, or if she has gone gray at all, since she has colored her hair since she was in high school and I was a little girl.  I assume she has gray hair, but couldn't swear to it in a court of law. ;-)

Then there is my other sister, Mary Ellen.  Who has worn mascara to each of her daughter's weddings, and that's it.  A few summers ago, her daughters talked her into getting her eyebrows waxed and she said, "I had no idea such a thing could make such a difference."  She has that lovely gray hair that everyone wants but so few are lucky enough to get.  She enjoys seeing her daughters try different makeup, hair color, etc., but is just not interested herself.  She finds even just the mention of something like Botox offensive.

All of my nieces love makeup, hair products, clothes, etc. in various degrees.  None of Mary Ellen's daughters understand her disinterest in such things, though to their credit, they find it more amusing than anything else.  I know that at least two my nieces get Botox injections pretty regularly (one is in her early 40s, the other in her mid-30s), which always surprises me.

So clearly, I'm not even has high maintenance as members of my own family!

I guess I'm at medium level, and even then, it depends on the day and what is or is not happening.  Theoretically, I would love to look great and put together whenever I leave the house.  In reality, if it's not a work day or I'm not going anyplace special, I look clean and neat, and that's it.  I've never been interested in cosmetic surgery or Botox, mostly because I cannot imagine why anyone would voluntarily have surgery or want someone to put needles into their face.  Admittedly, I used to look disdainfully at people who did either or both.  I have become slightly more forgiving, having convinced myself that a) it's none of my business what others want to do with their appearance, and b) they don't care what I think anyway.

I enjoy makeup.  I have colored my hair in the past, and may do so again the next time I go for a cut; I haven't decided.  I think it's important to be neat, clean, and have a good overall appearance.  And for some occasions, I'll spend a lot of time and effort before leaving the house to look my very best.  But I cannot imagine devoting a large chunk of every day to just getting ready to walk outside.

What about you?  Where do you fall on the maintenance scale?

Friday Frippery

Hello and Happy Friday!  It's hard to believe that the last day of April is tomorrow.  And even harder to believe that May begins on Sunday.  Maybe it's because the last week has been really chilly around here - we've been lucky if we hit 60 during the day - so it feels more like November than April.

I am not complaining though.  Hot weather will be here soon enough.  I can wait forever.

Anyway, my brain has had various things going through it this week, and I just thought I'd share some of the them.

- Earlier in the week, I came across an article about a local personal trainer/nutritionist, who offered packages to clients so they could save on her services if they couldn't afford one-on-one.  I thought, "Well that's cool," and checked to see the cost.  An 8-week program where you met with her twice a week was $2600.00.  Decision: It's cool for someone else.

- This past Tuesday was the primary election here in Pennsylvania.  On my way to work after voting, I stopped to get a coffee and the barista gave it to me for free since I had my "I Voted" sticker on my coat.  Decision: Voting is a good thing for many reasons.

- Last weekend, I finished listening to an audiobook.  I forgot how enjoyable it can be when you have the combination of a good reader with a good book.  Decision: Try more audiobooks.

- Twice this week I have gotten dressed only to feel like a stuffed sausage in my clothes that seem overly tight.  Decision: Get going again Bridget!!

- A young, attractive woman was walking ahead of me to work this a.m.  She looked very nice, though she was wearing leggings as pants.  Decision:  Leggings as pants do not look good on anyone, even those who are attractive with lovely figures.

- Recently I bought this product when it was on sale at Walgreens, after reading a positive review of in a magazine.

 Turns out that it was a good purchase.  Decision: Write a review of it here and share the good, bad, and my thoughts about it (stay tuned).

- This weekend is supposed to be half-and-half.  Tomorrow is supposed to be nice, and Sunday is supposed to be chilly and rainy.  Decision:  Do things outside tomorrow, and work on things in the house (finally!) on Sunday.

- I have an appt for a haircut at yet another salon this weekend.  Decision:  I'll let you know.


