Hair
Washed and conditioned this morning, left the length down. Had I taken a noon time walk, I would have clipped it up for safety's sake. Very much looking forward to next week's cut. I took the "before" picture this morning and will post it along with the "after" shot when I return from break.
Nonsense
The weather is crazy here...68 degrees with a thunderstorm and a tornado watch today. --Two days before Christmas! It's unheard of!! Not complaining, mind you...because aaalll of this wetness would be snow or ice if our temperature was down where it normally hits in December. I was planning on taking a nice walk during the lunch hour today, but the wind is pretty fierce. I may try to brave it later on, if things settle down.
The Grand-daughter has strep throat, ugh. Just diagnosed yesterday and already has a couple of doses of the medicine shooshting through her system, so I'm hopeful the virus didn't have time to gain much of a foothold. I picked her up early from school yesterday (to take her to the doctor) and I could tell she was sick when she said not one word. As The Mister says, she usually talks so much you'd think she'd been inoculated with a phonograph needle. Now this morning she woke up more like her old self, talking and smiling. The school has a 24-hour "stay away" policy when there is fever involved, which she had...low-grade, thank goodness, so today my little princess stayed home with her mama.
Today, Wednesday, is my Friday and the entire university community is holding our collective breath, waiting for word to come from On High to dismiss early. My Christmas shopping is finished, thank the Lord above, but I do need to fuel up the car, and then I can head home. The Mister's shop will be closed tomorrow and Christmas day, however he will be on call (as always). While I'm on holiday I plan on cleaning the house...I'm talking the level of removing the vent covers to vacuum, etc. Anyway, I don't come back to work until January 4...I'll be one year older and have shorter hair. LoL
To anyone and everyone who reads this mess of a blog, I wish you & yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
12/17/2015
Hair
I just called my stylist, making an appointment for December 30 to get my hair cut. --She couldn't fit me in before then, which is all right...gives me plenty of time to *really* be sure I want it gone, and to warn my family a change is coming. This article helped me decide, especially item #10, "...you're the same person regardless of what your hair looks like." For some reason, reading those words flipped the switch; it was what I needed to give myself permission to cut it off. Change is good. And yes, I'll post a picture when I can, although it will be after I return from Christmas break.
Also I got to thinking...maybe I'm not meant to be a full-time longhair...maybe I'm the girl who grows her hair long so she can cut it and donate it to others who need it more than she. Maybe I'm *that* girl...
I just called my stylist, making an appointment for December 30 to get my hair cut. --She couldn't fit me in before then, which is all right...gives me plenty of time to *really* be sure I want it gone, and to warn my family a change is coming. This article helped me decide, especially item #10, "...you're the same person regardless of what your hair looks like." For some reason, reading those words flipped the switch; it was what I needed to give myself permission to cut it off. Change is good. And yes, I'll post a picture when I can, although it will be after I return from Christmas break.
Also I got to thinking...maybe I'm not meant to be a full-time longhair...maybe I'm the girl who grows her hair long so she can cut it and donate it to others who need it more than she. Maybe I'm *that* girl...
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
12/16/2015
Hair
I'm on the fence about cutting my hair. This is why I always wait to cut for a couple of weeks when the urge hits me. It's fine for others to spout the offhanded advice of "it's JUST hair; it WILL grow back". However for longhairs it's not that easy. Take my hair for example: it represents 2 1/2 years of growing and care, not unlike a garden that you tend. Two and a half years is a good chunk of life...heck, it's longer than some marriages last nowadays. So yes, cutting off my hair is a big decision, one that I do not make lightly. I always go back to my older paper journals and find the entries made around the time after a cut. Was I happy with the cut? How long did it take me to want to regrow my length? Why did I decided to regrow? Something else I have to consider is my age; in a couple of weeks I'll turn 54. There may be a time limit factor involved, to where I won't always be able to regrow my hair to waist length and beyond. (I want to believe that I can, but who knows...) On the other hand, maybe I'm overthinking this thing...I tend to do that...I know you're shocked. Heh But seriously, there are more important issues in life than hair.
Other
It's final exams week here at good ol' Southeast Missouri State University, so I'm busy running teachers tests through the Opscan machine. They love me right now. Next Wednesday will be my last day to work for the year--won't have to come back until January 4. I have a few plans for the time off; there are a couple of shops I want to visit, and I'd like to do some reading, and I desperately need to clean the house. I may have to help The Mister do inventory although he's assured me he can do it himself.
