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Hair today

These are two, seemingly identical, photographs of me:

Dan, Ireland, July 1980

Can you spot the difference? I know it’s a tricky one, but if you look really closely you might just see it…

Yes that’s right! In the first photo my hair is blond, and in the second it’s a sort of brown. Well spotted!

The second photo isn’t a particularly good one of course, but seeing as though I was searching for one that showed at least a smattering of head hair I’m surprised I came up with anything at all.

The point is I used to have blond hair, and now I don’t. I’m not actually sure which point in my childhood my hair turned from beautiful shiny blond into drab and dirty brown, but I suspect it was probably at around the same time that I became responsible for my own personal hygiene. Whatever the reason, I turned.

In fact these days I’m showing signs of switching hair colour yet again. I keep finding an alarming number of grey hairs in my beard. But surely that can’t be right? I’m not old yet am I? I must be one of those people who turn grey early, like Steve Martin. Yeah, that’s it. That’s almost cool in a way isn’t it. Isn’t it?

Anyhow…

This is a photo of Evan. Notice his beautiful hair.

IMG_2757

But last night Kerry found a solitary traitorous brown strand buried in his mop of golden hair. Say it ain’t so son, say it ain’t so.

————————————————-

On a different note, and because I can’t be bothered posting twice in one day, I’d like to point you over towards the folks at MyChild.co.uk who have very kindly interviewed me this week as part of their ongoing spotlight on parent bloggers. You can read it here

(N.B. I would just like to point out in their otherwise judicious editing of my answers the people at MyChild substituted the word “computer” with the letters “PC”. I would like to make it clear that I do NOT own a stinking PC. Its Apple all the way baby, Apple all the way)

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42 Comments on “Hair today”

  1. #1 Always Home and Uncool
    on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    I, too, allegedly was blond as a child. My parents claimed it changed the day I stuck my head in the toilet.
    Always Home and Uncool´s last blog ..Bloody I My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Always Home and Uncool, do you remember this head sticking incident? Because if you have any siblings it may not have been of your own volition.

    Reply

    Sam Reply:

    @Dan, If I remember correctly, you once stuck my head down the toilet in holmfirth swimming baths.

    A public toilet! And not a particularly clean one either.

    Though I doubt it was as memorable for you as it was for me.
    Sam´s last blog ..Treading Where Millions of Photographers Have Trodden Before My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Sam, ahhhh, happy days

    Reply

  2. #2 Erin
    on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    I was a blondie, and now I’m a dark brownie. As was my brother. Now Ethan has gorgeous blond curls. We’ll see how long that lasts.

    Mine changed when we moved from sunny California to Chicago. My skin changed then too…from sunkissed tan to ghostly white.
    Erin´s last blog ..Super-secret Police Insider Information: The Truth About T.J. Hooker and Tips for Not Driving Like an Idiot My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Erin, It seemed pretty sunny when we were in chicago this spring. I think you’re just soft.

    Reply

  3. #3 Erin
    on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 pm

    Just read your interview, and I have to say I’d love for you to interview Mark Hamill.
    Erin´s last blog ..Super-secret Police Insider Information: The Truth About T.J. Hooker and Tips for Not Driving Like an Idiot My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

  4. #4 Seattledad
    on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    I was thinking it was that the mullet had moved to the front. But now I see the change in color ;)

    I denied my first gray hair until Mrs. LIAYF yanked it out of my head and showed it to me. Don’t ever cross that woman.
    Seattledad´s last blog ..Big Dirt Pile Blues My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Seattledad, duely noted.

    To be honest the hair on my head is in no fit state for me to notice anything about it’s greyness. My beard however is there for me to view every bloody day. It’s not good. Not good at all.

    Reply

  5. #5 SingleParentDad
    on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    I was blonde, and now have luscious brown locks, as you know.

    The boy has followed a similar path too.
    SingleParentDad´s last blog ..Ignoring the injustice My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @SingleParentDad, Get a hair cut hippy.

    Reply

  6. #6 Heather
    on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    here’s hoping his folicles have more staying power whatever the colour!
    Heather´s last blog ..Giving the finger… My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Heather, yes, very good point. although judging by both my brother and me I don’t think it bodes well.

    Reply

  7. #7 Insomniac Mummy
    on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    I’m the rogue redhead in the family.

    Ethan was born with black hair which turned blonde by the time he was one and is now dark blonde. I’m sure it’ll turn dark again like his Daddy’s.

    Elodie is blonde with a slight hint of strawberry ;) Not a full blown redhead like me though. I was born a force 7 on the ginger scale, oh and I’m not bald or grey :D.

    None of this information was required I’m sure. I merely popped by to ramble.

    :)
    Insomniac Mummy´s last blog ..A seasonal blog makeover! My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Insomniac Mummy, what colour hair did the milkman have? Just asking.

    Reply

    Insomniac Mummy Reply:

    @Dan,

    Ha! The milkman DID actually have red hair! It’s been a long standing family joke!

