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Getting in the groove of life once more
This last week has been about finding my groove again.
To be honest I’m probably not there yet but I am on my way.
It’s hard to know what the new groove should look and feel like really. There is still so much mental back and forth and crazy ass thoughts like ‘oh my god, what is that spot? Is it skin cancer?’ but in general I’m doing okay with the mini freak outs. 🙂
On Monday I got my hair cut for the first time in nearly a year (I’m not one to be at the hairdresser every few weeks so this shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows me) and it felt GREAT!
Mainly because they washed my hair!!
I know, I know, the simple things.
But seriously, washing my hair after my surgery has not been all that easy. In fact I’ve probably washed it six times (yes, you read that right!) since August 31st last year.
Seems a little extreme, right? Except in the beginning my left arm hurt too much to use at all and then when I did get more motion back it’s kind of weak. It’s hard to explain, but it’s kind of like all my strength goes to having my arm up so there’s no strength to actually wash my hair.
Which meant I hated doing it because I had to contort a little to use my other arm to do the left side of my head and I’ve got long hair, and lots of it so it just got to be too much. Hence, once a month washes.
Sounds crazy to most but I rarely wash my hair more than once a week normally. Usually my schedule is two-three weeks between.
Not so the last few months, so when they ushered me to the wash basin (and OMG! those lay right down flat chairs are THE BOMB!) I was super excited. I wanted that more than the haircut to be honest.
I’m pretty sure at one point I went to sleep.
Anyway, I’m washed and talking with my hairdresser, Aaron, and he asks why I waited so long to come back.
Yeah, I haven’t had to explain my health to a ‘stranger’ before now. (Well outside of medical personnel anyway.)
At first I thought about not telling him. He’d seem me once. Last May. At that point it had been my first haircut in TWO YEARS!! (Damn you COVID!) So Aaron knows I’m not a regular.
Except back in May I had promised him I wouldn’t wait so long for my next haircut.
So, there I am, telling him about my diagnosis and how my hair has been neglected and how it’s too much to handle and he say, ‘we’ll take some weight out of it, put in some layers but keep the length, don’t worry, you’ll still be able to pull it up out of your way,’ at which point he starts snipping. Snip snip snip snip.
Then he stops.
He puts his hands on my shoulders and says, ‘would you mind if I give you some special treatment?’, I’m shaking my head because who argues with special treatment and he says, ‘good, let’s get you another hair wash.’
ummmm……
OMG!!
OMFG!!
Swear, I did go to sleep this time!
He got their most ‘experienced’ (his word) hair washer to take me back to that lovely lay flat chair and she proceeded to wash my hair for thirty minutes.
THIRTY MINUTES!!
I can’t tell you how amazing it felt.
I mean it felt great the first time they washed it but this time….
Yeah, I’d pay for that and skip the hair cut.
In the end Aaron did as he said, he took weight off but kept the length and I swear I feel like a new woman.
As I described to Mr.C, before the hair cut having my hair down felt like I had a heavy blockout curtain wrapped around my head. Which is why I spend almost every day with it up.
Now, it feels light and airy and kind of breezy to have it down and I don’t want to put it up!
I’m loving it and I’ll be heading back to Aaron sooner than later that’s for sure. In fact, I already have a reminder in my phone to make another appointment in eight weeks.
And I promise, I’ll be washing my hair more than once between now and then. 😆
** Episode 25 **

After majorally breaking my arm 4 years ago and having surgery on it, I could not wah my hair by myself. People who haven’t been in that situation do not understand how difficult it can be. Same with thick hair. I’m so glad you were treated respectfully and with love so that you now have the energy to tackle this again. Take care Rhian!! <3