I don’t really understand the phenomenon of “mom” hair. I have had long hair for a couple years now, with the last time I really cut it being in 2013.

I know a lot of mom’s who cut it immediately after the kid is born, which I guess started the phrase “mom” hair. I had so many people ask me if I was going to cut it to be mom length.

Wait what? Just because I am a mom it has to either be in a bun or short? Will they take my kid away if my hair isn’t short?

No. No. No.

I seriously don’t think that the hair is what qualifies me as a mom or is the “uniform” we all have to have. Just saying…

I am still me with my same tastes in hairstyles. Just because I am a mom doesn’t mean that I have to fall into some box. I also shake my fist at the notion that all I am these days is a mom. While I love my role as a mom, I have so many other identities that I am proud of as well. I am just happy being me, and being a mom is part of that. It just doesn’t define all of me, and neither should my hair.

I may be in the minority but I think short hair is more work than long which is partially why this first year I wanted to keep it long. Yes George pulled on it all the time, but it also made it easier to just tie it back. It was more practical for me to have longer hair. With short hair, I feel like I always have to have it styled instead of a braid which is my go to hair do in a pinch. I  was never able to perfect the top knot, which has also been lovingly coined as the mom bun. Again, not really sure why.

Can’t it just be a hairdo?

I am all on board with moms who cut their hair to feel good about themselves or to have a big change in their appearance after their little one arrives. I think self-care and feeling good about how you look is really important, especially when your hormones are all out of whack. And if cutting your hair does that for you, get out those shears. But you don’t have to label it as “mom” hair. Be yourself. Your mom label isn’t all that you are.

Enough of my randomness about the dislike of the name “mom” hair.

This weekend I did make a drastic change and cut off 9 inches. I do it every couple years to donate it. I have been doing it since I was sixteen, and I have lost count how many times I have donated now. This was really the biggest reason why I didn’t cut it right after George was born. It’s just my thing.

After two years of growing it, it can be pretty intense to cut it all off at once.

I already had some moments of mourning not having the length. Trying to wash my face at night when it all won’t stay up in a ponytail brings a little regret of the cut. And I already wasted shampoo and conditioner.

However, there is a lot of fun that goes with it.

Seeing the reactions to the drastic change just leave me tickled. Yes I cut my hairs. Yes I meant to cut off that much.

I have a new stylist (who is a friend of ours) who did an amazing job! AND she showed me how to actually style short hair. Every time before, I only knew how to straighten it as a pretty basic bob. So I may actually keep it longer than I normally do because I am in LOVE with it.

These pictures were taken only a couple days apart. Nine inches gone. I would seriously curl my hair every day if I wasn’t lazy. I just love my hair curly. Anyone want to come be my stylist every morning? The pay is lousy (meaning non-existent), but I would feed you any cereal you would like.

I did ok today trying to curl my short hair yesterday. It went much better than I thought. Well enough that we did our family photos in our back yard yesterday.

I am just loving this stage right now. I love my family so much, and this is the happiest I have even been in life. I don’t know how I could do life without these two men.

Just for funseys, here is a progression of our family photos over this year. I have a variety of “mom” styles because any hair that I wear is mom hair because I am a mom. Go figure. You can also just call it Stephanie’s hair style.

(Top Left) George was 2 weeks. (Top Right) George was 2 months. (Bottom Left) George was almost 8 months old. (Bottom Right) George is almost 13 months old. The first photo and last photo were taken almost a year apart. I  mean seriously…he is just the best. And it looks like he grew into those ears.

Have you ever made a big hair change? Do you donate your hair?