Three months after I gave birth to Tala, it struck: the dreaded post-partum hair loss. The thick, glorious, shiny hair I had accumulated during nine months of pregnancy decided to flee the scene all at once. My hair’s mass exodus lasted for three months; mercifully, it showed signs of slowing down a few weeks ago. But to my horror, the new hair around my face started growing back white. Yikes!
I had grown out my hair to its natural black after a year without coloring. My last color job (just the usual reddish brown) was during my first trimester, which always shocks folks back home; meanwhile, people here laugh when I tell them that in the Philippines, dyeing your hair during pregnancy is strictly forbidden.
Black had gotten boring. It was time for a change.
We girls with black hair don’t have many options, do we? Much as I needed color in my life, I didn’t want to bleach my hair to get streaks put in. Tala has black hair, and I still want to look like her mom. My brief to my fabulous kapper Iris, who gave me my first Amsterdam haircut two years ago, and has been doing my hair ever since: black with a shot of color.
“What about purple?” she suggested. Bingo!
I love how she did my crown and bangs in a natural black, then the rest of my hair in a rich, plummy purple shine that really comes out in the light. It’s subtle, but interesting. I am totally loving this wine-meets-amethyst color for fall. Iris also gave me shorter layers that make my waves (the loyal ones who decided to stay behind!) look fuller.
Also, the color reminds me of Kodachi Kuno (the Black Rose of Furinkan High!) from my all-time favorite anime series, Ranma 1/2. All I need is a black rose, a leotard, a hot brother, some rhythmic gymnastics slash martial arts talent, and I’d be a dead ringer.
The funniest thing is, my best friend Justine and I used to call Marlon Mr. Purple Hair. We used to sit in the back of our English class and make random observations about everyone. Marlon’s hair is black with bluish-purple highlights, so one day Justine nicknamed him Mr. Purple Hair, and it stuck. When we got married, she addressed her wedding wishes to me as Mrs. Purple Hair. And now I guess I am Mrs. Purple Hair!
How do you like the new ‘do? And have you ever dyed your hair a really funky color? Inspire me with your bravery, please!
Hi Deepa – LOVE your new ‘do! I have a habit of shaving my head a la Laura Mvula (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=laura+mvula&client=firefox-a&hs=oYE&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=l5FzUvP4GorOhAf7k4DYAQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=829) whenever I get bored with my hair or too busy. I was VERY tempted to do it again recently but my husband prefers me to have some hair so I compromised.
I had a shaved head with dyed platinum blonde fuzz shortly after we met!
Have a lovely weekend with that gorgeous little girl of yours, Mrs. Purple hair!
Of course you would be the brave one! I am too terrified by the thought of finding out the actual shape of my head to ever shave it. I think my head has funny bumps and corners, which is why finding the right hats and hair accessories is really tricky for me.
I love the hint of purple in your hair! It’s gorgeous.
And I totally feel you in regard to hairless after pregnancy. I’ve still got baby hairs awkwardly sprouting out.
Beautiful! Love it!
My hair is still falling! Goodbye long, lustrous, Pantene ad hair. Sigh. Have to resort to digital perm now since my hair is so limp.
Thanks P! Don’t worry, it should let up soon. \
Gorgeous hair. It was so great to see you this week. Motherhood definitely suits you! Did Tala’s tooth/teeth come through yet? Poor little bunny. My girls (and I) really fell in love with her. jx
Aww it was awesome to see you too! And to meet your beautiful and super well-behaved girls. That day was some kind of freak occurrence or something, because the next day (and the day after) she was back to her happy, playful self. I got the gum gel though, just in case. No teeth yet… can they just hurry up already!
Awesome, Mrs Purple Hair! What does that make Tala? Princess Purple? The cut & color looks great on you. Have a lovely weekend with M & T!
Little Purple Hair, hihi! Happy weekend, Judith!
I love your hair! Now that I’m home with my boys, I feel more adventurous with my hair because I don’t have to follow any dress codes. I tried the ombre look, which I really love, but it’s a ton of upkeep with my grey roots. Highlights work best for me, but I LOVE colored strands. I don’t want to bleach my hair, either, but this is a perfect solution.
Thanks! Back in the days of 9-5 (which was never really 9-5), I worked in a creative industry so it wouldn’t have been a barrier. I wish I had tried this sooner!