Good Hair

I made an appointment today to get my hair cut. It's very long and thick and a pain to keep up with everyday. It always end up in a pony tail or french braid. I can't wear it down at work. So I'm going to have 10 inches of it cut off and donated to Locks of Love. It's an organization that provides free wigs to children with cancer. Most little girls like long hair and since I've got plenty of it I decided to share.
The older I get, the less vain I become, it seems. Letting go of certain things have become easier. Is anybody else like this? Is it a part of "growing old gracefully?" I mean, I'm not old enough to get any senior citizen discounts, but I am closer to 55 than I am 35...so...
Things in life take on different meanings now. What I valued 10 years ago seem superficial to me now--like all this hair

Oh yea, going through this now. Just sick of all the upkeep on the body!

I let go of the longer hair quite a while ago. I think it ages you the older you get. Great that you donated your hair. My DIL and granddaughter do that too.

I just want to be healthy. My Sophia Loren days are long gone!

LOL Goodbye Raquel Welch--Hello gravity!!!

Originally Posted by Bellaandme

LOL Goodbye Raquel Welch--Hello gravity!!!

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Oh yea, gravity. Nasty stuff!

I am starting to watch the Golden Girls. But still play softball with the grand kids. Go figure?

I agree. As we get older we give up trying to make an impression. I gave up classy shoes for comfortable ones.

Sigh......I always dreamed of having long thick hair.

Unfortunately mine is thin and wavy. Not wavy enough to look good just enough to be a pain in hot weather.

I used to let it grow but more often than not it ended up in a pony tail. Then when I started having problems with my hands I finally broke down and had it cut.

It was a sad day. I would have had donated it but it was not what they are looking for.

These days I don't mind short. In fact sometime I think it could be shorter. But I have the same problem with thin hair and it just doesn't look right.

Good on you for being willing and able to donate 10 inches of hair to Locks of Love. I have very thick, wavy hair and I have always had the desire to donate it, but it doesn't grow very long -- instead, it tends to grow outward. Go figure. But, I am growing it out now and, while I'd like to keep it long for a while, if it does get long enough and I decide to cut it, I will be donating it. But, that's a long way off from now.

I do think that, as we get older, our priorities change. I don't necessarily think that aging reduces our vanity, but I do believe that our vanity is no longer a priority. I'm only 27, but I have noticed this already in my life. For instance, I used to feel the need to always dress up, wear makeup, and be in heels. However, as time has gone by, I have developed a taste for comfortable clothes and sensible shoes. And, I've realized that, aside from some mascara and lip gloss, makeup doesn't even suit me. I've also noticed that the label attached to my clothes no longer represents who I am as an individual. Now, I still want and choose to look good, but I don't let the little things dictate the way I live my life. The same has been true for my hair. I'm not as attached to my hair as I used to be. Instead, I am grateful for it. There's a big difference there...

Perhaps, one day, I will be able to donate my hair to Locks of Love. But, if I don't, I know there are other ways in which I can be philanthropic. While I am still young, I have a desire to age gracefully -- in mind, body, and spirit. And, I find my inspiration from others who are presently doing the same. Good hair is good hair, but a good heart is much more valuable. And, from what I've read, it sounds as though you have both good hair and a good heart. And, I respect that in you.

My hair is still pretty long, and still a huge pain to keep up with. I only keep it long because dh likes it, and my daughter made me promise that I would not let it go gray. I would dearly love to cut my hair to a shoulder length bob and be done with it. I really don't mind coloring it, it is only 20 minutes out of a month.
I gave up on cool points years ago when I sold my Harley and bought a Goldwing. I am still a jeans and t shirts kind of gal, and wear sneakers or sandals mostly instead of boots. I still have my eyebrow and nostril piercings only because they are no trouble.
Gravity is not my friend, either, but I really don't care. As long as I am comfortable, I am happy.

Good on you hun I have heard of similar organisations and what a wonderful cause, my hair is thick and wavy too, maybe I should grow mine and do the same as I never seem to get time to go to the hairdressers anyway. It would be no good my hubby doing it as he is starting to develop a "mickey mouse hat" x

What a wonderful thing to do!

My hair definitely doesn't grow as fast as it used to, and its not AS thick as it used to be, but I chopped it all off in November. It takes me about 2 1/2 years now to grow another crop for Locks of Love. I used to just chop like 12" so it was still long - but this time I just went for (almost) all of it. I could sit on it, and we chopped it to my shoulders. I am STILL amazed at how little shampoo and conditioner I have to use!

You're feeling a lot lighter I expect!

Originally Posted by Alison Joy

I do think that, as we get older, our priorities change. I don't necessarily think that aging reduces our vanity, but I do believe that our vanity is no longer a priority. I'm only 27, but I have noticed this already in my life. For instance, I used to feel the need to always dress up, wear makeup, and be in heels. However, as time has gone by, I have developed a taste for comfortable clothes and sensible shoes. And, I've realized that, aside from some mascara and lip gloss, makeup doesn't even suit me. I've also noticed that the label attached to my clothes no longer represents who I am as an individual. Now, I still want and choose to look good, but I don't let the little things dictate the way I live my life. The same has been true for my hair. I'm not as attached to my hair as I used to be. Instead, I am grateful for it. There's a big difference there...