I'm on the fence about cutting my hair. This is why I always wait to cut for a couple of weeks when the urge hits me. It's fine for others to spout the offhanded advice of "it's JUST hair; it WILL grow back". However for longhairs it's not that easy. Take my hair for example: it represents 2 1/2 years of growing and care, not unlike a garden that you tend. Two and a half years is a good chunk of life...heck, it's longer than some marriages last nowadays. So yes, cutting off my hair is a big decision, one that I do not make lightly. I always go back to my older paper journals and find the entries made around the time after a cut. Was I happy with the cut? How long did it take me to want to regrow my length? Why did I decided to regrow? Something else I have to consider is my age; in a couple of weeks I'll turn 54. There may be a time limit factor involved, to where I won't always be able to regrow my hair to waist length and beyond. (I want to believe that I can, but who knows...) On the other hand, maybe I'm overthinking this thing...I tend to do that...I know you're shocked. Heh But seriously, there are more important issues in life than hair.
Other
It's final exams week here at good ol' Southeast Missouri State University, so I'm busy running teachers tests through the Opscan machine. They love me right now. Next Wednesday will be my last day to work for the year--won't have to come back until January 4. I have a few plans for the time off; there are a couple of shops I want to visit, and I'd like to do some reading, and I desperately need to clean the house. I may have to help The Mister do inventory although he's assured me he can do it himself.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
12/8/2015
Hair
Suddenly, and rather surprisingly, I want to get my hair cut short. S-H-O-R-T.
I'm always blindsided by these feelings. The cause? I saw a photo of Caroline Lucas, example below, and thought...
I want that haircut.
You could have knocked me over with a feather, I was so surprised at myself. I mean, it's nothing spectacular, is it, her cut? It's not as if I get the urge to chop every time I see a woman with short hair. So why this one?? *shrug* No clue. All I know is that now I'm flipping through sites featuring short styles for women. Of course, I'll wait a while before making any decisions. And I really, really need to ponder this action before jumping into the deep end of the swamp...because in the past I have regretted cutting my hair almost every single time I've done it. Not right away, mind you; the regret sometimes comes several days afterwards. But come it does, and then I restart the process of growing out my hair yet again.
Suddenly, and rather surprisingly, I want to get my hair cut short. S-H-O-R-T.
I'm always blindsided by these feelings. The cause? I saw a photo of Caroline Lucas, example below, and thought...
You could have knocked me over with a feather, I was so surprised at myself. I mean, it's nothing spectacular, is it, her cut? It's not as if I get the urge to chop every time I see a woman with short hair. So why this one?? *shrug* No clue. All I know is that now I'm flipping through sites featuring short styles for women. Of course, I'll wait a while before making any decisions. And I really, really need to ponder this action before jumping into the deep end of the swamp...because in the past I have regretted cutting my hair almost every single time I've done it. Not right away, mind you; the regret sometimes comes several days afterwards. But come it does, and then I restart the process of growing out my hair yet again.
Monday, November 23, 2015
11/23/2015
Hair
I knew I was going to wash this morning (Monday), so yesterday evening I did a coconut oil treatment. I had never used coconut oil on my hair but have been eager to do so after reading about many positive results had by other long-hairs. Coconut oil remains a solid up to around 76 degrees, yet melts fairly easily in the palms of your hands. For the sake of expediency next time though, I will probably melt the coconut oil in the microwave first. Rather than reinvent the wheel, so to speak, I'm including a link to a good page of instructions. Quite by coincidence, I happen to use the same brand of coconut oil this lady shows in her instructions, and I can attest that there is no smell.
I put a lot of coconut oil on my hair yesterday, from the roots down to the tips of my length. Then I put on a plastic (disposable) cap and left it on overnight. I wanted the oil to have a good long time to sink in. Just in case the cap slipped, I slept with a towel over my pillow. This morning I used a cleansing shampoo* and my usual condish+honey, and my hair feels quite nice. (*That old Pantene cleansing shampoo that I cannot find in stores or online. Wonder how old this stuff is?!? Perhaps it's time for some new stuff!!) I will definitely incorporate coconut oil treatments into my regular routine.
