The Hair Cut Details

I posted last week about cutting my hair, but I didn't have a chance to break down the details. If you haven't been with this blog from the beginning, here are the details.

Back in October of 2011, I started this blog, Bye Bye Beehive. It was a 365-day journey to "stop doing" my hair. I stopped teasing, highlighting, hairspraying, using any heat tools, and any products other than shampoo and conditioner. Basically, I only shampooed, conditioned and air dried my hair every day for a year. It was in an effort to help grow the long hair I'd always wanted and had never had. I've been a blonde almost my whole life, and due to all the over-processing over the years, my hair never seemed to get longer than just past my shoulders. At the end of the year-long project, my hair ended up growing 6.5 inches and was so thick and healthy, I couldn't even believe it! (If you're looking to grow your hair, give my Bye Bye Beehive Challenge a try!)

In addition, after a year of "not doing" my hair and learning to love air-dried, natural hair, it was hard for me to want to go back to blow-drying and processing. So I didn't. I did make the jump and dyed my hair brunette back in March (and had it touched up in April), but since then, I hadn't touched it. It had been almost a year since Bye Bye Beehive ended and I was starting to crave a new style. My hair started seeming a little stringier (I'm sure a trim would have fixed that), and I know Daniel loves my hair when it's short, so I finally made the decision to change it up, and I knew if I was going to do it—I had to go big or go home. I took this photo the night before I cut my hair, showing the growth I had achieved over the almost two-year period (the left photo was Month 1 of Bye Bye Beehive, the middle was the end of Bye Bye Beehive, and the right photo was almost a year later after still not using heat tools).

Despite how much I had grown to love my long hair, it was so much longer than I was used to, and to be honest—if your husband gives you the googly eyes and says how cute you'd be with short hair... why not give it a shot? It's just hair, right? So I chopped off 14 inches, and donated 12 to Children With Hair Loss. I picked their charity because they take hair that has been highlighted & color processed, which many organizations do not accept.

And now here I am with this new shorty-short hair cut, and I'm having so much fun with it. I haven't worn it the same way yet, opting each day for waves, beach curls, a front braid, a ponytail, air-dried waves, pinned half back... seriously, the options are endless and since it's so much shorter, it just takes a minute or two to style. It's also just the right length to fit in a ponytail when I'm running so I don't have to worry about hair in my face or on my neck. And hey, if I decide I want to go long again, now I know how fast my hair grows, right? I could be back to longer locks in no time!

Have you ever donated your hair? Made a drastic change? Cut your hair because your husband thought it would be cute (and no, I didn't just cut it because he wanted me to—I love short hair, too!). I would love to hear your thoughts!

3-Month Hair Update

I'd like to preface this post with something that isn't related to it at all—today is my mom's Birthday, so I'd just like to say "HEY, MOM! HAPPY B-DAY TO YOU! Let's run another half (or full) marathon this year, OK? Love you!"

Now—I've gotten a lot of questions since the end of Bye Bye Beehive (3-months ago today) about what I'm doing with my hair these days. Am I blow drying? Teasing? Using products? Coloring? The questions keep coming... so here's a little rundown!

Since BBB finished, I have adjusted my hair routine—somewhat. I am still washing, conditioning and deep conditioning, and I rotate every couple of days between three hair-care systems (Yes To Cucumbers, Yes to Blueberries, and Joico).  I do not wash my hair daily. After the shower, I apply a deep conditioner. My favorite is this one. Usually, I just leave my hair to air-dry at that point, except for making sure my bangs are in place and giving them a light spritz of hairspray.

About once a week or less, I use the blow dryer. I have found (after a year of not using one), that I don't really like to blow dry my hair too often. Not only do I prefer my natural and almost straight hair, but I think that blow-drying was the biggest thing that was damaging it before. Sometimes, if I let my hair air-dry overnight, I'll wake up and curl the ends in the morning, but that's only for special occasions like parties or holidays. To be honest, I'm not really into processing my hair anymore. I still love the Friar Tuck method for curling my hair, and I do that often.

I do use a dry shampoo. I love Suave's Dry Shampoo, though my sister recently introduced me to a Paul Mitchell one and I think that will be my next purchase. I also tease my bangs, and occasionally tease the crown of my hair when I'm putting it up, though I'm trying to not do that as much these days. I use a hairspray almost daily, and again, I think my sister just convinced me to switch to a Chi hairspray versus the Lamaur one I have been using since I was in high school.