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Those are my thoughts EXACTLY! I'm only 28 (29 next month) but I also have noticed that over the past year, my priorities have changed. I go for the more comy clothes and shoes as well, and although I still want to look nice, comfort usually comes before beauty. I've never worn a LOT of make-up but have been wearing it less and less lately. I'm noticing a lot more wrinkles on my forehead and around my eyes, but meh, that's life. I've always had the sag, and it'll just continue to get worse because I had a very large, substantial weight loss.

ANYWAY hun, GOOD for you for donating your hair! What a great thing for you to do, and I would love to see before and after pics!

Okay, I am vain. And I am dating. Time for makeup, stiletto heels and short skirts (been told I have great legs). I fight gravity with good posture but it is still there. I am not sure if my hair is that gray as I have colored it for years. It is relatively short, above shoulder length.

good for you, its heartwarming to see someone helping others

i could get shot of a good 15inch's when i finally get round to getting mine cut only thing is i have quite a few split ends

Very cool that you're donating to Locks of Love. I have a couple of friends who have done that!

I wear my hair short. I have very fine hair, and when it was longer, all I ever ended up doing was putting it in a pony tail. It was just too much trouble. Now, my favorite hair style is "Jamie Leigh Curtis" short.

Actually, when I went through chemo treatment for 5 1/2 months in 2008-2009, and lost my hair, it was pretty freeing being bald! I had made up my mind that once I started seeing it falling out, I was going to have my hairdresser come over and give me a buzz cut, so I wouldn't have to watch clumps of hair come out. It put me in control, and then, I hardly ever wore a wig. I wore some scarves and hats, but mostly, I went around bald.....at work, with friends, at home. I sort of miss it in the hot weather now.

I've cut at least 10 inches off my hair twice already, intending to donate it to some organization (there are several to choose from, some have different requirements---8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches, never colored or permed, colored OK but no perms, etc.). I still haven't sent the 2 previous ponytails, and my hair is long enough to be cut again, so I'll probably wait until I've cut it this time and send all 3 ponytails at once. My hair grows like crazy. I can't keep up.

I sooo want it short, but it's randomly wavy/curly so I'm afraid it'll go all Mickey Mouse on me, like my dad's hair does. I'm sure if I got the right cut it would look fine, but still. I just have to work out what the right style for my hair type would be.

When I saw the title of this thread I figured it was about the Chris Rock documentary "Good Hair" which is fantastic. I've always had fairly limp hair, but I seem to be having a bit of a haircare revival. I went a couple of years without even getting it cut, and now I'm getting it cut every five weeks, plus getting a few highlights! Locks of Love seems like such a fantastic way to give back : )

I have long thick straight hair that is a pain in upkeep but its the one vanity I have left. I love my hair and I could never get more than a 1/4 in cut off and even then I only really get it cut maybe once or twice a year. I try and keep it so it comes about an inch or so below the back of my bra band. As much as I would love to donate my hair I really dont think I ever could get it cut that short or grow it that long where I could cut it and still keep it long. Id probably bawl my eyes out, like I do when the hair dresser ignores me and cuts more off than I want.

The last time I got it cut (last summer) I freaked out on the hair dresser because she ignored my NO MORE THAN A 1/4 IN RULE..And I stressed that to her and she just whacked away and as she got to the front and I noticed how short it was getting I spazed out, like some crazy person. I still havent found a hairdresser yet that I trust enough to cut my hair.

I am considered young and don't care about long hair, make up, or dressing up. I will wear make up, but it is annoying to me. I will dress up when it is needed. I like short hair because it is easy and takes less time to fix. But then again I have always been a bit of a tomboy.

Originally Posted by Bellaandme

So I'm going to have 10 inches of it cut off and donated to Locks of Love. It's an organization that provides free wigs to children with cancer.

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Silly question, especially since the truth about this has even been stated on here a few times. But where did you hear this? They usually charge for those hair pieces and most of them do not go to children who have cancer who wouldn't be eligible anyways - they usually go to kids that have alopecia areata or other things that have cause permanent hair loss. And again, very often not for free.

There are some organizations that do donate the hair pieces completely for free. Anyone with hair that is in good enough shape (ie, not over washed or styled) to donate it should research.

Bellaandme - it's a very cool thing that you're doing. Locks of Love (here's their website, which I'm sure you've checked into: http://www.locksoflove.org/mission.html ) does, indeed, provide free hairpieces to children with hair issues - whatever those hair issues may be. The free part is based on financial need - so children do get them free if they can't afford it.

So, good on ya!! Keep us posted!