The hair.

Every three years I chop off over 12 inches of my hair and donate it to Locks of Love, a charity organization that makes wigs for kids going through cancer treatment. Last October was my three-year mark, but I delayed my donation for a year so I would have lots and lots (and LOTS) of hair to make a substantial up-do for the wedding.

I wanted Big Hair. Not Texas Big Hair (sorry, Texas), but more like Vintage Big Hair. Scrolling through the hundreds of bridal hairdos on the wedding sites didn't provide me with one I really liked, so I went back to my original mantra: "Oscars, not Prom."

After googling Oscar hair updos, I found exactly what I'd been thinking about: Julia Roberts' style the year she won her Oscar for Erin Brockovich. Something big, but sleek--I didn't want massive curls piled on top of my head as if my teenage date was going to present me with a corsage when he picked me up from my parents' house that night.

However, as Jo (my amazing stylist) pointed out, this style was most likely all fake hair layered over a styrofoam base block, and was crafted over several days by a team of professionals in Hollywood who may or may not have also sold their souls to the Devil himself.

So I tried to keep my expectations reasonable. Especially when things started like this:

And then looked like this:


But somehow, magically, Jo the Hair Goddess twisted, teased, and pinned, and suddenly: exactly what I wanted! :)


Bulky, but not a bee-hive, without massive curls. :)

And now it's ALL GONE! I chopped off 11 inches and sent the ponytail off to Locks of Love.

I'm liking the short hair, but it's SO much more work! Styling gel, and flat ironing, and you can't just pull it back, and air drying is out of the question...

However, I think this may be the start of a beautiful friendship. :)

Then again, it's been less than a month, so the full realization of what I've done and the inevitable regret may not have truly set in yet. ;)