Last but not least, I haven't colored my hair since May of 2011. I don't plan on changing my color anytime soon, though I know Daniel would love for me to go darker, and my Nanny would cry tears of happiness if I put blonde streaks in. But for now, I'm just doing what's easy (and natural), and that's what makes me feel best!

I also wanted to include a little growth update, since I hit the post three-month mark today. For all the past monthly updates, click here. It's not a ton of growth, but I like what I see... now I just need to get a little trim to keep it healthy and I'll be good-to-go!

Did I miss any hair questions? Leave further Q's in the comments if you have any.

And again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM! I love you! Love ♥ Icy

THE FINALE

Over one-million pageviews.

 598 comments.

365-Days.
$330 donated.
($1,380 raised overall).
158-days until I almost quit.
130 posts.
100 bobby pins.
59 hairstyles.
25 braids.
20 buns.
12 monthly updates.
7 big-hair withdrawals.
5 rules.
4 trims.
4 hair measurements.
3-minutes to curl your hair without heat.
(And 3 of my own failed attempts to record my version of the Friar Tuck).
2 gray hairs.

 One mission.
One girl.
One entire year...
zero regret.

The BIG HAIR BEREAVEMENT is over.

 But don't worry, Bye Bye Beehive isn't going anywhere.
Neither are these hairstyles.
Plus, I just cut mini-bangs.
I have to show you how to style those, right?
Right.
♥

Month 11.

29 days left.

29 days until I can use a blow dryer.

29 days until I take my final measurements and figure out how much $$ I owe.
29 days until I can even think about what color I'd like my hair to be.
29 days until I go purchase some hairspray (yay!).
29 days until I can do whatever I want with my hair.
29 days until I can go, "Aaahhh, it's over."

29 days until I probably don't change anything at all...
except for an occasional blow-dry-sesh.

Month 10.

I think the only big benefit of Month 10 is that I finally learned how to properly braid my hair. 

Though it always seems to be hit and miss.

I've been getting the question a lot lately:

"So what will you do in 2 months when BBB is over?"

My answer right now?
Nothing.

My Nanny wants me to highlight it and be really blonde.

Daniel wants me to chop it short and dye it brunette.
And I think I just may like it the way it is.

So I guess we'll see!
2 months (58 days) left!

Month 9.

9 months.

3/4 of the way there.

This is the home stretch.

Thank goodness!

This month I see quite a bit of growth. 

As you may remember, at quarterly intervals, I'm supposed to go have my hair measured and trimmed.

The reason June's hair looks similar in length to May's is because of the trim I got 1 day after taking May's photo.

The same thing happened with March and February's lengths.

So this month? I just decided to skip it.

I'll do the final trim and measure in the end.

And I'm expecting it'll give some good results!

Also, since it's the 9-month mark... I get to make my third quarterly $50 donation to St. Luke's. My donation is going directly to cancer patient assistance, which helps patients in need who can't afford important basics such as temporary housing, meal vouchers, medications, gasoline and transportation vouchers to travel to and from the hospital, help with utility bills, and food. I still can't believe that through this project, my friends, co-workers, family and I are helping raise over $1,500 for this program!

Want to join me with this incredible project? Make a difference, donate to St. Luke's cancer patients now and join my Pledge for Patients. Help out people who are truly in need. 

If you're still following along with Bye Bye Beehive... thanks for staying true. 

Maybe these last 3 months will give me the gusto I need to try some new and fun hairstyles.

To be honest... when I made this commitment, I don't think I really anticipated a year would feel like this long.

Next time I'm giving up... sugar or something.

Um—just kidding.

That would be even harder than BBB.

91 days left. Easy.

Month 8.

This month makes 8 MONTHS that I've been doing Bye Bye Beehive. Whoopee! Only 4 more months to go. I can totally do it. I see a slight difference in my hair growth from last month to this month, but not much. In fact, I even had two people ask me if I've had a haircut in the last two weeks. Um... no. I think it's because I've been wearing it straight (instead of in beach waves) so you can see the choppy layers a bit more.  

Either way, growth is growth. I'm excited! 121 days left!

Month 7.

Month 1. Month 2. Month 3.

Month 4. Month 5. Month 6.

Month 7.

