Well today I packed away the hair dryer, hair straighteners
and various mousses, hairsprays etc as they are all surplus to
requirements. They’ve been unnecessary
for a few weeks now but kicking around, ready if called upon. They’re now boxed up in readiness for
employment sometime in the future.
I have had long hair most of my life (and cats!).
 |
| That's me on the right - clearly we were channelling the Partridge Family |
There was a dalliance in the 80s with a couple of shorter
styles and the obligatory “Lady Di” flipped back type of arrangement but mostly
it’s been long. In fact a look back at
some old photos shows (maybe alarmingly), I’ve pretty much had the same hair “do”
forever. I’ve never been into high
maintenance hair so the minimal style requirement of wash, dry, hit with the
straighteners if I need to look vaguely tidy, has worked to date.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve considered whether I’m now too old
for long hair.
Was 30 too old for long hair? Was 40? Was 50? It isn’t.
In this I am aided and abetted by Himself, who has been known to accompany me to my (infrequent) visits to hairdressers just to make sure we’re all in agreement of “what half an inch looks like”. My hair has been spiral permed in the 80s, streaked, highlighted, sometime reddish but mostly dark blonde and long.
Was 30 too old for long hair? Was 40? Was 50? It isn’t.
In this I am aided and abetted by Himself, who has been known to accompany me to my (infrequent) visits to hairdressers just to make sure we’re all in agreement of “what half an inch looks like”. My hair has been spiral permed in the 80s, streaked, highlighted, sometime reddish but mostly dark blonde and long.
As would be expected, chemo has caused my hair to fall out - weirdly the colour went really dark just ahead of this. I took the advice of chemo warrior friends and had mine cut short ahead of the first chemo dose. This was to avoid the horror of large chunks of Rapunzel tresses coming away in my hand (and also to avoid the purchase of gallon containers of sink unblocker).
Precisely two weeks after chemo, my hair started to come away
and within days I am rocking the Sinead O’Connor look – well at home
anyway. I have deployed a range of
scarves and headwear whilst out in public – though my observation is that these
elicit “slightly sad pity face” from shop assistants and bank tellers. For the moment, my eyebrows and eyelashes are
steadfastly holding on.
Am I upset by this?
Strangely not. I’d had plenty of
time to get used to the idea. I was
chatting with a friend earlier this week and when she asked did it feel strange
to have no hair when I’d been used to long hair? I said I think it’s probably stranger for
those who are looking at me when they are used to seeing me with long hair…… I still see exactly the same world as I look
out, except when I pass by a mirror – and I’m no longer shocked. The eye of the beholder is probably more
shocked. (but please hold the slightly sad pity face) – I’m okay with this - it’s strangely liberating, time saving albeit
a little chilly. 
The next few weeks will be a little quiet as I wait for a date for the main event. I plan to spend it resting and catching up with all those jobs I haven't had time to do. (and shopping on line for the ultimate head covering)