Have a good weekend, and be sure to enjoy it however you can!

Local Woman Makes Amazing Discovery!

A couple of weeks ago, I was noodling around on a local website, when I saw a link for a hair salon that is ridiculously near my house.  I clicked, and the website looked nice enough.  So then I decided to see if there were any Yelp reviews (I've had some luck with those in the past).  There were, and they were overall positive.  Most of the negative reviews had to do with the lack of parking in the area (duh), or that the place was too small (everywhere here is small, folks!), etc.  So on my way home from work, I decided to walk by and check it out for myself.

To give you some background, I thought I had found a pretty decent place, and had been there twice for haircuts before deciding to get color again.  I liked the guy cutting my hair, and I liked the place.  Well, when I told him about the color I wanted, he just blew up and told me there was no way he was doing that.  It would look awful, not work with my skin color, etc.  Now I know I should have just left the place at that point, but I was having an eejit day and said, "Well then what do you suggest" and he pointed to another stylist whose hair was a lovely color.  So I said sure.

And I ended up looking like Donald Trump was on my head.  Bright orange areas with fake blonde areas.  I had no one to blame but myself.  but I immediately decided I was never going back.

Now, back to checking the new place out.  I walked in, and it was clean, neat, and very pleasant looking.  Yes it's small (only 6 stations) and parking would be a pain (it's in a city neighborhood, so what do you expect? Anyway, I can walk there), but it seemed very appealing.  There was a very friendly young man at the front desk, and when I asked him if anyone there specialized in short hair, he immediately recommended someone.  So I took a card and told him I was gonna think about it.  I called a couple of days later and made an appt for a haircut.

So this past Tuesday was the appt, and I will admit to a certain degree of trepidation, as I always have when trying a new place.  But the stylist was so nice, and listened to what I was saying, answered questions, and had some suggestions.  I felt very much at ease, and left with a haircut that I liked, and an appt for another one.

That's all good.  But the most amazing thing?  The price!  In Center City Philadelphia, finding a place other than chains like Supercuts, etc. that don't charge $60.00 or more is a challenge.  (If anyone ever told me I'd spend that much I would have thought they were crazy.  But there you go.)  Well, this place charges $48.00 for their senior stylist (the one I had)!  I was amazed enough about that, but since it was my first visit, I got $10.00 off - my hair cut cost me only $38.00!!!  I haven't paid so little for a haircut since before we moved here. I know for some of you that may be still too much, but for me it's thrilling.

I just hope this stylist is a keeper.  So far, so good.  :-)

Gray Hair

I started getting gray hair in my early forties.  No big deal, since most people I know and have known have gotten gray hair eventually.  At the time, my hair was still naturally a pretty light blonde, so if anything, the gray gave it some highlights.

Then my light blonde hair started to get darker.  Not really any color, just a darker, dirty-hair looking blonde shade.  It made me look sad, frankly.  (The Tim: "I don't understand why your hair always looks dirty, when I know you wash it."  This from a man who *very* seldom says anything about my appearance that is not a compliment.)  As an adult, I've more or less always had short hair, because in spite of my imagination, I do not have thick, lush, wavy hair.  I have always had thin, fine, straight hair that is so soft, it barely holds a part.

So I decided that since I wasn't able to do much style-wise with my hair, I'd be adventurous and try getting it colored.  I wasn't going to try to do it myself, because I am just not good with things like that.  Plus, I wanted someone else to blame if it all went south ...

The hairstylist I'd been going to was willing to experiment with me.  The end result was a) a cute short cut, and b) an amazing color that was a deep red/brown, but looked like my own hair.  As a matter of fact, when I showed up at work that next Monday, a co-worker said, "Oh you went back to your own hair color" and would not believe that I'd always been a blonde!  Anyway, this worked really well for a couple of years, and then much to my dismay, that hairstylist retired because she had a second kid.  (Don't these people realize their professional obligations???)

