RIP Girls

Today I felt brave and scared all at the same time. For weeks I have had a bottle of hair dye in my cupboard that has been calling my name, but the last time I dyed my own hair it came out the colour of rhubarb and I had to have it stripped and redyed...taking years of split ends to recover. So you can see why I was a bit weak in the knees to attempt this "great" feat.

The thought came a couple of weeks ago when I looked at my hair growth and thought that if I dyed my hair I could then go out in public without my wig on. "Cindy" and "Molly" have been there for me every day and I hesitated greatly at the thought of leaving them behind. I have been going wigless around the house but have only ventured outside to take the dog to pee and only in the wee hours of the morning or late at night.

Some people have shown up at the house and seen me sans wig but these sightings have been rare and more or less I was in a "I don't care mood". So I decided that if I was going to brave this venture of saying goodbye to the wigs I was not doing it alone.

I called my hairdresser.

I soon realized that it has been 10 months since I last sat in her chair and I felt like a kid on the first day of school. I woke up and thought about doing some early morning errands before my hair appointment but only ventured far enough to drop my husband off at a local car rental company.

Upon coming home, I was not expecting the veracious barking from my dog. He went all crazy dog as I walked up to the front door. Teeth barring and barking like mad as I told him to sit as I entered the door. He then realized it was me and went crazy excited jumping on me. I guess he has only seen me inside without my wig and the strange lady on the outside wasn't mommy. Silly puppy!

I then got ready and hopped in the car. I rolled down both front windows and let the breeze flow though my hair working up the courage to venture the day ahead. I kept checking the mirror as it felt like my hair was blowing all over the place, which if you could see my hair would make you laugh as it is ..at most...three fingers long.

I found a primo parking space given the fact that my hairdresser is downtown and the gay pride parade was going to start before my appointment was over. 80,000 people makes parking challenging..just sayin'.

As part of my hair cut ritual, I always bring my hairdresser a little Starbucks treat. Today I decided a Very Berry Hibiscus drink <cold> was the right choice. As I ventured down one of the busiest summer streets in my city I felt oddly strong with my wig free self and very grey/black hair.

I stepped into her salon and was immediately greeted with a hug and tears of joy to see me...have I mentioned I love my hairdresser?! She laughed over the fact that someone had put me in for foils and for the next two hours we laughed, cried and talked like I had only been gone for two weeks. It is amazing how much..and not so much...changes in 10 months.

I completely trust her and have never told her how to do my hair. She senses a need for change and knows that she can do whatever. She did ask me whether I felt bold and wanted to make a statement. Ahh no...I just don't want to look like a person who has HAD cancer and is growing out their hair.

I must admit when she took off the towel to revel red hair I took a deep breathe in. Only 2 hours ago my dog freaked out at me...now what will he do? She trimmed <yup..actual hair fell> and brushed and when she was finished I actually looked like a real live girl. My hair is short, there is no denying that it is not growing quickly BUT my hair looks almost intentional..no longer cancer patient-ish. I am so glad I came to her instead of doing it on my own.

I was excited to show off my new look so I texted <how 2012> some friends and before I knew it there was a group of us going to dinner and hanging out after at my "off with the wig" impromptu party. Sadly the last person to see my new do was my own husband who smiled and told me I looked great. Now to show the the world.