Thanks Lisa for your support!

Posted by gardenmimine on 04/22 at 05:52 PM

Yesterday I got my hair cut a little shorter.  It has been ten weeks since last I dyed my hair.  The hair coming is defently white.  The last time I dyed my hair it was a light brown and it is getting lighter.  I told my hair dresser maybe in the near future I might try a pixie look, just not sure how I would look into it.  My hair dresser is the best one I have ever had so I will dpend on her opinion. The only thig is my husband does’t like really short hair and He would probaly not like it at all.  I have very wavey hair and right now I use a product to straighten it and only the hair dryer is nessecary.  We are all into this growing out business and it is ver helpful knowing others are going through the same thing.  Thanks so much for your web site.  Diane

Posted by Dee04 on 04/23 at 02:19 AM

Every time I post I keep getting this message when I submit saying there is an error.  Do you know why that would be?  Thanks, Diane

Posted by Dee04 on 04/23 at 02:22 AM

Oh Catherine!!!  So sorry you got the ugly word!!  That is so disappointing!  Perhaps he will change his mind == my hubby doesn’t like short hair either, but he back pedaled after the fact yesterday and told me he really liked it...all men can be real knuckle draggers sometimes.  You are right, you are doing this for YOU not him and he can go throw his pity party somewhere else (may he go bald and lose his eyebrows… ).  Pictures!!!

Susan

Posted by suzy2u on 04/23 at 02:28 AM

Thanks for the advice Diane and the support Susan.

I slept on the couch last night. I was awoken by my sweet partner telling me “Kitkat, go for it, I love you, I know you have to do it” So things are fine now. There’s nothing like a good night sleep to realize things right? I just stormed in the bathroom and did a cheer to bug him “U-G-L-Y you ain’t got no alibi, you’re ugly hey hey you’re ugly hey hey” with cheerleader moves. He got the message

As for my “big"hahhah forehead, no, I actually have a very small forehead and that’s why I have no bangs. The picture I sent just gives the impression I have a big forehead(because of the height on top my head) . I had short hair when I was a teenager and I have a very small and round head and a long lean neck. So I think I’m gonna look just fine. And if I don’t, well, hair grows (eventually) doesn’t it?

Thank you again, and again, so much for support. Pictures coming up!!!

Posted by gardenmimine on 04/23 at 03:12 AM

Hey Catherine,

What a journey you’ve had (continue to have) in just 24 hours!  Whew!  So glad your partner tried to make things better. I so admire your strength in doing what’s right for you despite what he may prefer.  All of my adult life I have kept my hair long for men!!  Anytime I’ve cut it shorter (usually right after a relationship ended) I’ve loved it.  But then for some reason in a new relationship I feel compelled to ask “Do you like long hair or short hair?” and they usually say “Well I think long hair is very nice”...and then off I go, growing it again.  My current partner is careful to say that he supports anything I want to do with my hair and tells me he likes the cut and that the gray coming in doesn’t bother him.  I’m hoping he’ll like it as much as I do, but if he doesn’t, I think I make a better partner when I like the way I look and feel. 

Keep strong, ladies!

Posted by newbie2 on 04/23 at 04:52 AM

Katie -

Just saw your pic’s and you look great! I really like your shorter cut!

Susan -

Your cut really looks nice! I like how you kept some bangs.

There’s sure a lot of hair being swept from the salon floor these days. :o)

Posted by greeneyes on 04/23 at 05:38 AM

So true and so funny! Men usually prefer long hair.

I had to laugh when I read what Lisa said, how she ASKED her man what he liked. I have done the same thing so many times...course I keep asking the SAME man, since we have been married almost 24 years. I say, “Honey, how do you like my hair best?” And he says, “I like it longer.” Of course I am asking because I want to cut it shorter, so I go off and pout a bit. All the while I KNEW what he was going to say, so why the heck did I ask? hee hee hee… stupid… Course he knows the routine by now, so he’ll say, “Do whatever you want. I love you, and you always look great no matter how you do your hair.” He’s a keeper. :o)

Posted by greeneyes on 04/23 at 05:48 AM

Yeah, I don’t know why I ask--DUH!  Diana’s right, they all say they like long hair...I’m a glutton for punishment.

