I must give credit where credit is due. The inspiration for this post came from my dear friend Steph over at The Daily Blarg. Her “Bieber Inspired Vlog—To Haircut or Not to Haircut” is a masterpiece.
Who knew my 2003 hairstyle would eventually inspire a super mega teen pop star like Justin Bieber? I mean, I assumed one day one of my chosen styles would do something big (launch a thousand ships, become the face—or hair—of Aqua Net, redefine bedhead), but I had no idea it would grace the head of someone like Justin Bieber. If only he knew where the side swoop originated, he might never have gone in for that new haircut.
Okay, so my 2003 hairstyle isn’t the reason The Biebs (thanks, Steph) sported those swoopy bangs, but the prepubescent uproar over Justin Bieber’s new haircut had me wondering what all the fuss was about (more so than the usual fuss over Justin Bieber in general). I mean, it’s only hair, and for me it’s the one of the few things you can change that’s not permanent, so you ought to change it up ALL. THE. TIME. At least, that’s my philosophy.
And because at least one of you kinda likes my current hairstyle (love you, Shannon!), I thought I’d share with you my hair journey of sorts. Don’t worry, I started the flashback with my high school senior picture and spared you the scary typical 80’s dos.
Let’s start with 1992, the year I graduated. I’m sporting a more mellow version of the early 90’s “hair bear” bangs. (That line through the photo? Someone circled my yearbook pic and wrote “I love you!” next to it. If only I could remember who it was, I could thank him for preserving that moment for generations to come.)
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Moving along to 1993. This is one of my favorites. The photo doesn’t do my bouffant of spiral-curled hair, each strand lovingly and painstakingly curled using one of those spiral curling irons. We were going dancing and you better believe I was going to rock someone’s world…with my hair, of course.
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Oh, dear 1994! I don’t know what I was thinking with those sparse bangs or the Olan Mills photo. And no, I’m not engaged though most BYU co-eds are at this age.
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If you can look past the awesome red eye effect in this photo, you’ll see 1994 was also the year of the home (dorm) dye job. Bet your bottom dollar I was going for blonde, not orange, highlights. At least it’s a nice, curly take on the A-line bob I had in the previous photo. (I have no idea why I was buzzine my friend’s hair in this photo—or why on earth he let me do it.)
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I like to think 1995 wasn’t a bad year at all. I do still have that arching bang thing going on, but I am sporting some good volume thanks to Pantene. I asked for it every Christmas because I was too poor a college student to buy such a fancy shampoo.
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Of course, 1995 was also a great time to sport the Jennifer Aniston shag haircut. I have proof I partook of the fad, though it’s slightly grown out in this photo. But believe me, I shagged!
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And when I wasn’t shagging, I was curling. Man, 1995 was a busy year!
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In 1996 I got married. I’m not sure if this had any effect on the chosen style, but I went with long and naturally curly. Note the natural part in the middle. I am still fighting that to this day. (Anyone recognize the Alpine slide?)
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After a couple babies and a couple new hairstyles (the Olivia Newton John and a brunette pixie; lucky for you I couldn’t quickly find photos), I went back to the A-line in 2000…but bang- and Olan Mills-free this time.
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And this? I have no idea what the crap I was thinking or why I would even document this hairstyle on film. But I did to prove bad hair does happen to good people.
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In 2002 I went back to the pixie, though that natural part and natural side cowlicks made it more Hayley Mills and less Halle Berry.
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And now for 2003 and the hairstyle I like to think was the inspiration for Justin Bieber’s recently retired signature look: the pixie with bangs. It was only a matter of time before he went full-on pixie.
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Let’s compare, shall we?
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Okay, maybe his has a bit more volume and oomph—or at least it did. Moving right along…
Not one to keep short hair for long—and taking total advantage of the power that is prenatal vitamins, I did grow out my hair one more time in 2005. Shhh…I’m in the middle of hypnobirthing.
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Soon after George’s birth, I went back to the modified pixie with bangs and have kept it that way ever since except for one wild weekend in 2009. (Okay, it was only a wild couple of hours and it was for my stylist’s portfolio. But still, it WAS fun.)
