Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow – Evanne NÍ Chuilinn is Saying Goodbye to one Baby Bonus

They all told me it would happen. The midwives, the consultants, the women on the street and the man in the salon. It was inevitable, they said - simply a matter of time. And now the time has come for the luscious locks I acquired during pregnancy to become a thing of the past.

My hair started falling out yesterday. And far from lamenting its loss, I'm fascinated. When I was born, I sported a fine mop of black hair. Not long afterwards, it all fell out, and I was completely bald until I was at least 18 months old. I was one of those babies that people used to trip themselves up over; "Oh he's gorgeous! Oh it's a girl, oh sure isn't she just peachy!" Not knowing that I was actually adopted, strangers would stop my dad in the street and say; "You can't deny her anyway!". He too was bald. Eventually, my hair grew back, and I became a fair child. 

As a teenager, my hair was long and thick, and what us pre-teens of the 90’s would describe as 'fuzzy'. Long before I discovered the wonder of a straight blow dry or the GHD, I used to wish that half the hair on my head would fall out. 

Fast-forward 15 years to last summer. I noticed that the bigger my bum got, the more beautiful my hair became. My waistline was expanding by the day, but my hair was looking more and more like I was "worth it".  And I took full advantage. I treated myself to a big bouncy blow dry at least once a week. I took more care with my hairstyles on TV, knowing full well that I didn't need the camera to add 10 pounds - I had already added thrice that without the excuse of any lens pointing at me! I can't say that my expanding size upset me at all. As an eternal size 10, I found the whole experience quite hilarious, (as did my cheeky siblings). But my hair certainly helped keep a pep in my step, especially when said step became a shuffle, and finally, a wobble. 

Now that I'm beginning, very, very gradually to rediscover elements of my wardrobe, perhaps my hair has decided its job here is done. My cheekbones are visible again, and I don't need a shiny wig to hide the extra chins. The bonus layers of locks are making their excuses and taking leave of my head, and I'm ok with that!

Good 'heir' day - Evanne's little man Séimí sporting some gorgeous locks of his own!

It was the big man who noticed the dozens of strands down my back yesterday evening, (and he freaked out a bit). But it was the little man who gave me the shiny mane in the first place. Lots of things happen to your body and mind over the best part of a year when you have a baby. And, no matter how quirky or queasy those changes may be, the smiling face of the root cause makes those changes pale into complete insignificance. 

Thanks for the good hair days Séimí :-)

 

Chat next week friends, 

E x