Hairstyles: “Mom Short”
I have a two year old daughter who has always had a special affinity for my hair. When I would rock her as an infant she would reach over, grab some in her tiny fist and suck on it as she fell asleep. If she were in a restless mood, sad or getting tired she would try to climb into my hair pulling my head to the side to meet her as if I were her puppet. People looked on in horror, concerned that this bizarre behavior was indicative of unhealthy attachment. Later on, as she developed more of a sense of humor and self she would bury her tiny nose into it, sniff and say “Hmmm mom, that smells so good.”
After settling into motherhood I began flirting with the idea of going “mom short.” Being a stay-at-home mom I have little time or money, so when I decided to cut off my locks I went to Craigslist. If you are looking for a makeover that will not cost you a fortune you can always find salons willing to give free cuts for practicing stylists. I happened upon a man in the East Village of Manhattan who has been specializing in short cuts for twenty-five years. He was offering a free cut to anyone willing to change.
When I sat in the chair I was prepared to blurt out my life story peppered with self-depricating jabs at my inability to lose the baby weight, shower or find a sense of style. I watched him butcher the top of my hair as I sat there waiting for him to ask me if I had a particular cut in mind. Apparently, you don’t get a say when the appointment is free.
So, I walked out into the street looking like a pixie. Surprisingly, I was more at ease in my own skin. Cutting all of the hair off made me feel like I was raw, exposed and without defenses. I felt like a mom. Maybe not as glamorous as Katie Holmes or Michelle Williams but fabulous in my own right.
I did not cut my hair off because I was looking for a style easy to manage. I only have one toddler so I could find time in my day to primp. However, I don’t have the desire. It simply made me feel good. My daughter tells me all the time that she likes my hair cut and thinks I look beautiful. And, my hair is still long enough that with a little maneuvering of my body she can still twirl it around her tiny finger as she drifts off to sleep.
