San Diego Smile

We are going to SD this weekend and I am so excited. I love San Diego for many reasons, of course because its a beautiful place and because its where I met Jesse, and because my allergies are much better down there. But one of the main reasons I love it there is because its my home. I became a woman in San Diego. I moved to San Diego after Cosmetology school, April 28 of 2007. I was 19 years old, scared and didn't know anyone besides my roommate that I moved with. By June I was employed at a Salon named Gila Rut, and thats when my life changed drastically. On my 20th birthday (June 19th) I went in to the salon to get my hair colored, I had been coloring my hair VERY blonde and it was too much up keep. At that point in my life I was only wearing my hair straight, which meant straightening it for about an hour, everytime i washed it.

YIKES RIGHT?
I didn't trust anyone with my hair because growing up with such curly hair I had some pretty terrible haircuts. So back to the story, I went in ONLY for color because I hadn't been with the salon long enough to know who was good at cutting curly hair. Anyway, when I was getting my hair colored my boss came over and said, "You need a haircut." I was trying my hardest to get out of it and say that it was my birthday and that I didn't have time for a haircut, etc. Even though I had just moved to SD and had no plans! Haha.. She did NOT back down and told me it would only take 15 minutes. OH NO! Anyway, long story short... she took my hair about 2 inches short! I felt like a boy at first, I didn't cry or anything I was in shock.

I can't find a picture from that day...but this is about a month after and you can tell that its a little grown in, but still very short. If you couldn't tell I'm on the right :)

If you would have told me a year or 2 before this that cutting my hair off would change my life, I would't believe you. But it did change my life. Before cutting my hair I would have never worn my hair curly, I always hid behind my hair and tried to blend in with all my straight haired friends. I had to learn to be confident with boy short hair. And I did, I learned to be confident in my own skin, which was a very hard thing for me before the hair cut.

Photoshoot Sept 2007 Which led to me becoming platinum blonde.. I mean its not enough to have really short, curly hair, i needed WHITE, short, curly hair. Which meant everywhere I would go I was constantly stared at, hence the learning to be confident and not worry so much about other people.

At the Salon I worked at I was lucky enough to assist for about 5 months before I was promoted to stylist. Those were some of the hardest months in my life. I had to pound the pavement, walk up to total strangers and ask them if they wanted a haircut. I was a haircutting specialist there, which means I only cut hair.. I didn't color, updo, or perm hair at all. I had to have at least 1 model once a week. There were days I would call my mom crying and saying I can't do this. But she would be on the other end of the phone coaching me through it.

My boss at the salon took me under her wing and groomed me into the stylist and woman I am today. I know this sounds so dramatic and don't get me wrong, there were times when I was ready to say "I quit". But I really became the person that I always wanted to be, I was just so insecure most of my life and couldn't by myself.

This has really become an interesting post.. The point is, when I go to San Diego I feel like I am home. It is where I became a woman and also where I met my husband. I know I was supposed to move to San Diego when I did, so that I could learn how to be a better person. And the person I became made it so much easier for me to meet Jesse. I am so lucky to know him and to be his wife. I love him :)
Yay for San Diego!!!!!!!