Posted by newbie2 on 04/23 at 05:55 AM

Welcome Katie!  Glad you’re sharing your progress with us!

Susan--your new cut looks fantastic!

Posted by newbie2 on 04/23 at 05:56 AM

Well, I’m in the minority.  My husband absolutely despises long hair.  He thinks very few women acutally have “pretty” long hair--because it really is hard to maintain.  He loves short hair, which is good because I refuse to wear mine any other way.  I’m too old and too busy to fool with trying to fix long hair, sorry.

I’ve never once asked any man (including my own father) if they like my hair short and could care less.  When it’s on their head, they can worry about it.  My question to some of these men (my sister’s husband included), what would you do if your wife had cancer and lost her hair with chemo.  Would you love her less?  The answer is more than likely of course not.  Therefore, if they love you, the person, then they will love you with or without hair.  If not, I’m not sure I would be with that person anyway.

Funny story.  When I was 22, I had the long late 80’s hair (it was 1990).  That’s good, because my hair looks like a loose perm anyway. It’s also very thick and big--great for 80’s hair.  I went and cut 17 inches off on my lunch hour like Kimberly Foster who played Michelle on Dallas.  I stopped by home to show my family.  My father, who had never commented on hair before, said you look so much better without that big frizzy mess on your head.  My hair hasn’t been paid chin length since!!!!!

Posted by greatmom on 04/23 at 07:30 AM

Hey Greatmom -

I would love to see a picture of your short hair! You could inspire us with your short do. If you can, join us in the newbies section! :o)

Posted by greeneyes on 04/23 at 08:06 AM

Susan: I love your haircut, it does take years off!!!

Well, ladies, I’ve done it, my hair is as short as it can be and I feel relief. Super empowered and scared. I think I look great anyways, I feel great and that’s all that matters....I am sending Diana pictures right now...so stay tuned!

By the way, my hair surprised me: I have a lot of whites on the side too! But still, it is more white on top...What a day I had and it is only 12....

Thanks again everyone for support! Enjoy the pics!

Catherine

Posted by gardenmimine on 04/23 at 08:27 AM

Okay, Catherine....I’m glued to the computer screen until I see your picture! Surely Diana won’t keep us in suspense too long. :o)

Posted by greeneyes on 04/23 at 08:40 AM

Well, GreenEyes, if you have a Facebook account, you can add me as a friend to see the pictures faster.
My full name is Catherine Thibault and I am in the HEC Montréal network.

Posted by gardenmimine on 04/23 at 08:46 AM

Catherine--You look great!  Glad you feel that way, too.  Keep the pics coming, everyone.  It’s so cool to see these transformations!

Lisa

Posted by newbie2 on 04/23 at 09:28 AM

Sorry Diana--patience not one of my virtues : - )

Posted by newbie2 on 04/23 at 10:04 AM

Catherine -

You do look great! You really wear short hair well!

Diana -

Thanks for working hard to get Catherine on quickly...you knew we were on the edge of our seat!

You said her picture was popping up in the wrong place, and I thought how funny it would be if everyone’s pictures were scrambled and we had the wrong updates. Okay, I know...weird sense of humor...and probably not so funny to you, since you are the one doing all the hard work. I just sit here and click. :o)

Thanks again for making this opportunity available to us, to connect with others around the country, and world, for that matter!

Posted by greeneyes on 04/23 at 10:18 AM

I am getting so excited seeing all your hair cuts.  You are all so brave.  The thing that I have been noticing is that you
all look soooooo muuuuuuccccchhhh YOUNGER!!!!! I never could have imagined how much difference it makes>

You go girls, I’m taking up the rear - as soon as my roots get long enough I’m right with you.

