Rapid hair growth documented:

This is about 25 days after the event. As you can see, my hair really is determined to come back aggressively. It is growing and growing. 

I really don't know what to do with it when it gets to the point where it needs to be trimmed and styled. If you have any ideas or pictures, please do share.

Thanks for making this part of your Internet adventure. 

Until next time.

The WHEE approves.

(To the left is what it might look like if you were seeing me almost 2 weeks after the event.)

Coming back to school in the whee was 'ugh', but the whole letting everyone else see what I engaged myself in over break was the pretty fun part.
Now I knew that people might give me a double take or give a smile, (just cause that were not sure of my situation) so it took a bit of getting used to all of the extra attention. My friends were all happy to feel and see my lack of hair in person. I got many positive reactions from my fellow peers, which is greatly appreciated and is very uplifting in a possible vulnerable state like this.

My Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday classes: My very first professor reaction was refreshingly nice. In this class, I sit in the very front row, at direct eye contact level for her. When she was effortlessly looking around the room for the attendance, her eyes then met my head. She smiled at me and then proceeded to walk toward my direction. She said, " Wow. It looks good. How do you feel?" I smiled back at her and responded, " A bit more chilly now, but good." She really did not draw any more attention to me, which is always nice, but still acknowledged the fact that she was getting adjusted to my change.

I later went to my other class. I walked into the room and felt the eyes. I tried not to walk across the room like I knew they were staring directly at my head, that was tricky, I mean I knew that they knew that I knew...you know? Anyway, I sit in the middle to back of this room, so the professor did not see me immediately and that is fine by me. So he calls roll, and makes eye contact. This is when he states," Oh, that reminds me,I still owe you money." Of course, the ones who had not seen, redirected their attention to me, thus seeing my hair. I guess it is good that they all saw it at once, so it is not this cyclical period of people staring and wondering, I mean it has to happen sometime right? It was not embarrassing, it was expected, so I feel that today's classes took it well for the most part.

My Tuesday/ Thursday classes: The second I walked into my first class today, I knew that the professor would say something( just a footnote...he is a jerk.) about my hair. He said, with such attitude " Well, well, look at us." I was prepared to face it and overall, it did go fine.( I feel that I am making everything sound so much more dramatic then it really is, but I just want to create the whole effect for y'all).The next class I find myself more comfortable talking and interacting with, so this made it easier to answer the questions.

I think that the past few days have been the most fun because I get to see every ones reactions for the first time, it is really humorous.I think that over time they will get used to it and eventually really not even be phased by it, I know that is how I am. But we'll just have to see.

I will leave you with this story:

Okay.I want to set the scene just right, please come along with me... It is 9:28 and class starts at 9:30. I am almost late. I am speed walking into the building. I see a boy wearing sunglasses ( inside), a red hoodie, and talking on the phone. Paying no attention to anything else, other than what time the clock in the lobby says, I walk faster to start up the stairs. It is when I am about to continue, when I hear a "Pssst". I brush it off, I then hear it again." Psst". I turn around. He looks at me ( at least I think he was, he was wearing sunglasses) and gives me the finger signal to come over. I am first taken aback by the singling out, but then I quickly decide to see what he wanted. He stopped talking on the phone, and then proceeded to ask me, " Ey, can I touch yo head?". I laughed and told him 'yes'. He told me thank you and went back to talking on the phone.I then continued up the stairs with a smile out of pure baffled-ness. ( Yeah, I made a word up, what now?) It is times like this that make me happy. So random and yet so perfect.

CH-CH-CH-CHELL-A!

After only four days of having my hair this short,I feel like it is growing on me...no comment. So even my mother tells me, " I think that your hair is longer than it was a few days ago." I mean yes, when it is this short, it might be easier to tell when it grows even the slightest bit.
I go back to campus on Monday the 10th, so we will all have to take a consensus of what other people think of it. I am a bit nervous, but also excited to share my head to all my peers. I will come back to you all with reactions, more photos and stories for sure!

Bald is Beautiful.