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Perhaps I finally feel comfortable in my own skin, or maybe I’ve simply found a hairstyle that leaves me enough time to apply makeup in the morning. Whatever the reason, this hairstyle has stuck for a good few years now (plus or minus a couple color changes). Sometimes I’m tempted to grow it out, but then I get a random compliment on it and vanity gets the better of me. What can I say? I’m human…and a girl.
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P.S. If you made it to the end of this post, you are:
A) an old friend reliving our college days.
B) a new friend thinking I should rename this blog “is this REALLY my hair?”
C) highly caffeinated with nothing better to do.
Whatever the letter, thank you from the bottom of my roots.
Steph
OMG!!!! The many hairs of Emily. I love it!!!!!!!!! I feel so boring in comparison. You are my new hair idol. Out with the Biebs in with the Ems.
Emily
You are not boring, my dear! Far from it. I am just ADD when it comes to hairstyles!
Hang
Hmmmmm, I’d say C
Emily
Why does that not surprise me? Perhaps next sketch dining I’ll bust out a new look.
vanessa
HOLY CRAP I have so much to say about every single photo. My favorite one? The hypnobirthing one cause you look PURTEY chill. And I think we need to review Olan Mills, who doesn’t have an Olan Mills picture out there?
Emily
Oooh, we should totally review Olan Mills! Are they still in business? Perhaps next time you visit we can both whip out the ol’ photos and do some reminiscing.
Gina
Too funny! I clicked over here from your Twitter post, and I am both B and C. :) Thanks for the morning smile.
Emily
Hi, Gina! Thank you for coming over from Twitter AND for being both B and C. I hope to be C a bit later today. ;)
Debbie/Cranberryfries
I always wish I was gusty with my hair. Awesome post!
Emily
Go for it, Debbie! You only live once! :)
Kim
You are so hot. Let’s discuss said hotness in that one photo with the strapless dress. Stunning!
Emily
That is me pretending to be hot. It’s all an illusion. You, on the other hand, are 100% all-natural hotness.
Rebecca
Wow, look at that 1994! That’s the best one, by far!
I actually liked 1996- the long and naturally curly look was a good one for you! And I liked 2003 and 2005. Only you could look that good while in labor!
And I do very much envy your hair now. I always want to cut my hair super short but I really don’t think I have the right face shape.
Emily
The Olan Mills photo is the one my daughter still can’t get over. She asked me why I was wearing a business suit and why I would take that photo. I keep asking myself the same thing! Gotta love the early and mid 90s!
Sadly I can no longer do the long and curly look. Age and pregnancy has made my hair so it only curls in random places. It is NOT attractive. And round-brushing that length of hair is a half hour of my life I can’t afford on a daily basis! ;)
Lady of Perpetual Chaos
That was just pure awesomeness! The evolution of hair through the 80’s & 90’s is always fun, but this was extra fun. I really like you’re hair now. It just seems to fit you somehow. But the mohawk was good too. ;o)
Emily
That fauxhawk was really, really fun. I’m tempted to do it again, but this time maybe add some purple hairspray as a nod to the 80s. I think you should do it with me! You can go with hot pink!
Kristina P.
Rawr!!! You are one hot mama! I really like your short hair. I think my favorite picture is the Olan Mills photo. Pure awesomeness.
Emily
I thought you’d like the Olan Mills photo. The only thing that could make it any more awesome is if I’d worn a Snuggie. Alas, the Snuggie was not yet in existence.
Kristina P.
BTW, I hope you are naked in the mohawk pictures.
Emily
Sorry, Kristina. I’m only sporting a naked neck and shoulders, but feel free to use your imagination. LOL
Barbie
That was so much fun to read. It made my morning. I think we must have had the same hairstylist in ’94 and ’95. I wish so much I could pull of 2003. I love that cut. You look stunning!
Emily
Thanks, Barbie! I do love the cut and color from 2003. I may have to give that sort of sleek look another shot!
Carly
I love your short hair and wish I was daring enough!
Emily
I bet a late night out with the girls, lots of caffeine and chocolate and good stories and you’d be daring enough–let’s do it!
Shannon
You are always beautiful (love the Hypnobirthing shot!) but I don’t know if I would even recognize you with longer hair. Your current hairdo just seems so you!
