Conservation of Curls

When Bear was in junior high, he had long, curly hair...and if you can picture that with a straight face, you're a stronger human being than I. As a little girl, I had some pretty curly locks myself, so it came as no surprise that Keira turned out to be what my mom calls a "curly girlie."

Hers, however, are beyond bodacious--check out these pics:

Now that she's sporting a crazy cowlick in the front, bangs I'm trying to let grow out, and perpetually-tangled tresses, hair-brushing time in our household has become quite the battle; besides that, summer is coming, and I figured taking a few inches off would make it cooler and maybe even bring out more curls. (Oh, how we love the curls!!)

So, the other night I decided to bust out the scissors and give Kiwi her first real haircut. Possessing no actual talent in this department didn't stop me; I have, of course, watched professionals cut my hair many times, and figured it couldn't be that hard. (By this logic, I am also qualified to perform C-sections and play football in the NFL, having seen both done on TV. Fear me.)

Before I started, I took a "before" pic. When it was wet and combed straight, it actually touched her tailbone. My child was a budding Crystal Gayle at less than four years old:

Here's the "after" pic, still wet:

And here, tragically, is a dry "after" pic...notice that something is clearly missing here:


WHERE ARE THE CURLS??!!

Sure, it's got body, and it definitely looks thicker. Maybe even a little healthier. Those corkscrew curls that danced around so preciously at the ends of her hair, however, appear to be gone. How can this be?!

I am a curl killer.

Sob.

In related news, proving Einstein's lesser-known Conservation of Curls law (like matter, they can be neither created nor destroyed--only transferred amongst siblings), Elliana is starting to sprout the beginnings of tiny ringlets herself:

There is hope for the future...but what's done is done.

I will cut no more forever.