this week’s contributor is from lashley rhodes, a local denver photographer (among other things) and one of my best friends. i knew our friendship was meant to be when she chopped off all her hair as, i must confess, i’ve always been a little suspicious of long-haired women who freak out about taking off a couple of inches. it’s just hair and it grows! (this, of course, coming from me who has absolutely no success in healthily growing my hair even to my shoulders.) here lashley talks about what she discovered about herself after she went short short short.

|| In college, I had some adventuresome strip-mall cut and color combos, but only after moving to Denver did I really start playing with different ways to wear my hair. For about seven years, it was a series of variations on a bob. After my wedding last year, though, I took the plunge and went super short. Here are some things I’ve learned about myself since then.

A Denver Home Companion | lashley rhodes

1. I am not as progressive as I’d like to think. 

I live in Colorado. I love all sorts of different humans and love real love between any two of them. I voted to legalize recreational marijuana, for goodness sake. But look like a boy or, heavens, a lesbian? Can’t do it. I’m not even sure what it means to “look like a lesbian,” but if I put together an outfit and the thought crosses my mind, that outfit gets rejected. My hair is shorter than my husband’s, but I still want to look feminine in the most annoying, gender-binary-driven, traditional way. I’m not sure how to interpret this tidbit except maybe to show some grace to those who seem forever stuck in the social dark ages. We all need a little nudge to keep moving forward.

A Denver Home Companion | lashley rhodes

2. The grass will always seem greener.

I absolutely know deep down in my very soul of souls that I do not miss the squinty, sweaty face I’d get when blow drying my long bob. But, oh, to have long, soft waves that catch the light just so. Or a top knot. Side braids, an ombre dye job, strong, face-framing bangs. Le sigh.

A Denver Home Companion | lashley rhodes

3. This too shall pass, but in the meantime, you gotta commit.

Whining and marinating in ambivalence aren’t going to get me anywhere. Spray that faux pompadour into place or wrap a scarf around and go, but do something and quit staring at the mirror with that look on your face, Rhodes. ||

sheesh, she’s adorable. thanks, lashley. what honesty, insight ,and humor you bring to a  decision that seems to hold so much weight, especially for the ladies. i applaud you’re “going for it” and, girl, you wear it so so well.

if you are interested in contributing to A Denver Home Companion, please submit original writing (or ideas!) to emily [at] adenverhomecompanion [dot] com. though i may not be able to publish everything, i certainly consider all of them.

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3 Responses to LIFE LESSONS FROM A PIXIE CUT

  1. koan says:

    To her credit, Lashley is pretty darn cute when she whines a little bit. Long hair or short.

  2. endelaney says:

    This is adorable and made me smile! I can so appreciate this post. When I was 20 I shaved my head! I learned more than I could have imagined from this bold decision. It was liberating and forced me to rediscover what it meant to feel feminine. It was fun while it lasted but I will be probably keep these long locks for a while. It took 7 years to get here:)

  3. sarah sibley says:

    you have awesome hair!!! i had a pixie in college and now – 15 years later it’s mid-back and i’m such a grass is greener girl. it’s soooo hot in the summer, blah blah. this definitely made me have the itch for a chop….

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