Over the next few years, I tried different people and places, with varying degrees of success, but never quite the "click" of the original person.  Over the last year, I've tried several places.  One of them was pretty amazing, but I was so grossed out by the stylist's filthy workstation, I just couldn't make myself go back.  The next time, at a different place, I was pretty pleased, because I thought I had finally found a good fit with a new stylist.

Fast forward to last week.  I had made an appt to have my hair cut and colored this past Saturday.  Actually I spent most of last week deciding whether or not to get it colored.  For whatever reason, I was feeling that since my 60th birthday was coming up, I should just see how much gray I really did have, and how it looked.  But then I decided that I would get it colored one last time during my 50s, and work on revealing the gray after that.

The new stylist referenced above?  Turned out to be a real bully.  He refused to listen to what I wanted as far as color.  I should have just said, "Forget the color, just cut it," but in an attack of eejit-ness, I let him talk me into his idea.  Which on the surface, sounded good.  On my head, though - not so much.

Oh well.  Hair grows (mine grows really fast), and I've already made my next appt for a cut someplace else that was highly recommended to me, and is even closer to my house.  And since I'll be the apparently magical 60 when I go, I'm gonna let the color grow out until I see how much/what kind of gray hair I have.  I'm hoping for a head of gray hair like one of my sisters' has, or like The Tim has - lovely, bright, silvery-white gray.

I'm thinking I'll look a lot like this:

'Cause, you know - I look like this all time just sitting around the house ...

But deep down, this will probably be closer to the truth (except shorter):

I'll keep you posted.  :-)

Hair Glop

I am lazy with my hair, I think I've said that many times before.  However, I do like it to look nice.  I have a lot of hair, but it's very fine, and very soft, so it's hard to get it looking like much of anything.  And it's straight to the point where it will "curl" for about half an hour, and then it looks like I didn't ever even think of trying to curl it.

Anyway, I've tried lots of products, some on my own, others recommended by friends and various stylists.  Some work better than others, but I'm still looking for THE ONE.  I have a haircut appt next Saturday at a new place, so we'll see what suggestions I get from that person.

I do like it when you can get a sample.  That's why I tried these:

And that is just in the last year!  Each one had some nice things about it, but none really helped to style my hair, and some were too sticky, no matter how little was used.

I've also tried various drug store products, and ended up returning every single one.  Over the years, I've tried big brands, small brands, and just things that looked promising, with no success.

For a long time (about 2 years!) I used this and really liked it.  Then I don't know if my hair got tired of it or what, but it joined the ranks of the others.

I know I will never have luxurious, thick waves, or I won't look like models in salon magazines.  But I really do hope I can get a good cut and some product recommendations next Saturday.

Do you use any products?  Are there any you really really love?

Hair Happy

Well, I went to the salon last week, armed with my picture and determination.  I told the stylist that yes, I did understand that the woman in the photo had really thick hair, and so my fine, thin hair would be different, but that I just at least wanted the "idea" of that cut.  I also wanted to get my color refreshed, since a) it needed it, and b) we were heading home over the long weekend to visit family and friends.

I also considered this the last chance for this particular stylist, as she has been hit or miss lately.

I am really pleased.  I got a cut that I like, and the color looks great.  She seemed to understand just what I meant, and went out of her way to try and get it the way I wanted it to look.  I cannot tell you how happy this makes me.  Let's face it, you wear your hair every single day, and if you are unhappy about the way you look, it definitely makes a difference.

Yes, I am vain.

But right now?  I'm also pretty happy about the whole thing.  No more Hair Dread!

Hair Dread

For most of my adult life, I've worn my hair fairly short.  This is largely because I have fine, straight hair, and it doesn't really do much.  I finally realized that I would never have long, luxurious, thick hair that I could fix in a number of different ways.

