I cut my hair off.
Not all of it. But quite a bit, especially if you compare to the length it was in 10th grade, when I got 18 inches cut off and it still sat at my chin. My hair has fluctuated between mid-ear length and ~shoulder length since then. But this was different. There was no turning back from this haircut. My longest strands were about 3-3.5 inches in May - and last Sunday's haircut left nothing longer than maybe 2 inches.
The benefits? I love every one:
- I look older. Someday, this may bother me. Right now, (almost) nobody questions that I'm over 21 anymore. And even if I dress a little casually, I don't look like an undergrad when I TA.
- I only shampoo my hair every other day, so I only spend half as much on shampoo.
- I don't use conditioner any more. I don't need it, because my hair is too short to get frizzy like it used to.
- Breakage isn't a problem. My hair doesn't tangle or snag, so it doesn't break. That means it doesn't get frizzy, either.
- I don't need to buy product for my hair, and then remember to use it every day.
- No blow drying! Or straightening! Granted, rarely did either, but the result was a messy mane when my hair got long.
- I have to at least get it wet every morning. Otherwise I look like something the cat dragged in because it goes everywhere while I sleep.
- It dries ridiculously fast. This is great when I've combed it and styled it before it dries. Less so when I forget. The day I left the house without combing it? Not. Good.
- I pay an uncomfortable amount to get it cut. The exact amount fluctuates; let's just say it's >$50.
I'm not sure whether the product to make long hair look nicer would be cheaper. My guess is probably yes, since I have to get it cut about every 6 weeks (and that's pushing it). So, I'm cutting it twice as often, for at least twice as much as a Hair Cuttery (for example).
For the most part, that's worth it to me. I hate having to spend time on my hair, so having to remember to schedule (and budget for) an appointment once every 6 weeks is a blessing. But since I'm trying to save money, I still feel a little bit guilty about what I'm paying.