Saturday March 1, 2008. This day marks the last day that I would waste time washing, blow drying, and styling my hair. Just for personal pleasure, I milked it for all that it was worth, you can count on that. (Also, because I had to look somewhat presentable because later today I had a passport photo taken, so I guess I had more of a reason to look nice.)
Today was a usual day, I did my errands, relaxed, thought about my hair, played with it, thought about my hair more. As the time rolled around for me to leave and go downtown, I said my goodbyes. As I hugged my mother and father goodbye, I noticed that they were not really hugging me bye, but my hair. I was only driving down the street, but my hair, oh my hair would not be back for sometime. They seemed to be sad, as if I were leaving for a vacation, or to go back to school, it was awkward for me a bit. I can understand, I guess. I mean a child is living their own life and doing something that will single them out in the world, this is a big concern for moms and dads everywhere.
I then left and went to pick up a friend. I got Meredith, a friend, to come along with me to support and document this moment. I did not particularly want my parents there for this event. I knew that they would not enjoy watching me have my head shaved, although again, I knew that they supported me.
As we arrived, all Shavees (the name given to people whom are willing to shave their heads) were required to turn in forms and sign in, etc. This is where reality started to hit me. I saw people on the stage (where they do the shaving for all to see) and thought about me getting up there when my time came. I see and hear the host, the crowd cheering, my heart defiantly sped up… BREATHE ,I thought.
It was not until I put my name tag on, that specifically states that I was a SHAVEE, that a young man came up to me. This man, maybe in his 20’s, wearing a light and dark brown striped long sleeved shirt and jeans, started talking to me. I remember he said, “you’re shaving your head?” I was a bit taken aback; one because thi telling me his story. He said, “ Wow. I really just want to thank you. My younger sister was diagnosed a few years ago with Leukemia, and she lost her hair…this really means a lot to me to see a female sacrificing her hair by choice.” After he said that, I really did not know what to say to him. So I said, “ Not a problem at all. I want to do what I can to help.” Seriously? Yes random person was talking to me, and two because, well he was handsome too. So I responded with,” Yes, yes I am.”I know, it was all I could think of to say. So the purpose of that paraphrased story was to let everyone know that everything, every little thing that people are doing, helps someone, direct and indirectly. When he told me that, I just was that much more glad that I was doing what I was going. I have decided that that day that I sacrificed my hair for his sister.
My appointment was from 5:00-5:30, so naturally, around 6:00, they were ready for me. I got in line with all males. Yeah, I got looks every now and then, even some comments of inspiration, which is always nice. I stood there in line watching man after man get his head, and occasional beard, shaved off. I heard the amount of money that they raised, and it is truly phenomenal to see how much people care and how much of a difference that we could all make. As I got near the front of the line, when I had to get my name card, the woman in charge saw that I was a girl and told me that I was brave and that I deserved a good spot on the stage. (Oh good, that was the goal.)
This was it. I took the step, step and final step up the stairs, across the stage, and into the last barber chair on the end(of course, THE LAST one on the wayyy end ☺). I got the bib put on and just sat until the host was done with the previous shavee. Then it was finally my turn. He came over to me, and asked my name. I held a brief conversation with him( this is all on a microphone so that the audience can hear too). I told him that the total amount of money I raised was $75. He then yelled,” this girl is shaving her head for only $75…”. I had never really thought about it before I guess, I just knew that I wanted to do it, and do it for a good cause. So I guess that that might have been little amount, but only for a little while longer.He then told the audience that they should help me get more money. People we willing to donate $20 here, and $20 there, to my name, to this great cause. This made me feel so good. I felt like they were trying to auction me off, but hey, whatever works.
After getting more money, I got my before picture taken, and would now endure the shaving portion of my commitment to this foundation. So...BUZZ. The clippers started at the bottom right part of my neck and worked their way up. Yeah, I was terrified, I mean they could have given me like a 1,2,3 warning…NOPE. So there I was sitting, staring at this one guy in the audience that was very aesthetically pleasing, and just seemed to keep eye contact with me through this big moment. This guy continued to smile at me, mouthing the words, ‘thank you’, and just making me feel so good for doing this. I thank him very much for preventing me from passing out.
Well, it was done. It all happened so fast.I felt the top of my head. It was gone. All of it. I was so happy to be done, and to hear everyone cheer for me, that really makes me proud. I then worked my way off the stage, where I was smiling, only because I would NOT cry. I was leaving, then the announcer said, and I quote” Damn, you actually look really good bald. You single?” I laughed and worked my way off the stage. I walked through the crowd, and people were smiling at me, patting me on the back, and saying ‘thank you’. I felt like I was hero, sounds really lame I know, but the way they cheered for Rudy in the movie, would be an accurate portrayal of events.
I stayed for a little while longer to watch some more people get shaved. Meredith and I started to get hungry, so we then decided to leave after a little while longer. I was leaving and this man at the bar( where this took place) whistled at me. It is amazing!I still get hit on, even when I am bald. I must be really good looking ☺.
So I leave you with this thought: I think that the concept of hair is really overrated. Just think, we always look in mirrors one last time before we leave to go out. We all do it, we check make-up( if you're a female, or if you just like wearing make-up), our teeth, and our hair. We want to make sure that we look acceptable according to this ‘generalized idea’. We want to make sure that nothing is too out of the ordinary that might possibly make us look silly. I can’t say that anyone does this more or less than I have, I am just wondering why in the world do we care? And to be honest, nobody gives a crap about what YOU look like, they are definitely more consumed with how THEY look. So no worries there.
It is just hair.