It also works for me, because except for special occasions, I don't like to have to spend a lot of time fooling with it.  The last few times I've gone for a haircut, my stylist has convinced me to let it be a little bit longer, for the winter, and to be honest, I don't mind blow-drying my hair in the winter, since our house is so cold!   However, I am also a person who wears hats to keep warm when I'm outside, and needless to say, my hair looks even flatter when I take off my hat, and doesn't really fluff at all afterwards, even if I use some kind of hair product.

Over the past few weeks, I've had a severe case of "hair dread" when I get wherever it is I'm going, and take off my hat.  Granted, no one else probably notices or even pays that much attention if they do notice at all.  But it's my hair, on my head, and I'm the one who has to see it.

And so, when I go to my next appointment, I'm heading back to short hair.  I came across photos of someone named Hannah Dilworth, who is apparently a well-known stylist.  I *really* like her haircut:

Now, I do realize the following:

1. She is a LOT younger than I am.
2. She is a stylist, so probably even spends time on styling her short hair.
3. It looks like she has fairly thick hair.

Nonetheless, I'm going to see if I can convince my hair stylist to at least try something like this.  She is not big on giving anyone really short hair, but at least I can take this photo with me for reference.

Wish me luck.  I'm really sick of hair dread.  I'd even be happy with hair indifference ... ;-)

Be Careful What You Wish For ...

Sigh.  That's what I have been telling myself all day.  Cold comfort, but the truth.

You may recall that I have ongoing issues with my hair and various stylists who have cut it.  Though I would love to have luxurious hair, I have very fine hair (thought lots of it), and I am too lazy to fool with it more than is absolutely necessary.  And once the weather gets hot, I can't stand to have it on my neck at all.

A few years ago, I got a cut that I absolutely loved.  I think it might have been one of the best haircuts of my life.  And it was one that apparently everyone else thought was a good one, too, as I always received compliments on it.  Basically, it was a messy pixie - meaning there was no specific part, and I didn't have to blow it dry.

But that place was really out of my way, and kind of a pain to get to, especially in the winter.  And the stylist stopped working on Saturdays, which limited me even more.  So I shopped around.

For the last year or so, I've been going to a place very close to my house.  It's nice, it's in the neighborhood, it's reasonably priced, and I really like my stylist.  She does a good job with cutting, and an awesome job at color.  Everyone in the salon is great.  My only complaint is that I could never get her to cut my hair as short as I'd like.

I ran into an acquaintance about a month ago, who told me that the person at the other place was going to be working on Saturdays in March, filling in for another stylist on maternity leave.  I gave it some thought, and devised a plan which I felt was *such* a good idea (which actually should have been a warning).  I decided to make an appt with her, and then when it was time for a "clean-up" I would go to my current stylist to show her what I meant, and we would all live happily ever after.  I talked to the girl who does appts at the current place, and she said no one would find that a problem, people do it a lot.

You know the result, right?  Well, to add insult to eventual injury, it was POURING this morning, so I had to trudge over in that.  Then the stylist was half an hour late (I was her first appt).  And when all was said and done, I ended up with a slightly longer haircut than a buzz cut.

I'm doing my best to look at the bright side: 1) my hair grows pretty quickly, so it should look at least a little better in a week or so, 2) when I go for my "clean up," it will hopefully be pretty much the way I want it to, so the current stylist will see what I mean, and, 3) it's convinced me once and for all to stay where I am.

In the meantime, I'll live.  But for about the millionth time in my life, a lesson has been learned.  I wish these lessons - once learned about one thing - would apply to all other things, so it would be done in one fell swoop.  But I'm pretty sure that would be too easy, and people would forget, or start ignoring the lessons.

As my sister would say, "White People Problems," and I agree, but I sure wish I didn't have to walk around with this haircut at all, even for another day ...

