Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow, Part I

Back when I read fashion magazines, I remember seeing a monthly column in InStyle which featured a photographic time line of a particular celebrity. For instance, if the magazine was focusing on Brooke Shields, they would have a head shot from her Pretty Baby days, her Calvin Klein Jeans days, a photo from her years at Princeton and so on, up until the present. There would be references to her eyebrows, her mane of hair and her face which looks better every year.

I'm no celebrity, but as I look back at photos of myself, I am struck by one thought: "What the heck is wrong with me? Why can't I find a style and stick with it?"

I often tell people that I change my hair because, unlike getting a tattoo, it doesn't hurt, it isn't permanent and it doesn't put me anywhere near a needle.

Since hitting adulthood, there have been the "Bleached Blonde Days"; there has been "Super Short" and "Pretty Long". There were perms that left me poodle-like. Hair has been colored blonde, brown, red and orange. I never got the nerve up to try pink or black, although I have considered it.

I don't think I've ever cried over a bad color or hair cut. My mantra is "Hair Grows". It also helps that I'm not a celebrity and, therefore, no one is critiquing my poor judgment.

But, I will now let you, my dear readers, walk with me down memory lane. Over the next few weeks, I'll publish a few photos from different periods in my adult life. Be kind.

The first set of photos is, regrettably, from the "Bleached Blonde, Big Hair" period.

I call this first photo "Come Fly With Me" due to the huge wings of hair fanning out from the sides of my face: This second photo is my college portrait---can you see the perfect curling-iron curl on the side of my head? Finally, check out the "bleached into oblivion" look. My sister should be pleased that I have covered up her photo since she went through an unfortunate phase of "fluffy mall hair". Stay tuned for the next installment in this series which will showcase my "poodle 'do (or don't)", the in-between days and the gradual darkening of my white-blonde head.