My Locks' Last Moments

Friday February 29th -This is the last day of classes before spring break. In previous weeks at school in Cullowhee, I had been announcing that I was in fact shaving my head over break. Some reactions from my peers were as followed:“ Wait, what?” “Seriously?” “ Like shaving, shaving?” And my response to all of those questions is, ‘ yes’. I am shaving my head. I am serious. I am committing to it.
Now, out of courtesy, I gave each one of my professors a ‘ heads up’ (that is SO bad). I mean I thought about it, I would like to know ahead (okay, that is enough) of time if one of my students were going to participate in this as well. (Although, it is debatable on whether or not it is really any of their business… whatever). So, I gave them a sheet with information about what it is that I am doing, also on how I would love to have their support. I got mixed reactions from them as well.“ Well, you are going to need some hats.” “Okkkkay.” “You are really brave.” Some of their reactions I really appreciated and others I could live without, especially some of the non-verbal communication toward me after I told them my news. I guess that’s life. And honestly, what did I expect?
So I went home for break today. I let Mom and Dad appreciate my hair only for a few hours until I would wake up and then the next day have it all taken off. Although they might not be 100% all for me doing this, I know that they really do support and love me, which makes them really the best parents anyone could essentially ask for. They even contributed money to the cause, which also made me realize how much they really do care.
The night before the big day, I went to bed preparing myself physically and mentally, for what the following day would bring. I am not going to lie to anyone who asks me. I was terrified. Yes, I want to do it. I want to do it. I want to do it! That is not the point. All of the hair on my head was going to be shaved off. I am going to be bald. I will have to wear hats. People will stare. (And will the people stare, my goodness.) I mean I knew that this was going to happen, how often do females have shaved heads? It is just not socially acceptable.
So I leave you with this thought: It is truly a shame that society has grown to accept males as having short hair and females to have long hair. I see, very often, men that have longer hair. I wish that it would not be such a big issue that females (either by choice or not) have shaved heads, or even really short hair.

Pre-Bald Days

Talk of wanting to actually become bald (someday) all started years ago. I think that in 2004, when I decided to grow my hair out and donate it to Locks-Of-Love, is also when I had just grown tired of having hair. Constantly being concerned about whether it is greasy, cow-licked, or just 'frumpy' looking, I came to a conclusion that one day, before I die (yes, I know, a very broad window) that I would in fact shave my head. It sounds like such an exciting and bold concept, shaving all the hair from your head. Just waking up in the morning with ease and not really having any worries regarding a hairstyle, count me in. Now talking about doing something and actually doing something, I have learned in my 20 years, are two very different things. I have been talking about doing this for a while, but actually finding a reason and doing it have taken much more time.
I do a lot of talk to my peers and family. I think sometimes they brush off things that I say, just because of who I am. I do not, in the least bit, take any offense to them for doing that. However, shaving my head had become more of a thing I wanted to do, than just a thing I would talk about doing. Over time, I convinced myself that I wanted to and was sure that I would. I told Emily, my oldest sister, and naturally she supported me and told me that I should do it. Now note: when someone older than you ( for best results, siblings) tells you that it would, ‘be cool for you to do something’, it might motivate you to do it more... :)
Anyway, Emily is the one in the family that likes to do research on the internet, ‘browse’, if you will. She called me one day, as she occasionally does on her way back home from work, and she told me about St. Baldrick's. Telling me this was not the purpose of her call, she just wanted to throw the idea out to me. Over the next however long, I found myself thinking about it. Sometime a bit later, around St. Patrick’s Day, I do remember seeing on the front page of the News & Observer (a local paper), a girl having her head shaved. THAT! That is what I wanted to do. I now had found my purpose and cause. I was more determined from this point on to really do it, although I was not sure if I were really ready to face this, head on.(You really thought that I would write this and not have a pun in there? Shame on you.)