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The Story of My Hair Part 3: My Hair in Juneby Patty James, August 22, 2005
Part 3 in a series of 3 articles.
It’s a Friday and I’m going to go for a run. I throw on my running clothes and quickly brush my hair, noticing it looks dry and greenish. I calmly walk to the kitchen, take the scissors out of the drawer and walk back to the bathroom whereby I hold up a chunk of hair and cut a little off the ends so it doesn’t fall in my face so much. I stand there wondering whether I should just keeping hacking away, but decide against it. I head out for a great run, faster than usual, fueled by a burning desire to chop it all off. The moment I get home I run in the house and call Toppers. Kathy, who usually cuts my hair, is out, but Stacy whom I’ve known since we were kids is there, but alone and with a full appointment calendar. I tell her that I wouldn’t take long, just cut it all off any way she chooses. Stacy knows of my coloring dilemma and tells me to come down because when you’re ready, you’re ready.
I should tell you that my family is en route to Lake Tahoe where we have rented a house for the weekend. I stayed longer to pick my son up after his last final in high school.
O.K. so I shower quickly, wash my medium-length green hair for the last time and drive to Toppers. I sit in the chair with my camera in hand wanting to record this moment of bravery for posterity. Stacy takes a “before” picture. No hesitation on my part, I’m ready! She holds up my hair and cuts it to about 1 ½ inches long; all that emerald, blonde hair on the floor. I have to tell you, I felt empowered and sooo proud of myself for finally facing the music or the grey hair, whichever you choose. 10 minutes later, viola!, it’s done! Stacy goes on and on about how much better I look and that my
blue eyes stand out with my, as it turns out, whitish, hair. We talk of all of our friends our age who color their hair and how I’m probably one of the first to take the plunge. She thinks I’m a trailblazer and an inspiration. Thank you Stacy…
I head home and keep looking in the mirror at the new chemical free me. It’s about time to pick up my son, Russell, and head to Tahoe. No one knows I’ve done this of course. I put on my new white pheasant skirt and white tank top, a little (chemical-free, at Whole Foods) mascara and lipstick, my turquoise earrings (playing up on the whole white hair, blue eyes thing) and head out. Russell is not a really chatty guy, but he does manage an “it looks good Mom.”
4 hours later we walk into the house where 5 out of our 6 kids are, plus our son-in-law and grandkids. Bill is the first to say something. I can’t quote him, but he loves it! He must tell me how good it looks almost every day.
I have had so many women tell me that they are going to take the plunge as well. They know that coloring is not good for their health; the same women, in the same breath, say after some humming and hawing, that they just don’t know if they’re ready; poor souls, the anguish of “the decision.” In a world fraught with really important things to do, this may seem trivial to most (me included) but good health, whether it be for ourselves, community or the Earth sometimes begins with making a choice on some small level such as this. I am now, on and in my body, in my home and at my school…….chemical free!
Good luck to all of you.... Patty
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