This year, I've tried to be more adventurous with my hair, because why not? I never experimented much with my hair in high school after the great bangs incident of eighth grade. I needed my bangs trimmed and my small Eastern Oregon town didn't have an inexpensive place anywhere very close. So, my dad decided to cut my bangs and my mom INSISTED that there couldn't be any of my hair on the floor. My dad asks me to bend over a trash can (to "keep the floor clean") and then he lines up my bangs...They were literally an inch long for six months.

The bangs took FOREVER to grow out. It was terrible and it discouraged me from being brave with my hair for quite a while. Sure, I'd get my hair trimmed or even cut six inches off, but I definitely wasn't doing anything exciting after the bangs incident in the eighth grade.

Here's the photographic proof of my tragic haircut:

8th Grade Ashley and JanelleAshley McMurray

In January, I decided to be BOLD and get a blonde ombré. However, my hair is still SUPER long at this time. Here's some more photographic proof:

January 2018Ashley McMurray

THEN in March, I cut about a foot off of my hair and did the blonde ombré again. I have ALWAYS hated my hair shorter, but I had never had short hair since losing over one hundred pounds in college. Now, I LOVE my hair shorter and can't even imagine having super long hair again.

After going through a breakup, I decided it was the perfect time to take a risk and bleach my hair. I'd been thinking about changing my hair for quite a while but nothing gave me the push I needed like the breakup.

Bleaching all of my hair at home was DEFINITELY an experience. My friend, Amber, worked diligently to ensure that she had bleached every section of my hair. Three rounds of bleach and a sh*t ton of toner later, and I'm a full-blown BLONDE! I seem to get catcalled more as a blonde, which is interesting, but, I love that people hardly recognize me. I look like a completely different person! Especially after being a brunette my entire life.

September 2018Ashley McMurray

Having a new hair color and moving into a new apartment is so refreshing. I no longer live with roommates and I'm close to campus. I couldn't be happier as a blonde! It's like a whole new world. Hopefully, my senior year of college is good for me!