The Downside of a Pixie - Growing it out

I haven't written anything for this blog in years but I had to log in to google analytics for my job and I checked this blog and was shocked to see the traffic I get from google and pinterest for growing out a pixie. Since I'm now on the other end of this endeavor I wanted to share more photos and tips to this post. 

 

Shortest

Grown out!

I wanted to add more photos of my experience because I was always looking for real life experience, not just celebrities who have access to a glam team to make them look their best. 

Growing out a pixie is really freaking hard. There's a whole lot of awkwardness that can happen. My current goal is to avoid awkwardness. I had a super short pixie. I've been growing it out since January and I'm about the longest it has been since chopping it off. And it is still looking pretty short.

Here are my tips for you ladies.

1. Headbands - it'll keep you hair back out of your face and makes a great accessory. I typically used it for pulling my hair back for workouts, hikes and volleyball. Headbands weren't as popular are they are now. 

2. Braid or pin your bangs - I've recently started putting a small braid in my hair where my bangs are. Its just a little different and an alternative to pinning it back. My hair was almost black when I was in this phase of grow out, so it's hard to see it in photos.

3. Weight - Have your stylist cut out your excess weight. I'm lucky enough to have a hair stylist for a roommate. We do this every couple of weeks. 

My hair is pretty even here. 

You can see my hair is heavier on the top in this photo. 

4. Trim - Every so often my roommate trimmed my hair. This keeps you from sprouting a lovely duck tail at the nape of the neck. Our goal was to keep the length on the top and trim the edges and back. You will have "holes" in your hair from where your ears were. Embrace it. Eventually your hair will get long enough that you won't see them anymore. 

I've got holes here. It isn't super visible, but you can see the hair around my face is a bit wispy. 

The hole is pretty obvious here. My little earlobe is sticking out. 

5. Patience. This is the hardest part. I began this process last year and got fed up and chopped it off. Now when the urge to chop off my hair returns, I tell myself I'll wait two weeks and if I still want to I'll cut it. The urge usually passes within a few days. 

Now looking back, I am so glad I kept going. I actually tried to grow it out once and cut it after a few months, then I tried for real and did it. It's a long process, but it can be cute the whole time. However if you're willing to go through a few painful months with a mullet, you can grow it all out at the same time. I just didn't want that. 

I'll include some photos here of good options for growing out your pixie.

 My favorite example to look to is Carey Mulligan. Here are a couple of looks of her hair at the growing out process.

No-No

This is just part of the reason of why I love baseball.

Last night Jered Weaver threw a no hitter. Spectacular.

Sometimes baseball is just magical.

Definition

How do we define ourselves.

I went through this list with a friend of mine.  In answering No. 29 I laughed, "What do you think people misunderstand most about you?" First impression, that I am way less put together than I let people see. To my close friends and family, that I am way more vulnerable than I let them see.

I think it's very interesting to listen to ways that people define us. The persona that we present to the world isn't always the truest form of ourselves, and in many ways people choose to define us in ways that they can relate to you.

I have many friends who simply see me as the girl who really likes sports. The girl who is intimidating at 5-foot-11 with a serious look on her face. The girl who is compassionate and service oriented. The one that lacks mercy and is too serious.

But I'd like to think that they only thing that really matters is how we choose to define ourselves. And once we determine what that definition is, to live our lives accordingly. At my incredibly knowledgeable 25, almost 26, years (please note a sense of sarcasm) my personal definition has been evolving, growing, being pruned back in places, and I am willing to say that I am perfectly content with who I am and where I'm going.

After listening to Jane Fonda on this show, I got a little sad for my generation.

As young women, or really as all women, we are being asked to define ourselves according to the world's standards. A standard based on unattainable excellence. We must be the most beautiful, sexiest yet wholesome, smartest and most composed women. The standard of beauty is set by truly unrealistic ideals, where even the most beautiful women of the world don't measure up to. We have to be sexual, without being overly sexual. We are asked to be incredibly smart, but still stand second to men in almost every industry. We aren't supposed to be smarter than men. It's a bit of an unfair paradox.

Now, this is not a problem I blame on men or women. It's just a societal issue that I do not feel is fair. It is not fair to women and it is not fair that men are raised to believe these ideals.

I have a fair amount of friends who define themselves based on their relationships to men. Their self-worth, their value and their happiness is defined by the relationships they are in. I've never thought that a relationship should complete you, but should compliment you.

My personal thought on this matter is that if you are in a relationship because you need it to validate you, most likely the relationship will end. 

I have a tendency to see everything as black and white, right and wrong. To me this kind of thinking is wrong. A woman is of worth and value by the divinity within her. By who she is intended to be by her creator. And for that matter, men are exactly the same.

My high school therapist once told me that I describe my life like I'm watching a TV show. I can take myself out of situations and make observations about other people and their interactions (Yes, this leads me to be emotionally disconnected at times something I am aware of and working on). I think this has given me an opportunity to define myself separate from my relationships and interactions with others.

So how do I define myself? As an almost 25-year-old I'm still working on it. I assume through the years my definition will adapt but I hope the core elements stay the same.

I am a daughter of God, a loving and supportive member of a family, I am an imperfect being, saved by grace and mercy, I am a friend, I am a smart, beautiful, inquisitive young woman, I am fiercely loyal.

I'm still working on everything, but I just hope that people will wait a little while to get to know me before they define me.

On Top of the World

Just feel like throwing a little shout out to the people in my life that have taught me to meet adversity with hard work and a smile.

Random Thoghts

It's been a little while. Mainly because I haven't been in the best of spirits as of late. Just going through one of those times where nothing seems to go your way. No matter how hard I try. I thought about it yesterday and I had to laugh, I should be more upset about it, but I'm surprisingly optimistic about it all.

So... I'm going to focus on the random thoughts swirling through my head.

- Bryce Harper is making his MLB debut Saturday. I love a good MLB debut, but I'm especially excited for this kid. He's 19. So talented. I can't wait to watch his career unfold.

- My B-Day is next weekend. We're having a Cinco De Jillian party (yes, I do realize it doesn't make sense).

-I've been so tired as of late. I can never get enough sleep.

-Church. Most of you know what a big role my religion play in my life. I found this infographic that explains the lay ministry of the church. To understand the positions in the auxiliaries click here.

Also, a lovely entertaining video for you.