No More Trauma ... For Now

Well, I have survived both the trauma of my hair and the saga of my hair.  Earlier in the summer, I thought I had finally found someone who "understood" my hair issues and desires. And overall, she did.  The problem was, that she insisted that the couple of times I went to her, I *needed* additional products or services - you know, a gloss, or some special styling product.  Even though (at least during the summer) I keep my hair very short and don't blow it dry, so it never really has a "style."

I got really frustrated, and when I went to make my next appointment, the person on the phone asked me what "additions" I wanted.  Now, I'd noticed that it wasn't just my stylist, but it appeared to be the M.O. for the salon.  I said I wanted a cut and color only, but she kept insisting.  So did I, and eventually she gave up.  A few days later, the stylist called me, explaining that there would surely be things besides just a cut and color that I needed, and after a brief discussion with her, I just said I wouldn't be returning.

Then I was faced with the problem of just where to go.  After some thought [a ridiculous amount to be honest], I made an appointment someplace I'd gone before, that I decided needed another chance.  I even found a picture that showed the cut and color I wanted, so I figured if the stylist didn't get close, I'd know that I should try yet another place.

I handed her this photo.  She said, "Oh that would be great!" (good sign), and got started.  Now don't get me wrong, I like this woman, but I'd gone to her a couple of times before, and though my hair was always OK, it was never exactly what I'd hoped for.  But the salon is really close to my house, and though not inexpensive, it is reasonable for this area.  And I actually first met this stylist when she was a customer at a yarn store where I worked part-time.  So I figured she had first chance to get another shot at things.

The result:  Except that I do not have the face or neck of the woman above, I have her hairstyle and color.  EXACTLY.  And I mean exactly.

I am so happy and relieved!  She was thrilled with the results as well, so I think we might have really hit that happy balance between stylist and customer.

Now I just have to make sure that she doesn't move away or something ... :-)

Have a lovely Labor Day Weekend!

The Continuing Hair Saga

You'd think I was a hair model, as much as I worry/think about/ponder my hairstyles and haircuts.  But sadly, I'm just obsessed.  You may remember this post, where I talked about how I had a great hair stylist, but she stopped working after her second kid.  Since then, I've gone several places, with varying degrees of success.  Fortunately, nothing terrible, but nothing WOW either.

Recently, the salon where the great stylist had worked sent me an e-mail, saying she was returning part-time, and was only going to work on Saturdays and Sundays.  Which is good from the standpoint that it's not the middle of the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when I'd be at work, but could mean getting appointments could be tricky.  However, the place is on the other side of town.  Not impossible, but not terribly convenient.  Anyway.

A week from this Saturday, it will be six weeks since my last cut.  I try to go every six weeks, because it keeps me happy with the way my hair looks.  I've gone to one place the last couple of times, but the woman who has done my hair, though nice and very talented, seems like she really only wants to push me to get more products and services there.  I've observed that it seems to be the M.O. of the place.  A place I tried before then had a woman who was nice, and it was very close to my house, but the woman cut my  hair dry, which just seems kinda weird.  Yet another place I tried is also nice, and relatively close to my house, but you need two different people if you are also getting color, because they have stylists and then also colorists.

Because I am weird, I have made appts for next Saturday at each place, thinking that as it got closer, I could decide which one to keep, and call the other places well in advance and cancel.  I really and truly thought this would mean I'd be able to decide.  But of course I cannot.  Today, I've narrowed it to the original place, and the place close by where my hair is cut dry.

This is all a) crazy, b) sad, and c) ridiculous.  I need an intervention.

And a haircut.

Terra Incognita

As a kid, I had blonde hair.  As a matter of fact, it was naturally light blonde until I was in my mid-20s, when it started to turn a shade of muddy blonde.  I used to get highlights a couple of times a year, and loved the way my hair looked.  However, once I decided that I wanted my hair to be short, it seemed like kind of a waste.  A lot of the highlights would be chopped off the same day they were applied, and after about two more haircuts, they were just plain gone.

