I realize that my post incited either wild delight
(Let’s be honest, we all love finding out that someone else did something like, oh, I don’t know, started plucking their eyebrows and then in an attempt to even it out kept going back and forth until she ended up with Jon Waters mustache eyebrows)
or profound pity
(Again, the only thing better than slyly laughing at someone’s beauty mishap is stepping up and collecting them in an embrace, murmuring that it will be ok.)
My particular situation is uniquely volatile for my 37th week of pregnancy state and my general desire to look at once polished and natural…increasingly hard as my face becomes more familiar with its 4th decade (Help me out, I’m bad at math, but being in my 30’s means my fourth decade, no?). Anyway, the reflection I see in the mirror is exceptionally brassy, each strand of hair looking exhausted and frazzled, and the overall vibe I get is: Desperate.
With each comment left pleading for a picture I sank deeper and deeper, not wanting to capture the hair and also not wanting to disappoint with its decidedly non-white appearance. I think if there are salon experience types I am definitely of the never-changes-a-thing-and-feels-like-she-really-branched-out-variety or the oh-my-god-what-have-I-done-despite-no-one-around-me-seeing-anything-different-at-all, I say all this to prepare you for less than you might be expecting, though I still swear it is way, way, way too all over my head brassy blonde.
Normally I look kind of like this, no styling, virtually no color, layers that prove at some point I had my hair cut and pony tail bumpage visible in back exposing what an afterthought my hair usually is.
Let us revisit the last experience I had with this stylist:
Cute, right? Aside from the odd angle of my head and face? The only issue being that flat ironing my hair on a daily basis is slightly unrealistic, but whatever.
This next one? This is how I usually look, not to say that I walk around with sheperd’s hook all the time, more that I really dig wearing baseball caps.
And this one demonstrates the level of highlight I can tolerate (I thought this was daring), though you’ll note the white streak by my ear which made me slightly crazy.
And now, here are a series of shots of what I have now:
Again, the hysteria could be because of the hormone storm being kicked up by the lil lass in that there gut…keeping my tongue in my mouth might help my appearance as well.
I don't think it's sooooooo bad….but maybe the "brass" isn't coming across in the pics. On a positive note, you're a beautiful pregnant woman with a big beautiful belly….i say that with the risk of sounding like some creepy stalker, huh? yikers
Hee hee. Today I went to a salon and had the haircut my friend did for FREE, re-cut. For NOT free. I can't say this on my own blog, because her feelings would be hurt, but girl. I feel your pain!
The highlights aren't awful. They really aren't. But they aren't subtle either and I can understand why you might be upset. The cut is really cute though. Totally. I think your complements from your coworkers were probably sincere. š
You know what, I don't hate it.
Could be because it's you….
I'm not seeing the brass from here either. But that belly?
It's too cute…
{You do look lovely.}
I think is looks nice, but I understand. When I get highlights I want it to look like I didn't which is mind boggling to the person giving the highlights.
Highlights are the most shocking in the beginning. Pretty soon they will all blend in and be less severe – not that I think you have anything to worry about! I used to get them but was not into the maintenance of it. If I can't stick my hair in a ponytail the hair cut sucks!
PS – Bella Bella in HF, Pamela (the owner) is awesome! Of course I just am finding this out and are leaving the area but at least you could enjoy her fabulous skills!
i think it looks just fine, really it is cute.
and that belly–gorgeous!
OK, really, not too bad. Yeah they are a little much when you look from the top down, but how many people are going to get that view of your head on a normal day. From the front they look fine, in a couple weeks it will look even better.
But really all I want to say is how fricken cute your belly is in that last picture.
See? It's way better than your words led me to believe. She did kind of force you into higher maintenance, though: there will be roots. I think they do that on purpose for job security, y'know?
Oh, and thank you for the torpedo belly shot. You are the cutest pregnant woman ever, I think. I'm feeling very nostalgic over here, except then I remember that my last pregnancy had a high suckage factor so, yeah, I'm okay just looking at pictures.
Not bad at all! From the top, it's definitely drastic. Just make sure you're not sitting down while everyone else is standing!
Love the belly!
Dare I say that I like it? I do, I think you look sunkissed. And gorgeous with that little bod and that big belly.
If you really do hate it, you can correct it. I know, I've had the same problem. You just have to go back and have her color it over.
Ok… I will say that I think the last time you went to her, she did a fantastic job. And the cut is cute but it is a lot of highlights. I don't think it looks nearly as bad as you said it was going to, though!! And it definitely looks summery… If anyone can pull it off, you can Mama. You look gorgeous no matter what!
Just catching up on your last few posts… š I am a super plain jane and one time I asked for highlights too (living on the edge I guess) and I was so worried that I would turn out like you that she made them barely noticeable. I say "turn out like you" only to mean disappointed with the strength of the highlight because while I can see what you mean, I think they look pretty good. If you hadn't written about them, I still would have thought that you looked like an adorable mama in her 37th week of pregnancy. I don't even think they are really going to show up in your labor shots. š
you look FAB. and it's because you're you. ain't no other reason, sister friend.
They definitely don't look bad at all. If I saw you walking down the street, I wouldn't notice (in a good way). And I'm super critical. You could always go back and ask her to tone them down more. Did she put toner on?
Mostly I'm just too overwhelmed with how slim you are – even PREGNANT, for PETE'S SAKE! – to notice the big blond streaks. (okay, one time my husband did highlights for me and announced midway that he saw me as a "chunky highlights" kind of girl. That didn't turn out well!)
Amanda. I am so sorry to tell you this. But your hair looks GREAT!
It may be more than you are used to, but from your description, I was expecting something horrific.
Silly girl!
first sorry i left a request for peek at hair on other blog…bad bloggy friend š
i must say i love the new do!! and i think you will look back on hospital baby #3 pics and think whoa what a mommy hottie š
I think it's adorable. Not bad at all….
Of course, you're 8 months pregnant and WHY would I want to piss you off???? I'm not stupid.
Snort.
Really, Amanda, it's cute!
The hair looks great and so does the belly. It is all hormone induced hysteria. You will get used to it. In your fourth decade (yes, the math was right) lighter in the hair department is always a good way to go because it helps segway into the inevitable gray. At some point you will stop tinting. Everyone does. Also, your coloring supports the lighter shade well. You'd think I was a hairstylist or something. I'm not. But truly, I know hair.
You look beautiful. When you were little your hair was naturally streaked with bight golden highlights…just like that!
I think it looks great but I know, I know, it's the layers that aggravate. I had a similar experience last cut and came home feeling like the stylist had made me look like every other stay-at-home Mom in the tri-state area which is to say remarkably like Martha Stewart. I haven't been back. That was October. It's long overdue. I'm in tomorrow for the full shebang, color, cut, four hours of blow drying. I hope I come out of it looking half as good as you look.
It's the hormone storm. You look great.
The way you wrote about your highlights, I was expecting something really atrocious! But your hair looks nice! Gives you a little lift, eh? I get highlights too (not that color), and even if you're re-doing them, it takes a little while to get used to them.
You look great!
Please. You're about the cutest pregnant thing I've ever seen in my life. (Tongue in.)
The hair is totally great – the faces you were making expressed how you feel about it quite well! Lol!
It's all about what you're comfortable with. You can have it changed if you'd like but you certainly don't look like some kind of freak! I was really worried for a bit.
And the belly – fabulous!
breaking every formerly pregnant mom rule here to say
UGGGG ARE YOU STILLLLL PREGNANT?????? I WANT CUTE SMOOSHY BABY PICTURES ALREADY GOSH!!!!!