Ode to My Red Hair

 

(that's almost ten years ago upon first dying my hair. yikes.)

Hi Red Hair, 

It's me, Patty.  Your friend.  It's been a while since we parted ways.  I drastically left you, but you still popped your brassy little strands up every now and then, right before I needed a dye job... and now you're gone for good.  (I think? I don't know. I'm being dramatic. You're not even a real person.) 

You came to me when I was going through a tough time in my life.  I was depressed, I didn't like myself, I was looking for a huge change.  So, red hair was my answer.  And taking improv classes.  You made me feel like the Patty I was supposed to be! (And, well, so did improv classes.) I was a brand new person! 

You stayed with me through many years and a lot of money and hair appointments.  You were bright and clownish and auburn and sultry and everything in between.  You were with me when I lost a bunch of weight, gained a ton of confidence, kissed boys, met great friends, bought too many dresses, drank too many drinks, auditioned for improv casts over and over, got rejected (and eventually made) improv casts over and over... you were a huge staple!  You helped form my identity.  "Who's Patty? That girl with red hair and glasses? Oh yeah, I know her. Kinda. Maybe. Eh, barely. Who are we talking about again? Do you like dinosaurs?" 

But now, our long relationship has ended.  I'm just a normal, regular, average, boring brunette girl with glasses... I don't stand out remotely in a crowd.  (Thankfully.)  I guess it was always destined to end at some point.  For one, you weren't fooling anyone.  For two, you were a god damn bitch to maintain.  But... I will always think of you fondly.  You helped me show my true colors.  But now, I've shown them too much and it's time to fade into the background, with a lot more confidence and security in myself. All thanks to you, red hair! (And, again, probably improv classes.)

P.s. I'll probably see you again.  I'm indecisive and whenever "Mad Men" comes back on, seeing Christina Hendricks makes me wish I was a red head again.  Or, maybe it's just wishing I was Christina Hendricks, I can't tell. So, until then! 

Goodbye To You (The Michelle Branch song), 

Patty

Ole, Ombre.

For the past few months, I've been doing this trendy new ombre thing (seen here courtesy of Alexa Chung.) Because... I want to. That's why. It's low maintenance and I'm lazy. Since this blog is predominantly geared towards women (Hi Casey!!!!), I thought I'd share how I did it without spending an S-ton of time or money on it because I actually get asked how to do it a lot. And I'm a total idiot when it comes to dying my own hair, and this is super easy.

Step 1: Go to CVS. Or Target. Or wherever you purchase hair dye. Don't get hair dye. Get highlighting stuff. I use Loreal caramel colored something. It looks like this (in case "caramel colored something" isn't clear enough for you.) Don't use that little thimble thing. It's weird. Mix the stuff according to directions. It's fun and smells like bleach!

Step 2: Put your hair in pig tails and secure elastics at your ears. Then add another elastic half way down the pig tail, so you look a little bit like Pippy Longstocking.

Step 3: Put on gloves! Pretend you're a doctor. Then take some of the bleach and add it to the BOTTOM portion of the pigtail (up to the elastic.) Separate your hair so you get bleach on all of it. Then, walk away. Go to your room and do room things... for 10-15 minutes. (I do 15 because I like it blonder, but do whatever you feel comfortable with.)

Step 4: Back to the bathroom. Take out the bottom elastics. Apply bleach to the rest of the pig tail. Again, separate the hair and get bleach all up in it. Then, walk away. Again. For 10-15 minutes. To do more room things.

Step 5: Take out the elastics. Take a shower. Use the conditioning stuff that comes with it and leave it on your ends for like 3-5 minutes. Trust me, do that. You're putting bleach on your hair... so condition that S.

That's all! I like it because I don't like highlights and I like having darker hair. So it's a nice way to brighten up your dumb face while still having darker hair. And here's the end result. And that's what I look like after sleeping ZERO hours. I get very blurry when I don't sleep!

On Finding "The One"

 i actually did just eat a lemon.

I did it. I found "the one." The one who gets me, knows what I want without even asking for it, makes me laugh, doesn't make me talk when I don't feel like talking and always has me walking away satisfied.

Yup. I found the perfect hairstylist. 

Earlier this year, I decided that I had to stop going to the same hair stylist because I felt like I needed to. I walked away consistently feeling good about my hair, but it was just boring. One day, I had an appointment... and I really  needed a haircut. But she cancelled on me. So, I saw an opportunity... and then I found her.

She was a young red head with my style. She had tattoos in the same places, and places I wanted to get them. She was funny and quirky and we actually had things to talk about because we were very similar. She also had the same hair type as me so she had a lot of tips on how to style it and take care of it. And I didn't feel socially awkward... I always feel socially awkward! 

You can do it too.  A week ago, I didn't even know! I was so dumb and blind... and now... I found the one. All for $75... plus tip.

Hair Envy.

I don't watch the show Skins, but while flipping through Elle Magazine, I found a picture of this girl Sofia Black-D'elia. I've also seen some pictures of her on blogs and such. She's pretty. But what I really love is her hair! Everyone I turn there are girls with long, wavy hair and I can't do that because my hair is short.  Like, this girl's length short. So, finally, I have some hair inspiration.

Though I guess I do already wear my hair like this sometimes anyway. Glad to know I'm doing well.

Also, cute outfit!

have a good weekend!