Emily
Awww, thanks, Shannon! I really love your latest style. The bangs are awesome and it’s a super sassy cut on you. I doubt you’ll ever see me with long hair again…I no longer have the patience to grow it out!
Susie's Homemade
You can’t have a bad hair day! You are gorgeous in every picture!!
Emily
I, believe me, I do have bad hair days. This morning is one. And if you follow that bedhead link at the beginning of the post, you’ll see more proof! ;)
Kalli
That changed my life right there.
Also, I love the bieber pixie, like la la la love it. My vote goes for that look. Zow!
Emily
Well, your vote counts as like a thousand, so the Bieber pixie it is!
Jennifer
Wow. Too funny. And it looks like I’m the only one who can answer “A” for my reason in reading your post. And of course I love you, which is the other reason I read all of your posts. I have known you through many a bad hair day and all I can say is that I wish I looked half as good as you do on your “bad hair” days.
And Olan Mills?! Too funny! I think I was wearing a pink sweater in that sitting. No business suit for me! Something equally horrifying though, for sure!!
Emily
I was thinking of you when I typed “A”. We had some good times, didn’t we? Pizza Hut pizza never tasted so good as it did when sitting on my bedroom floor late at night! And yes, you were wearing a pink sweater, which was a lot less horrifying than my business ‘do!
Quinn
Just burned my breakfast because of this post! I thought, “I’ll just take a peek…” and that turned into oogling over all these fabulous photos!
My top 3 thoughts:
1. No matter what hair style, you are COMPLETELY GORGEOUS, Em!!
2. Is that a una-brow on your friend in the ’94 photo?
3. Holy, super-model, batman! That ’03 photo is stunning!!!
I just adore you & love that you pulled all of these together!!! xoxo
Emily
I’ve burned many a meal thinking I would just take a peek at a post, so I can totally sympathize with you! And thank you for your kind words as always. Love you!
Heather carson
Love this post! Such a fun glimpse into your life- I have a similar timeline, including the early 90’s bangs :)
Emily
I’m not sure I believe you about the early 90’s bangs. I am thinking you will need to post a photo as proof. ;)
Kitty
This is so fun! Look at you gorgeous! After I went to a salon and got a Carol Brady mullet I’ve been afraid to change. But two years ago, I went crazy and died my hair dark brown. Then I chopped it off and cut my bangs. It was pretty cute, but high maintenance.
Emily
I love cute but don’t love high-maintenance. That is why I’ve never grown it out again. Way too much work and far too few hours in the day. I’d rather spend my spare time baking treats! ;)
Kim at Beehive Blog
LOVE IT! :) and the resemblance is eery! Your post made my Queen Bee Picks of the Week – Have a fab weekend!
Emily
Kim, thank you so much for thinking my journey down memory lane was worth a shout-out on your Queen Bee Picks of the Week. That made my night! (Let’s get caffeinated soon…)
amber
Emily- the hair! I love it!!! So fun to see and read. And can I just say that your 03 Justin swoop hair pic is so hot!
Emily
Why, thank you, Amber! :)
Mrs. Organic
You rock the short hair, I love it on you. I have always just had huge hair.
Emily
Thank you! Sometimes I wish I could rock the big hair but alas, it’s not my talent. ;)
Kendra @ My Insanity
I don’t think we were old college friends, but I just realized that we would have been at BYU at the same time–freshman year. Were you in the dorms? I was sporting long triangle hair, back in those days. Haven’t been nearly as brave as you with my hair-styles over the years, but I did get bangs a week ago for the first time since I was 14. This was a fun trip!
Emily
I was in Helaman Halls my first year, then Heritage the next two (the last as an R.A.). Perhaps we ran into each other! I love that you recently went for bangs after so many years–I bet they look great!
von
you are hot, and I wish that I were like you…
Emily
You are kind, and I wish I saw you a heck of a lot more often. It has been FAR too long!
Sara
You are definitely photogenic!!! I love these and you are beautiful in all of them! Hahaha not many women (or boys) can pull off the pixie look like you can!
Emily
Thank you, Sara. Wish I had the gorgeous long blonde hair like yours, though! ;)
Charlotte
You give me hope that one day I will find a haircut that doesn’t make me look ridiculous. Slim hope, but still…
Emily
What are you talking about? You always look great! Changing your hairstyle is all part of the adventure!