Posted by karen on 04/23 at 10:29 AM

Okay. Another thought, and then I really have to stay away from the computer for awhile.

Diana, I remember you saying that we instinctively know the best way to transition - uniquely to us. (Well, it was something like that, I think.) Seeing the choices each one has made, and how great they look is confirmation of this.

Posted by greeneyes on 04/23 at 10:30 AM

I agree with you, greeneyes.  And Diana said (to Susan, I think) that if and when we are ready for a more radical approach to transitioning, it would feel right, but not sooner.  Hence, my tiny trims for the first 8 months of transitioning, and then the bigger cut (although not terribly radical in comparison to others!) more recently.  It’s all about your comfort level.

L.

Posted by newbie2 on 04/23 at 10:48 AM

OUf! Thanks for putting up my pictures so promptly.

My main squeeze and I celebrated my new look by going for a ride in our convertible. Usually I have hair flying all over my face and I hunch down in my seat to try to minimize it...But not this time, I was feeling the wind alright

Some of my friends called me to see if I wasn’t doing a “Britney Spears” and I reassured them. Radical change is scary for most (including myself) but I think radical change is a way to test oneself, to see what we are able to give up. There is a french expression that goes “On ne fait pas d’omelette sans casser des oeufs” which translates “To make an omelette, you must break eggs” and the long hair just had to go.

Well, looking forward to see everybody’s progress and to read everybody’s updates.

The I-did-it,

Catherine

Posted by gardenmimine on 04/23 at 11:54 AM

Goodness; I got home from work and my inbox was glutted with emails from GGLG!!  Gosh Catherine!  You look fantastic!!  I think it makes you so young, and I thought you looked young before!  Glad your significant other had a light bulb moment!!!  Thanks for all the compliments ladies!  It’s very affirming!  I tweaked the eyebrows just a touch on the ascending arch per Diana’s recommendation and it really opened up my eyes.  This is my new favorite spot to hang out!!

Susan

Posted by suzy2u on 04/23 at 12:27 PM

Hello ladies!

Well, let me tell you I was digging through my closet today to find something feminine. Bizarre how my long hair was all I needed to feel like a woman.

So, I wore heels, jewelry and full (yet discrete) make up and felt great. I even got hit on by a super good looking guy while I was at the fruit store with my partner. It made him feel special to see that such a good looking man could be interested by a short hair thing like myself. He is sooo coming around. He’s great.

Susan: good idea for the eyebrows, short hair put eyebrows on display big time, I also “played” with mine

bye for now!

Catherine

Posted by gardenmimine on 04/24 at 12:02 PM

Catherine:

So glad you were able to see that you are still feminine and attractive with your new, shorter do.  My bf was looking over my shoulder when I was in the Newbie gallery yesterday and he said “Wow, she looks really cute with short hair!” So there you have it from an unbiased third party.  (I get a lot of “cute” with shorter hair and am trying to get used to that--it didn’t used to be my favourite compliment).

Keep rocking the look!

Lisa

Posted by newbie2 on 04/24 at 12:07 PM

LISA: you made my day
Thanks dear!!

Posted by gardenmimine on 04/24 at 12:11 PM

Love the late-breaking short hair cut pictures…

You both look beautiful! 

I posted in January and am so impressed by how the site has grown since then.  Stopped color in Nov. and am waiting for my hair to grow long enough so I can do the donation thing as well.... I’ll see about sending a pic of my two-toneness.  I’m comfortable pulling it up so it looks like I have one color coming and one color going..very fun.  Have gotten a fair amount of comments since it’s the longest my hair has been since I was young(er)....

Thanks again Diana for creating this happy space on the web.

Posted by Thisyear on 04/27 at 07:17 AM

Ugh.  My ex-husband saw me for the first time since I cut off my hair and went silver.  The first words out of his mouth were, “Wow, you look old.  When did your hair turn white?” I replied, “While I was raising our children by myself.” It never ends. 

