Resisting The Total Mom Haircut
I am honored today to have Jo-Lynne of Musings of a Housewife, Chic Critique, and DCR Design (check out my new banner!) guest posting today on one of my all-time favorite topics: Total Mom Haircuts! I had the pleasure of meeting Jo-Lynne in person recently at the Philly Mom Bloggers get together, and I can attest to the fact that she really does have it as together in person as she seems to on the internet; she’s one of those women who I look at and think, “Wow, how does she DO it all? More importantly, how does she do it all so WELL?” But do it well she does, so for the few of you who haven’t been over to her blog yet, I’m pleased to introduce Jo-Lynne…
When I got pregnant with my first child back in 1999, I was DETERMINED not to succumb to the pressure — the pressure to get the “total mom haircut.” In fact, I decided to let my hair grow. And those pregnancy hormones clicked in. And it grew. And grew. AND GREW.
For the first time in my life, I had hair past my shoulder blades. I loved my long hair. Never was my hair as thick and healthy as it was in my son’s first year of life. As friends around me got pregnant and got the mom cut, I was determined to resist. I may have even been a bit vain about my long hair.
If you’ve been pregnant and born a child, you know what happens next. The thick and the healthy? It doesn’t last. When I weaned my son at 21 months, my hair started falling out steadily. The bathroom floor looked like a pet shop when I was done primping every morning. But I loved that long hair. I was determined to keep it. I was in denial that it was anything but gorgeous and healthy.
Over the next six years (and two pregnancies) I varied my hairstyle a bit, but for the most part, I kept it below my shoulders. Even though it was less than healthy and vibrant, I was determined — no mom haircut for me!
It was the third child that did me in.
Last year, I started noticing that not only was my hair thinning out, it was dry and brittle. There were actually holes where my hair had fallen out and was trying to grow back in. After a succession of haircuts, attempting to fix the problem, I suddenly found myself with — wait for it…
The Total Mom Haircut. It took me eight years and three kids, but I finally gave up the ghost. It was inevitable, I suppose — a rite of passage for every mother. Now I officially belong to the club. And I’ll let you in on a little secret. I rather like it.
Jo-Lynne blogs daily at Musings of a Housewife.
Jo-Lynne, this is hysterical! (and oh, the handfuls I lost during and after nursing!) Think I had the Total Mom Haircut before I even became one. So be it.
(I rather like it, too!)
I never lost my hair after the kids were born. However, it did go from stick straight to curly with a bit of frizz. I’m trying to avoid the mom cut for as long as possible. I’m afraid of how it will look if I cut off the extra length! Since I’m a redhead, I keep picturing Little Orphan Annie. Not a good look on a 36 year old!
My hair is still falling out from having my third — and she’s 13 months old! Unfortunatley, my hair has always been fine, so even in pregnancy it was nothing to brag about…
Jo-Lynne, This is funny. I don’t have the Mom Hair Cut because that WOULD ACTUALLY be work for me. I have naturally curly hair and it’s much easier long. I just wash and let dry naturally. I know, you are thinking how lucky. Well, you always want what you don’t have. I would love to have a straight short (a little above shoulder) length cut. But, that would be to much work for me. Most of the time my hair is in a pony tail anyway. It just gets in the way when I am putting out orders all day. It’s funny how we all see things differently.
Oh yep! Been there! Every word!
Okay, well I really chopped mine off after number two and not three, let it grow back out, and THEN cut it again Saturday. (As you already know.) 
This is totally me, but I haven’t gotten the haircut yet! My sister and my husband have talked me out of it several times. What good is all of this hair when it is pulled up in a crappy pony tail all day every day???!?!
Pre- pregnancy I was super vain about my hair. I was in the salon like clockwork every 5 weeks for a cut & high-light. My hair changed texture after my daughter was born. It went from think and straight to curly and frizzy. Not attractive or easy to manage. On a humid day.. forget about looking cute. It is awful! During my pregnancy with my second I rocked the mom-tail. Not pretty, but easy. After my son was born I had all of my hair cut off and high-lighted. It looked so cute and stylish. I felt like “me” again. Well kinda.. I still have lots of baby weight to shed but at least my hair looked good.
I am starting to look shabby again and just scheduled an intervention appointment for my hair this morning. Chop it off! Change up the color! No mom hair for me!
Does a ponytail count as mom hair?
I had a mom haircut way before I was a mom. I have always preferred short hair, and so does my husband. The only time it has been long in the last ten years was when I grew it for my wedding. I got it cut the next week! Now, short hair is so trendy that it doesn’t have to be a mom haircut anymore. At least that is what I am telling myself.
Hey, Jo!
I cut my hair in May, it was a bob above my shoulders, and I love it! I have had my hair long for the last ten years but after the third was born in October, I just got SICK of having my hair pulled. SICK. SICK. SICK.
I’m one of those people who gets a great haircut and then as soon as I have it, I want to do something different to it and I start growing it a different way. But this time, I think I’ll keep it for a while. I like it long, and I think it looks pretty, but I’m just bored of it right now.
I can’t go too short though, then I look weird.
PS Ponytails are good for anyone!
I’m still resisting, bit I have curly hair and this can be scary with short hair:)