The Many Looks of Katie Harding

I don’t have many interesting weeks as far as hair is concerned.  If I wash it, great.  If I get a chance to blow dry it, even better.  Use a straight iron? It’s a banner day!  So, for me to have so many looks in one week is pretty overwhelming.  And frankly, expensive.

Left to right: Start, Color, Highlights on top of color

It all started innocently enough.  I went to go to my hairstylist to get my cut updated .  “What do you want to do for color?” she asked.  That’s when it happend…. “Let’s go darker,” I mused.  She asked me if I was sure.  I said yes.

I have regretted it ever since.

Trying to convince myself that I liked it.  Didn’t work.

I went to a blogging conference and people that have only seen pictures of me online had no idea who I was.  I ran into people that don’t know me that well, and they didn’t recognize me either.  I ran into people I know fairly well, and they say it’s “interesting.”  My husband, mom and dad all said, “it’s nice.“

And my son, Graham?  He told me like it is, “Mom! Your hair is BRIGHT BLACK!”  Yep. Awesome.

Needless to say, I’ve been fretting about it.  Not freaking out, just fretting.  I tried to convince myself that I liked it, but I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize the person looking back at me.  Without makeup, I felt the dark hair just made my circles under my eyes appear darker.  I didn’t feel pretty or even cute.  I was just a gal with a really weird blackish-reddish hair color.  Not my best moment.

Last night, I finally caved in and called to make an appointment for highlights.  Time to get it fixed.  Before I submit a headshot of myself that doesn’t look like me for a new publication I’m writing for.  Before I attend another blogging conference and make new friends with a hair color I’m bound to change back.  Before I catch a glimpse of myself in the glare of a window again and cringe at the sight.

This time I went to a new salon and stylist.  I didn’t have the courage to go back to the original stylist and tell her that I hated what I told her to do.  I’m shy like that.  So I took the cowardly way out and went to someplace else.  I told the new stylist what I hated, and she brought me back to the lady I recognize.

After several hundred dollars, I think I might be back to my REAL color.  Go figure.

I thought I wanted darker hair.  I thought by changing my exterior it would make me feel different on the interior.  And, I gotta be honest… I decided that plain ol’ Katie works just fine for me.  It may still be a “mom bob” but it’s a color I like and a cut that’s simple and works for me.

I’ll take it.  It’s better than “nice.” It’s me.

Ever have a bad hair experience? What did you do about it?