My hair has endured the trials and tribulations of a Russian novel this past year.

The start of 2014 featured the remnants of ombre dip dye, after a high-profile hair job the previous summer, leaving me with an inch of now orange ends. Followed by blonde to the front and underneath (boring), all over ombre (boring – can you see a trend yet?)… Gradually I was going lighter and lighter until one day I looked in the mirror to see a blondie staring back at me. I actually enjoyed being blonde for a few months until the stress of black roots coming through three days after an intensive colour touch up got the better of me, and I succumbed to my natural colour. The end.

Okay, that’s not the end.

Anyone who has had their hair dyed extensively will know the damage a whirlwind hair-mance leaves behind.

I tried to ignore it, styling my long hair into messy buns and plaits, missing the ability to straighten, curl or even blow-dry my hair without it feeling like straw. Until one morning, I had one of those eyes-open-sit-up-revolution moments.

Beauty = HEALTH.

Full stop. My hair may have been long and attractively cut, but it was unhealthy, therefore cancelling out the previous two attributes.

And that revelation applies to all aspects of appearance. Your skin is the most beautiful when it’s healthy, no matter your bone structure. Your body is most attractive when you’re healthy on the inside, no matter your weight or dress size.

Suddenly, I felt like I’d cracked the code. My dull, nudging insecurities (everyone has them) disappear in an instant when I remember this rule. No matter what you look like, the secret to ultimate attractiveness is ultimate health.

Queue a quick call to my hairdresser. Three hours later, I was sitting in a chair surrounded by clumps of dead hair, with scissors chopping gracefully around my ears. Voilà. My safety blanket has been snatched away. I flipped my head back and forth like Willow Smith, feeling light and free for the first time since I was about eight years old.

Coincidentally, my hair epiphany came at just the right time: The era of the Lob (THE LONG BOB), a long a-waited rebuttal to the high-maintenance length and colour I’d been struggling with the past year. Simple, easy, drama free hair.

First seen in the 90’s, this style was a grunge rebellion against the super preened hair of the 80’s.

 

Not surprisingly, the resurge of the 90’s fashion trend brought with it the hair.

Without a safety blanket of Rapunzel like flowing tresses, the lob has a subtle way of showing off everything about your appearance BEFORE your hair. Your bone structure, your style, your laugh and ultimately your confidence.