I've been making an effort to wear my hair down more often, either in a side braid, a segmented ponytail, or simply loose altogether. Although wearing it down may not be an option for very long, since my Missouri autumns and winters can be pretty windy. I've also been making an effort to use a comb on my hair instead of a brush, and doing some finger combing throughout the day. (P.s. never, never, ever use a brush on wet hair, period.)
Other
I fell yesterday, landed on my right knee. The Mister & I were clearing junk out of the old shop. (He moved his business across the street, have I mentioned? Shoot, I can't remember.) I was carrying an old printer, tripped over some 2x4s and went down hard on a concrete floor. There's a nice goose egg on the knee and I can tell I'm going to have some really groovy colors in a couple of days. There's a smaller bruised area on my right elbow, and I wouldn't be surprised if I don't also see a bruise on my (right) hip, too. *shrug* What can I say...we were both exhausted from moving stuff all day and things happen. Hey, at least I didn't smack my noggin on the concrete, eh.
I knew I was going to wash this morning (Monday), so yesterday evening I did a coconut oil treatment. I had never used coconut oil on my hair but have been eager to do so after reading about many positive results had by other long-hairs. Coconut oil remains a solid up to around 76 degrees, yet melts fairly easily in the palms of your hands. For the sake of expediency next time though, I will probably melt the coconut oil in the microwave first. Rather than reinvent the wheel, so to speak, I'm including a link to a good page of instructions. Quite by coincidence, I happen to use the same brand of coconut oil this lady shows in her instructions, and I can attest that there is no smell.
I put a lot of coconut oil on my hair yesterday, from the roots down to the tips of my length. Then I put on a plastic (disposable) cap and left it on overnight. I wanted the oil to have a good long time to sink in. Just in case the cap slipped, I slept with a towel over my pillow. This morning I used a cleansing shampoo* and my usual condish+honey, and my hair feels quite nice. (*That old Pantene cleansing shampoo that I cannot find in stores or online. Wonder how old this stuff is?!? Perhaps it's time for some new stuff!!) I will definitely incorporate coconut oil treatments into my regular routine.
I've been making an effort to wear my hair down more often, either in a side braid, a segmented ponytail, or simply loose altogether. Although wearing it down may not be an option for very long, since my Missouri autumns and winters can be pretty windy. I've also been making an effort to use a comb on my hair instead of a brush, and doing some finger combing throughout the day. (P.s. never, never, ever use a brush on wet hair, period.)
Other
I fell yesterday, landed on my right knee. The Mister & I were clearing junk out of the old shop. (He moved his business across the street, have I mentioned? Shoot, I can't remember.) I was carrying an old printer, tripped over some 2x4s and went down hard on a concrete floor. There's a nice goose egg on the knee and I can tell I'm going to have some really groovy colors in a couple of days. There's a smaller bruised area on my right elbow, and I wouldn't be surprised if I don't also see a bruise on my (right) hip, too. *shrug* What can I say...we were both exhausted from moving stuff all day and things happen. Hey, at least I didn't smack my noggin on the concrete, eh.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
11/12/2015
Hair
Did a cleansing wash earlier this week, using a Pantene product (what else) whose name escapes me, and for the life of me I cannot find online. Well, I know I purchased it a few years ago but, golly, I didn't think it was *that* old. I think it's a Nature Fusion shampoo containing rosemary and mint. Oh well, no matter. Anyway, after the cleansing wash, I slathered on a (Pantene) deep conditioning masque, letting that soak in while I continued with my shower. Rinsed, gentle towel squeezing, then air drying finished it off. Need to incorporate vinegar rinses in my routine soon.
Other
What is it about autumn that makes me want to wear lipstick?? I don't wear makeup period; I can't be bothered, it's expensive, and I think I look fine without it. (So does The Mister.) But it seems like every fall I get a sudden urge to buy and wear lipstick. Could it be I'm trying to make up for the lack of color that autumn brings, what with the dying foliage, grey skies and brown grass? Perhaps, and that seems as good a reason as any. At any rate, I'm taking a day off from work tomorrow and one of my to-do items is buy new lipstick...or two.
I'll also be clothes shopping. Not my favorite activity, however my winter long sleeve shirt stockpile has gotten woefully low and I also need a couple of pair of trousers. Maybe even a new pair of loafers, if I can find a bargain. And socks…I need new (dressy) socks. I'm leaning more toward trousers now that cooler temperatures have arrived.