All this as he’s sitting on his motorcycle with his VERY large belly sitting on the seat in front of him.  Does the man honestly think he hasn’t aged? 

And WHY does what he says continue to bother me?  I’m feeling broody today. 

Posted by lisagreen on 04/28 at 09:08 AM

Hi lisagreen.  I feel your pain.  Isn’t it a struggle to go forward strongly with a decision one minute and then feel that pang of--you said it best--ugh--when someone makes a negative comment??  Just hold fast to what YOU decided was right for you.  I’m guessing sensitivity isn’t your ex’s strong suit…

Lisa

Posted by newbie2 on 04/28 at 09:22 AM

Lisa, if you looked like Halle Berry, you can bet an ex would have something negative to say.  Plus, most men have very little sense of style other than to say something negative.  I heard a young man recently ask why girls were wearing “those shirts that make them look pregnant.” A man will never know what an empire waist is--plus, these new shirts look a heckuva lot better than seeing everyone’s belly.  Just laugh at the sheer fact that he’s an “elephant on a june bug,” which is what my mother refers to as a big person on a motorcycle!!!!!

Posted by greatmom on 04/28 at 11:10 AM

It’s just a fact; some men hold very high standards for the appearance of women, yet not for themselves. It’s a strange thing.

Obviously our appearance is important to us, or none of us would be hanging out with Diana so often. :o) But really, our shade of gray is just another hair color. I don’t know why it freaks so many people out...but hey...aren’t we the same women who were doing our darndest to cover those grays a short while ago? As more of us choose to go natural, I believe the mindset will change. When a person sees gray hair, they will not automatically think “old.”

Times they are a’changin’!

Posted by greeneyes on 04/28 at 11:38 AM

Hey Everyone,
I’m not sure if this is where I comment, for sure?  I am soooo excited I found this website.  I have been transitioning for about 1 year now, and my hair is completely natural.  It’s short and very white/silver in front and a little darker in back.  I’m 51 and have good days and bad days.  I like it some days, not others, in some mirrors, not in others.  I am so glad to be able to talk to other women finding their inner beauty.
deannablueridge

Posted by deannablueridge on 04/28 at 06:40 PM

I have enjoyed reading the comments from everyone and have been thinking about letting my hair go “au natural” now for a couple of years.  Most people never even knew that I had my hair colored since I went every 5 weeks for a cut and color, but I could always look in the mirror about a week after the color and see the white starting to show already, perfectly lined around my forehead, just like a little halo.  I always asked my hairdresser what he thought and he just always told me that he knew I was not ready to be gray.  But before my appointment last week, I called and told him that I was only coming in for a cut and that he could reschedule to fill his schedule, that way I could not rethink the situation.  So I went and bought a short hair magazine and picked out a couple of styles and then went and asked him to cut something using both styles.  My hair had been down to my shoulders, but now it is almost a boy cut.  It is very short and my plan is to continue cutting it each time I go until I get the color out and my hair very fast, so it shouldn’t take too long.

So I think this is so exciting!!!  I can’t wait to see what is going to come since I have been coloring for probably almost 20 years.  I had a couple of reasons for wanting to do this: one-being that my head would just itch like crazy afterwards for quite a while and then sometimes my scalp would break out and then you just have to know that it is not good for you, two-the money, the money after all these years, and third and the most important to me is that I just want to be myself.  I am 54 and I have found you become more and more comfortable with yourself and wanting to be more accepting of everything that has made you you and the person you have become. This becomes so much more important as you get a little older and more confident in yourself.  So I think this aging thing is such an interesting process and so the going gray is just another thing to look forward to.

So thank you to everyone involved in this website.  Thank you for helping women to know just how beautiful we all are, for helping women to see through all the colors and see what is in our hearts.

Posted by Debbie on 04/29 at 05:24 AM

Thanks Debbie for the inspiration on this gray (pun intended) morning.

Catherine

Posted by gardenmimine on 04/29 at 05:41 AM