Ever since I got married I’ve been wondering what to do with my hair. Before the wedding I left it to grow so I could wear it curled with flowers in it on the big day. For too long though I’ve been stuck in a vicious hairstyle cycle of grow it to a certain length, have it cut to a bit shorter length, neither of which I’m really happy with – on and on it goes.
Realistically I don’t have time to spend blow-drying / straightening / curling long hair nor do I have the inclination! However I am suitably vain enough to want it to look ‘nice’.
So, I’d been toying with the idea of having it much shorter than usual. Shorter hair would mean no more tying it back when I’m too busy to style it (making me feel like an 8 year old with a pony-tail) and no more getting hot and bothered with the hairdryer (my hair is thick and takes ages to dry).
Then I read an article on Victoria Everman’s blog which made me smile and concrete the decision that actually I did want short hair. You’ll have to read the whole article for yourself but Victoria says “Save time, save money, save the planet, and grow in ways you’ve never imagined – cut your hair short!“.
I’m not big on plastering my head with hair products and I usually buy organic shampoo and conditioner anyway but with shorter hair I can save water and electricity too. Basically my brunette barnet can been much greener!
Visit Victoria Everman’s blog to read: The Unspoken Global Warming Resolution: Short Hair at www.victoria-e.com
By the way, I did have my hair chopped off on Saturday and I love it. If you’re a Facebook friend you can see the new ‘do’ in my profile.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Vicky, it looks fab. As ever it proves you can be green and chic at the same time!!!
July 28th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Thank you Kate, that’s really kind x
July 29th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Please post many more articles like this one.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:17 am
Vicky, thank you so much for featuring my post on your blog. What an honor!
July 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
The hair looks great. I love having really cropped hair however at the moment I am growing mine long for my wedding. In the past I have grown my hair loads and then cut it really short again. The problem with short hair is it needs cutting a lot to keep its style, I am lucky that I have a family member who cuts mine (not been to a haidresser for over 3 years). After my wedding I might crop it again – but until then I will find ways of how I can make my hair greener!
July 29th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Victoria & Anna-Lisa, thank you for your comments
Victoria – I recently began reading your blog and have been really enjoying it.
Anna-Lisa – I know you already do lots of green things with your hair including your fab, natural solutions from your garden. That’s the next thing I need to try.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:08 am
I have very long hair, I wash it once a week, let it dry naturally, cut it myself, much less environmental impact than short hair, which generally needs much more frequent washing and regular trips to the hairdresser.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Hi Crafty Green Poet
The post is kind of tongue-in-cheek really because it depends on the individual’s own habits.
Although I have been known to take the scissors to my own hair I wouldn’t dare try to cut a shorter style myself. My hairdressers is local though and I ask them not to use products. Plus I use much less shampoo now its shorter.
August 17th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Vicky – the discussion you linked to wasn’t quite so tongue in cheek and I’d read that one first so was a bit fired up when i commented here…. I think both long hair and short can be environmentally friendly,
August 18th, 2008 at 8:32 am
My point exactly, it depends on the individual.
I guess we read Victoria E’s post differently.
December 1st, 2008 at 10:41 pm
As a long hair lover sadly I must admit that there is some truth to this one. The data available at http://www.drinktap.org and in the report entitled Residential End Uses of Water shows that short haired people statistically and consistently take statistically shorter showers. Hair style choice can definitely be detrimental to a societies sustainability. The same sets of data is also reflected in grid electrical demand from long hair wearers who use statistically use more appliance energy straightening and curling their hair too. In the state of California alone the energy bill is 7% of the total usage for pumping and water treatment. Hair dryers use between 1000 to 2000 watts to operate and electric hot water heaters require a whopping 5000 watts. To put that into perspective that’s over 12-15x what your computer uses in an hour for the hairdryer or 45x the hot water heater! http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/appliances/index.cfm/mytopic=10040 A this rate you can see how a few percent statistical reduction in rinse times and treatment or electrical demand from appliances and energy usage goes down dramatically. Even by a few minutes saved in the shower by this rinse time of short hair versus long hair alone will make a huge difference.