Did a cleansing wash earlier this week, using a Pantene product (what else) whose name escapes me, and for the life of me I cannot find online. Well, I know I purchased it a few years ago but, golly, I didn't think it was *that* old. I think it's a Nature Fusion shampoo containing rosemary and mint. Oh well, no matter. Anyway, after the cleansing wash, I slathered on a (Pantene) deep conditioning masque, letting that soak in while I continued with my shower. Rinsed, gentle towel squeezing, then air drying finished it off. Need to incorporate vinegar rinses in my routine soon.
Other
What is it about autumn that makes me want to wear lipstick?? I don't wear makeup period; I can't be bothered, it's expensive, and I think I look fine without it. (So does The Mister.) But it seems like every fall I get a sudden urge to buy and wear lipstick. Could it be I'm trying to make up for the lack of color that autumn brings, what with the dying foliage, grey skies and brown grass? Perhaps, and that seems as good a reason as any. At any rate, I'm taking a day off from work tomorrow and one of my to-do items is buy new lipstick...or two.
I'll also be clothes shopping. Not my favorite activity, however my winter long sleeve shirt stockpile has gotten woefully low and I also need a couple of pair of trousers. Maybe even a new pair of loafers, if I can find a bargain. And socks…I need new (dressy) socks. I'm leaning more toward trousers now that cooler temperatures have arrived.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
11/03/2015
Hair
Apparently my hair is longer than I thought. When I measure, the number doesn't mean much to me. But when I snap a photo...
I appear to be very close to waist length--maybe an inch away, perhaps. See where my hand is resting? That's my waist. Holy cow. (Also, this outfit seems to have become my official hair length photo, as I have worn it in the last 3 or 4 photos. lol)
I'm loving the addition of honey in my conditioner. I've started using it on all of my hair, not only the length. My process is to slather the condish on my length first, then apply the leftover to the hair on top of my head. Somebody somewhere (probably a magazine article) told me to condition only the length, the hair below the ears, but never to the top of your head because it would make your hair look greasy. And so that was the rule I stuck to for decades. But lately I got to thinking, eventually the hair on top of my hair will eventually become my length, and it deserves special treatment too.
Even though I don't use any product on my hair, (no spray, no gel, no leave-ins, etc.) shampoo and condish can build up too, and so I need to start doing regular cleansing washes followed by a deep conditioner. Maybe this weekend I'll have time to do so.
Other
We had to have another of our cats put down last night. Without going into detail, the vet determined kitty had suffered a snake bite. Slim, pictured below, makes three we've lost this year, leaving us with three. He was a stray we took in, who turned into a fine and loving pet. Rest well, my friend.
Apparently my hair is longer than I thought. When I measure, the number doesn't mean much to me. But when I snap a photo...
I'm loving the addition of honey in my conditioner. I've started using it on all of my hair, not only the length. My process is to slather the condish on my length first, then apply the leftover to the hair on top of my head. Somebody somewhere (probably a magazine article) told me to condition only the length, the hair below the ears, but never to the top of your head because it would make your hair look greasy. And so that was the rule I stuck to for decades. But lately I got to thinking, eventually the hair on top of my hair will eventually become my length, and it deserves special treatment too.
Even though I don't use any product on my hair, (no spray, no gel, no leave-ins, etc.) shampoo and condish can build up too, and so I need to start doing regular cleansing washes followed by a deep conditioner. Maybe this weekend I'll have time to do so.
Other
We had to have another of our cats put down last night. Without going into detail, the vet determined kitty had suffered a snake bite. Slim, pictured below, makes three we've lost this year, leaving us with three. He was a stray we took in, who turned into a fine and loving pet. Rest well, my friend.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
10/28/2015
Hair
Got a chance to measure this morning after washing: 29 inches. My hair usually grows about half an inch each month, so I can estimate fairly accurately at what length I'll be in any given month. If I remember correctly, 36 inches is around waist length on me; in another 7 months or so that's where my length will hit.
I mixed some honey into my conditioner (Pantene Pro-V Repair and Protect), 1/2 cup of condish with 3 tablespoons of honey. Applied a goodly amount to all of my hair (not only the length as usual) after washing with Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume. Let it sit while I finished my shower and then rinsed well. My flyaways seem to be a bit better, but not 100%. I'll give it time.