7 things about my 7 months so far:

1. I have seen substantial hair growth. Awesome.
2. I used hairspray and product and have blow dried, teased and curled my hair ONCE. Yes. I did. It was this last Friday, May 11th (on my exact 7-month mark) and it was for my best friend's wedding in Oklahoma. A hairstylist came and did it because: (1) I was a bridesmaid and was not about to embarrass myself by friar-tucking it on Ashton's wedding day. (2) We all had our hair done and (3) I refused to do my own hair... If I was going to make an exception to my rules, someone else was going to do it for me! I said I would make one exception, for my sister's wedding in September, but this one was not taken into account when I made my rules in October because she hadn't been engaged yet! Oh... and yes I do plan on posting some photos from that day as soon as I see some from her photographer!
3. When measuring hair growth, it's imperative to use a white t-shirt. Black does not work.
4. It would have been helpful if I'd have measured my hair next to a ruler each time. Or if I'd have made notches on the wall with a pencil, like a child's growth chart. Lesson learned.
5. A year is a really, really long time.
6. Daniel basically begs me to give this whole thing up every day. I almost give in each time.
7. Apparently, I switch cell phone covers every 3 months.

Month 6.

 

6 months.
SIIIIIX MONTHS.
I made it half way.
Whoa.

I took my last hair measurements in January. Now at the 6-month mark, my hair, from the top of my scalp to the bottom layer going down my back, measures 19.5 inches. It also currently has 5.5 inches of grow out. That's an overall growth of  3 inches from October!

 

Since I got it trimmed at the 3-month mark, Lindsey took off a little bit of the overall growth, so that's why it hasn't changed too much. It has grown 3/4 of an inch since January. If I hadn't have gotten it trimmed, I bet it would have been about 1.5 inches of change!

Also, since it's the 6-month mark... I get to make my second quarterly $50 donation to St. Luke's. My donation is going directly to cancer patient assistance, which helps patients in need who can't afford important basics such as temporary housing, meal vouchers, medications, gasoline and transportation vouchers to travel to and from the hospital, help with utility bills, and food. I still can't believe that through this project, my friends, co-workers, family and I are helping raise over $1,500 for this program!

Want to join me with this incredible project? Make a difference, donate to St. Luke's cancer patients now and join my Pledge for Patients. Help out people who are truly in need.

YAY for halfway! Keep rooting for me... only 6 more months...

...only? Sheesh.

Month 5.

Month 1.                                        Month 2.                                       Month 3.

Month 4.                                                                    Month 5.

Womp. I find I'm slightly frustrated with this month's progress.

It doesn't seem like my hair has grown at all.

Goodness gracious.

 

However, if you check out the pieces of hair that are sticking out of the braid,

you will notice that the layers are longer than they were before.

Can you see it?

Is it just me?

I also decided to start taking the monthly progress pictures in a white shirt.

The last couple months, it's been hard to differentiate the growth because of the hair 

contrast against the black shirt.

So, voila, I solved our problems by subbing in my trusty white T-shirt.

I'm a GENIUS.

Month 4

Month 1.                                          Month 2.                                       Month 3.

Month 4.

I don't know about you guys...

but I'm seeing some good growth!

I like the way this is going...

Month 3.

Look at that growth!

My hair, from the top of my scalp to the bottom layer going down my back, measures 18.75 inches. It also currently has 4.75 inches of grow out. That's an overall growth of 2.25 inches from October!

My AWESOME hairstylist Lindsey.

October 10, 2011 to January 10, 2012

October 10, 2011 to January 10, 2012

After comparing the Day 1 and Month 3 photos... I'm astonished at how dark my hair has gotten. Both photos were taken at the same salon, at the same time of day, with the same light. Whoa. That's some crazy stuff!! Since I'm not allowed to cut or color during this time period, I went in for just a simple trim to keep my hair healthy. There's no point in growing it out if I'm not going to take care of it, right?

Also, since it's the 3-month mark... I get to make my first quarterly $50 donation to St. Luke's. I'm so excited. My donation is going directly to cancer patient assistance, which helps patients in need who can't afford important basics such as temporary housing, meal vouchers, medications, gasoline and transportation vouchers to travel to and from the hospital, help with utility bills, and food.

Want to join me with this incredible project? Make a difference, donate to St. Luke's cancer patients now and join my Pledge for Patients. Help out people who are truly in need.

As for me... I'm off to make my donation... and to celebrate making it to the 3-month mark!! Whoopeeeeee!!!