Releasing the inner rock star
By erin on August 30, 2010 | Filed Under faces & places
Help! I'm drowning in my hair!
Those who know me, know that I aspire to rockstarness. I believe that hidden inside is a little bit of Joan Jett, a little bit of Freddy Mercury and a whole lot of rock and roll.
Put another dime in the jukebox baby.
However, as of late, my rockstarness has given way to my mumminess.
Not that thats a bad thing. I have just had a different set of priorities.
But my innate (or at least what I believe to be innate) fierceness has gone the way of convenience. Hair is put up in a ponytail. Makeup-which was never much to begin with-has been replaced with baby moisturizer. The only thing that has survived the arrival of the worlds best baby has been my shoes.
And my jewellry. But thats for another blog.
I have been feeling a bit less of myself. I think a lot of mums lose themselves in the essence of ‘mumness’ and don’t take time for the little things. Like washing. Or taking time to read. Or flossing. Or styling your far too long, very strangely coloured because you played with a box of dye you really shouldn’t have hair.
I wanted to take some time for me…just me. Time to take the giant mane of hair and the tired face and bring it back to life. Take some time to rejuvenate me into being a better mum, wife, football player and all in all happier human being.
But could a hair cut really do all that? Only time would tell.
I first met Kelli from Gloss at a mom and baby boot camp class. I thought she was the coolest mum I had ever seen. She had a full sleeve of tattoos, really cool hair and a very hip little dude for a son. I had a ponytail, no tattoos (not for want of one, but a body covered in freckles is not always the best canvas for ‘ink…but I digress) but a very hip little dude for a son.
We got along quite well.
I later ran into her at a story time at our local library and it was pointed out to me that anyone that cool had to be a hair stylist.
And she was. A famous one at that.
We got to talking about what we did, and she mentioned that she loved cutting hair and doing makeovers for mums because so often mums (and dads) forget that before they were mums and dads they were…well..themselves and that in order to be the best mum (and dad) you need to be the best you that you can be! And if she could help achieve that greatness by using her scissors and makeup brush, she would be there.
She promised me that she could revive my inner rockstar AND that I could maintain this rockstar in 5 minutes or less.
So I put myself in her capable hands in interest of research.
I promised myself I would give no restrictions…that I would trust her implicitly because she was the expert.
With a pair of sharp, pointy scissors.
She showed me a picture of what she wanted to do with my hair, and then explained why it would work for my lifestyle. It had all the rockstar elements I was craving, yet would still look good if I had to run out the door without…say…showering or brushing. She wanted to brighten the colour to add light to my hair, yet still keep it close to my natural colour to allow for easy maintenance.
I was sold.
Out with the drab, in with the fab. Check out the shoes.
As she was chopping and foiling, we talked about what has become both of our favourite topics. Our sons. We discussed what we loved about motherhood, and what we were looking forward to as our little men grew up into big men. We chatted about how we had both changed our careers fairly dramatically to adapt to our new roles as mums. Kelli only works a few days a week at the salon so she can spend more time with her son, and often takes appointments at home, or at her clients homes to make it work not only for her family, but theirs as well. I left a job in advertising to work for yoyomama and pursue other creative avenues on a more flexible basis so Max had more mum time with a happy, creatively satisfied mum.
I watched my hair pool around my feet (she took off about a foot) and I felt a wee bit nauseous, and yet excited at the same time. There was no turning back. This wasn’t like purchasing a yellow shirt when you really should have bought green, or starting Malcom Gladwell when really you were feeling Sophie Kinsella. I couldn’t change my mind and get that mile of mane stuck back on. It was gone. But I felt fully confident that she was going to make me look my best. It was invigorating! And a heck of a lot lighter!
Once the hair was cut and coloured, but not styled, it was time for make up. Time for…
And it really took five minutes. A bit of tinted moisturizer, some high lite powder, a magnificent eyeshadow called Smut (seriously…best…eyeshadow…name…ever), two brushes and mascara later and she was done. In about 3 minutes and 28 seconds.
huh.
Finally, it was time to style my newly shorn locks. She gave me instructions as to how to easily tame my naturally curly hair with a bit of curl creme and a hair dryer. Then she went for the straightening iron and the hair dryer.
She explained each product that was going onto my hair and why, and how I should use it at home. I always find hair product so intimidating. What is a serum? Why are there so many bottles? Who has time for all of this? But by the end of it, I was much less afraid.
And fierce….really fierce.
Blue Steel
I loved that Kelli got…well…me. She got that I wanted to be a fierce, rock star like woman (hear me roar) and still be a great mum at the same time. That it was okay that I wanted to embrace that side of me, all while singing ‘I am a pizza’ and blowing raspberries. She got that the two didn’t need to be mutually exclusive.
Above all, I think a pair of scissors, a make up brush or two and a really awesome hair straightener brought back a little bit of me that had been missing.
Sure, its superficial. Its just a haircut and a makeup application. But if it makes me happier, fiercer and more fun for the little guy, is that a bad thing?
Judging by the raspberry of approval I got, I think its okay.
Happy mum...happy boy.
This is fantastic! Good for you for taking time for yourself. This was always important to my mum and it’s the kind of mum I want to be one day. It reminded me of a story my mum used to tell about her pregnancy with me. She felt awful and sick and tired so made a trip to her doctor (a long time friend). She listed her symptoms and her doctor said “Well no wonder you feel like crap, look at you! Go get a decent hair cut and some pretty maternity clothes and you’ll be fine.” Needless to say, she was cured instantly and took her doctor’s advice to heart for the rest of her life. Also, the hair looks awesome.
Well done Kelli and Erin!
I auditioned for an agree shampoo commercial in the late 80′s and the tag line has been my mantra ever since. “If you can’t change your life, change your hair!”
[...] key component to the fab program (I already have the great hair thanks to the always fantastic Kelli) is getting rid of those last niggling pounds of baby [...]