So for a while, I lived with my muddy blonde shade.  Then I started to get gray hairs.  Which would be fine, except that I'd only get a few, not enough to make my hair look gray.  So it all looked even sadder.

A couple of years ago, a stylist talked me into coloring my hair.  Since she had given me the most kick-ass haircut ever, I trusted her.  She got my hair to the loveliest light auburn shade, I LOVED it!  And it really didn't need to be redone that often, because the roots growing in were not really that different in color.  Sadly, after about a year and a half, that stylist "retired" after giving birth to her second kid.  I'd tried some of the other stylists at that salon, but was not really impressed.  Since then, I've gone from place to place, not really finding anyone who clicked.  The latest place I've gone is OK, but the colorist there insists that my hair should be light red, and though everyone tells me that they think it looks great (a co-worker even said to me, "So you decided to go back to your natural color" !!), it needs more constant maintenance and touching up.  What it boils down to is that I don't have enough gray hair still to just let it do its thing, and salon color is really expensive, and I'm trying to curtail my spending.

Which leads me to my current idea, which is that I should try to use one of the at-home color kits to do my own hair.  A lot of friends and family do it, and most of them have hair that looks just fine.  But what kind to use?  Are some brands better than others?  Can anyone truly do their own hair color with success?  I want to talk to some people before I just dive right in.  And in theory, I'd like to do it sooner rather than later, since I have a haircut appt coming up in a couple of weeks.

I do realize that all of this falls into the category of things that one of my sister calls White People's Problems.  However, since I will be looking at my hair every single day, I want to get it right - or at least as close to right as possible ...

I'll keep you posted.

Hair Today

I will now admit that I am obsessed with my hair.  I don't have great hair, but I have always been obsessed with it.  Which is one thing if I had long, lustrous locks.  But I have fine, s-t-r-a-i-g-h-t hair.  Always have.  When I was a little girl, my mother - whose hair was so thick she used to get it cut because when it started got grow after a couple of weeks went by since a haircut, it was so heavy that it hurt her neck, used to give me home permanents, after which I would look like a fuzzy poodle for about a week, until my hair returned to its usual state.  I never had long hair until I was old enough to take care of my own hair, and it didn't take me long to accept the fact that my hair would never be what I longed for it to be.

So, my hair and I started to get along better.  But if you don't have short hair, you cannot possibly know how hard it is to get a nice short haircut.  Most stylists don't really know how to cut and style short hair, and some won't because they are afraid it looks "too mannish."  I have had two stylists that I thought were great during my entire adult life.  One moved to Florida.   The other quit working when she had her second kid.

Anyhoo, for my entire life up to about age 30, I was a natural blonde.  I would often get highlights over the summer, because I liked the way they looked.  But when I would find people to cut my hair short, it was a waste of $$ to get highlights, since my hair grows quickly.

Then, my light blonde hair started getting darker and ashy.  Then I started getting gray hair.  Pretty, shiny gray hair.  Which made the not-gray hair look extremely dull and dirty.  Now, I've gotta say, if my hair was mostly gray or all gray, that would be fine with me.  But the in-between dirty-looking hair is driving me crazy.

So, I found a stylist that I went to about 4 weeks ago, and she cut my hair in a reasonable, if not perfect fashion.   But she seems very willing to experiment, and when I mentioned that I wouldn't mind coloring my hair, but didn't want weird roots when it grew out, she had me talk to a colorist there.  The colorist suggested a really pretty shade of light auburn, and said that the roots would probably not even really show up.  I figure it's worth a try, you know?

But here's what really amuses me.  The colorist said to me, "It won't be the same red hair you had growing up" etc.  I mentioned that I had blonde hair growing up, and she said, "But you have the coloring of a redhead!"  I was repeating this story to a co-worker, and she said, "Do you mean your natural hair color isn't red?"

So, besides all of the other issues I've had with my hair over the years, now it has an identity crisis!  I have an appointment for another hair cut and color in a couple of weeks, so we'll see what happens ...