Other
One day in early January of this year I stepped on the scale. To my horror the number was 198. I have never weighed that much in all my life, not even when I was pregnant. Three years ago LJ, my granddaughter, was born and around the same time The Mister bought his own business. The Mister and I caved under pressure and took the easy way out, eating fast food and pretty much whatever the heck we wanted. Both of us gained a lot of weight and weren't ready to make a change. A few weeks ago though, I said "enough" and put us both back on a low carbohydrate eating plan that has worked well for us in the past (if we would only stick to it...). However, I've taken my eating plan a step further, and am actually 98% zero carb. Once in a great while I'll eat a salad or some low carb veggies, but for the most part I eat meat. I began regular low carb on October the 1st, weighing 194 1/2 pounds, then made the jump over to zero carb last week.
I always feel amazing on zero carb. My energy level is high, the belly bloat goes away, the mood swings are gone, and the pounds drop with very little effort. Yesterday's number was 183 1/2 pounds (although I don't step on the scale every morning). I'll continue to update my weight loss story as time goes by.
Got a chance to measure this morning after washing: 29 inches. My hair usually grows about half an inch each month, so I can estimate fairly accurately at what length I'll be in any given month. If I remember correctly, 36 inches is around waist length on me; in another 7 months or so that's where my length will hit.
I mixed some honey into my conditioner (Pantene Pro-V Repair and Protect), 1/2 cup of condish with 3 tablespoons of honey. Applied a goodly amount to all of my hair (not only the length as usual) after washing with Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume. Let it sit while I finished my shower and then rinsed well. My flyaways seem to be a bit better, but not 100%. I'll give it time.
Other
One day in early January of this year I stepped on the scale. To my horror the number was 198. I have never weighed that much in all my life, not even when I was pregnant. Three years ago LJ, my granddaughter, was born and around the same time The Mister bought his own business. The Mister and I caved under pressure and took the easy way out, eating fast food and pretty much whatever the heck we wanted. Both of us gained a lot of weight and weren't ready to make a change. A few weeks ago though, I said "enough" and put us both back on a low carbohydrate eating plan that has worked well for us in the past (if we would only stick to it...). However, I've taken my eating plan a step further, and am actually 98% zero carb. Once in a great while I'll eat a salad or some low carb veggies, but for the most part I eat meat. I began regular low carb on October the 1st, weighing 194 1/2 pounds, then made the jump over to zero carb last week.
I always feel amazing on zero carb. My energy level is high, the belly bloat goes away, the mood swings are gone, and the pounds drop with very little effort. Yesterday's number was 183 1/2 pounds (although I don't step on the scale every morning). I'll continue to update my weight loss story as time goes by.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Beginning Again
I deleted my original journal about a month and a half ago, believing I would never have the urge to blog again. Well...we see how long that lasted. The original journal was several years old; I think I started it around 2009 maybe, and it had grown stale. Sometimes you simply have to throw away everything and start over, and that's what Hair and Nonsense represents for me.
In keeping with LongLocks tradition, which used to host a forum, this will primarily be a hair journal, where I keep record of my length, products used & all other hair-related stuff. I will probably also post mundane life stuff too, hence the "nonsense" portion.
Hair
Today's style is a side braid. I was going to wear it down since I had washed this morning, however my granddaughter wanted me to have a braid. (She's 3 and often has better fashion sense than her ol' Nana.) My length is about half an inch below bra strap (photo of the back coming soon). Currently I use Pantene products, specifically the Sheer Volume line. I wash every 2nd or 3rd day, depending on how lazy I feel, and have even gone a full week without washing. Sometimes on no-wash days I use a Pantene dry shampoo called Root Reboot. Because I have thinning hair on top, any amount of grease makes my strands separate which means my scalp is highly visible but let me tell you, the dry shampoo works like a charm.
For a long time now, probably at least 3 years, I've been practicing benign neglect; I simply shampoo and condition, and fuss with my hair as little as possible. But lately I'm beginning to rethink that strategy. As I get older so does my hair, and I feel I should reinstate some of the routines I practiced during the LongLocks days. Things like regular vinegar rinses, and adding honey to conditioner, and even some deep conditioning treatments. I let go of those practices because frankly, I did not have time. My granddaughter, LJ, was born about the same time as my husband bought his own business, and suddenly I had very little free time. But do you know something? We must take care of ourselves, or we won't be healthy enough to help take care of others. For me, that also includes pampering my hair.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)