Becoming Me

I'd flirted with the idea of completely changing my hairstyle and country by the time I was 70. Neither eventuated. I still clung to old habits but my hair had become increasingly frustrating. The upkeep was annoying; buy a box colour (because I couldn't afford a salon visit), the mess and time involved in self-colouring every 3-4 weeks, serious hairfall over 10 months where the clumps of hair fell in the drain, the bathroom, and over my clothes. I looked tired and I was. I wanted to move back to France but that wasn't happening either; surprise health issues needed addressing and then my house would not sell. Nothing was working, many things seemed beyond my control. But, hang on, I COULD do something about my hair. Big thinks! I found I wasn't scared - I've survived bigger risks.

I discovered my significant hairfall was due to severe iron depletion so I started buying iron supplements - the right sort confirmed by my doctor. Righting the problem takes months but I'm onto it! OK now what? I spent hours pouring over grey transition videos on YouTube. I learned the options.

1. Just let it grow out and depending on how long I wanted my hair it would probably take two years, looking dreadful in the  process.

2. Get grey-blending done at the salon thus perpetuating chemical processes and spending lots of money that would need to be repeated and extras on special home care products

3. Get high lights and low lights: just more dying and stripping, bad for my hair and needing to be repeated.

4. Wear a wig but decent ones cost a fortune and need upkeep

5. Cut the dyed hair off and let my natural colour through. Modest costs and finished process in months but not the style I am utimately aiming for

I started by choosing number one but I looked dreadful, frumpy and it was only going to get worse. The demarcation line was extreme. Patience waivered.

At my current age of 71 I no longer care what other people think (mostly) and not being currently on stage in a rock band meant I could just go ahead and do what I thought was right for me: no chemicals so my health was not at risk, minimal expenditure because my monthly budget is extremely tight. How to do it? I felt I need a change of salon for this scale of hairstyle change. I put out a call for ideas from my local community Facebook page. Janelle answered my call and offered a free consultation in her neck of the woods. I accepted, excited and curious and a little apprehensive about uncovering the real me I had covered up for  47 years. Who was I , REALLY? Being honest with this part of myself is part of being authentic me and feeling comfortable with that. Each of us decides which option is right for us.

Oh come on, I said to myself just do it, hair grows. I chose option 5.

Janelle listened, explained and a week later she got to work on me. It was like watching Edward Scissorhands; the hair just flew with each flick of her wrists. We had some laughs and swapped life stories. A bit of bonding at times like this is important. I wasn't too worried because it had to be done. She was trying for a feminine short pixie. I did not want to look butch with hair too short ( you'd look like a tennis ball, she said) or a pudding basin disaster so the tips of my hair remained dyed. Those tips can be cut off at a future session in 2 months. I just have to grow it enough to do so. Certainly in 4 months it will be complete.

I plan to grow the pixie out eventually, allowing it to grow into a textured, funky white bob and keeping my curls. I should have that in about a year. Maybe a bit more, and in the meantime I will look coiffed, deliberate, instead of an indeterminate mess. Well, that's the plan. Janelle from Valentino's salon in Bishopdale did a good job in eliminating most of the dye but keeping some length. 

I will be happier when it is a wee bit longer but in the meantime I think exploring some new earrings might be fun! 

And so... here I am, adjusting and looking ahead and hoping that selling my home and moving back to France is not too far away. 

To date, comments from other folks have been very positive. 

Recommendation:
Janelle Fynmore at Valentino's valentinoshairdesign.co.nz for some great textured cutting. 

Phone: 03 359 9099 and mention me and my happy result

Worth remembering: As you age your hair changes a lot. You might find it gets wirey or changes from straight to curly, maybe it becomes drier and finer. All of those happened to me. Grieve who you were and get on with your next stage.There are usually cuts and products that can help. You just have to embrace the changes and do your best with them, along with your wrinkles. 

 Photo below shows where I want to get to, eventually...

 AI generated to give us an idea of what it could look like.