Make-over? Or Do-over?

I got a new haircut last weekend. Nothing too dramatic: A few inches off the bottom, a little extra 'fringe' around my face. A subtle change. When I came home from the salon, Fresh said, "I like it. It's spunky." (Note: Fresh did not comment on my new 'do unprompted. Oh no. He's a good husband, but not that good. I had to say, "I got a haircut. [Shaking my hair like a Pantene ad] What do you think?" But at least he said the right thing.)

So, spunky, huh? I'll take it. Molly, my stylist, and I were discussing how to give me an age-appropriate-yet-stylish look. We thought this new look worked. In any case, I got to thinking: If this one says spunky (and professional, and stylish, and cute--all part of what Molly and I were going for), what have my other 'dos said about me? Because, in my memory at least, I have been the master of transformative hair-dos. So I went back hunting through some photos, all ready to re-discover my Barbie stage (when my hair was blond), my alterna-punk days (when V. would test out her latest Manic Panic purchase on my unsuspecting locks), my edgy days (when my hair was pixie short, orange, and spiky), and my studious days (long, long, long, in a bun, with or without bangs). I had a whole post ready in my head on my multiple personalities expressed through my hair. But as I went hunting through my photos to capture these metamorphosised Melissas--horror of horrors--I discovered that I was all wrong. There have been no great transformations. In fact, for my whole life, I have basically had the same five haircuts. Check it out:

The Short Bob With Bangs (ages 2, 7, 8, 11, and 23)





The Short-ish, Curled Under Look (ages 3/4, 13, and 21)




The Long Hair With Bangs (ages 5, 17, 18, and 28)





The Long And Straggly, Usually (But Not Always) Pulled Back In A Pony Or Bun (ages 10, 11, and 27)

















Even this latest look is nothing new--Shoulder-Length With Bangs has always been a part of my repertoire (and is my mom's favorite, I think). I guess there's only so much you can do with straight, fine hair. (ages 6, 15, 31)

















There are, of course, a few looks that have been unparelleled, including The Bangs (age 13)...

...and The Ugly (ages 20-21).

Although, even this last one looks a lot like My Original Look (age -1).















So while my 'new' do might be spunky, it actually isn't anything new. What a disappointment. I just hope these recycled hair-dos don't mean that I'm bound to repeat my mistakes. Please--never let me wear The Ugly again.