    :D
    Insomniac Mummy´s last blog ..A seasonal blog makeover! My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

  8. #8 MrsW
    on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 11:39 pm

    There’s a set of boy twins at school with my daughter, they are 16 now and still have their white blonde baby hair – they look weird (that sounds terrible but you do look twice at them…). I bet they dye it black.
    MrsW´s last blog ..He wasn’t THAT nervous My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @MrsW, they aren’t Jedward are they!?

    (actually I only have a passing knowledge about what Jedward look like. they are blond aren’t they? If not then this feeble gag is even feebler)

    Reply

  9. #9 Mark
    on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 11:44 pm

    Oh yes – apple all the way here too.

    My boys were blond – less so now. As for me, just be nice to have some hair!
    Mark´s last blog ..Nablopromo My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Mark, it’s actually quite interesting to see the proportion of bloggers who use macs. much higher than average I suspect.

    Reply

  10. #10 Laura Driver
    on Dec 4th, 2009 at 10:30 am

    Both myself and the husband had white hair as children, now the husband is dark brown and I am blonde … ahem … of a dirty dishwater kind.

    My boy has white hair (nearly 4) and I keep getting glimpses of very dark hairs. I am in denial though. If I think about it too much I would weep.

    I will be like my mother in law who still keeps a locl of golden hair in her purse from circa 1972 “just before it went dark”.

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Laura Driver, That’s better than keeping all his toe nail clipping i suppose.

    Reply

  11. #11 Steve
    on Dec 4th, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    I was blonde and ended up brown. I already see Oliver moving the same way. My daughter seems to be going the other way. She was born with black locks which are now golden.
    Steve´s last blog ..Still utterly butterly My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Steve, Amy was born with black hair, then it all fell out and grew back blond, now it’s turning brown.

    I wish it would all make up it’s mind.

    Reply

  12. #12 Rol
    on Dec 4th, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    I had blonde curly hair when I was a kid.

    Thank god that didn’t last.
    Rol´s last blog ..Meltham Is A Danergous Place… (7) My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Rol, you weren’t that kid who was an antiques dealler that went on that early 90’s Jonathon Ross sow were you??

    (Did anyone else see that, or was it just me?)

    Reply

  13. #13 Kevin Spencer
    on Dec 4th, 2009 at 4:56 pm

    Yes, you’re old. But fret not sir, for I have grey hair in my beard also.
    Kevin Spencer´s last blog ..Random Twitter Amusements My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Kevin Spencer, well all that measn is that you’re old too.

    That’s very little consolation to me.

    Reply

  14. #14 Nota Bene
    on Dec 4th, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    Am I your son? I too was once a very pale blonde, but now am a highly attractive brown….
    Nota Bene´s last blog ..It’s a man’s world My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Nota Bene, I think you may be slightly too old to be my son I’m afraid. I suspect this is an elaborate ploy to get a few decades worht of christmas presents from me.

    Reply

  15. #15 Rosie Scribble
    on Dec 4th, 2009 at 5:37 pm

    Both my brothers have blond hair. They have both turned too. I do know of someone who started to dye her son’s hair blond when it started turning brown around aged 6. I’m obviously not suggesting that with Evan ofcourse, I’m just pointing out that some people are funny about blond hair!
    Rosie Scribble´s last blog ..Random weird stuff My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Rosie Scribble, from the response I’ve got from this post i’m very surprised there are any brown haired pre schoolers in the country at all!

    Reply

  16. #16 Linda
    on Dec 4th, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    I’m going grey now and have died my hair a cheap looking red colour which makes me look even more like an Eastern European shotputter. Or perhaps that’s the moustache. One of my daughters has dark hair like me and The other is very fair but like Evan has a dad who’s now darker having been blonde as a boy. I think blonde will always suit her.
    Loving your work Sir, just seen you on MyChild. x Good Day to you. x
    Linda´s last blog ..The Great Panto Review 2009: Open for business My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Linda, I’ve always been tempted to dye my hair, but I have so little of it i doubt anyone would notice.

    Good day to you too madam.

    Reply

  17. #17 Mwa
    on Dec 4th, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    Going grey EARLY? I’ve had white hairs since I was fifteen. I’m completely grey on top. At least my beard hairs are still all brown… (I do paint the white hairs – I don’t like to look like a granny at 32.)
    Mwa´s last blog ..Sex education for the faint-hearted My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

  18. #18 Dan
    on Dec 5th, 2009 at 12:38 am

    I dunno, I think grey hair on the really young is quite cool. although granted, mainly men I suppose.

    At least getting them at 15 wasn’t a horrible warning of your mortality like it is in your thirties.
    Dan´s last blog ..A Confession My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

  19. #19 Dad Who Writes
    on Dec 7th, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    Same thing happened with me. My hair was quite fair and even had the odd red highlights when I was young/early teens. But by the time I hit university, it was mousy brown. Now, of course, it’s all steel grey. What’s left of it.
    Dad Who Writes´s last blog ..Letter To Adolescent Who Writes My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

  20. #20 A Free Man
    on Dec 8th, 2009 at 12:09 am

    Like yourself, I am follicularily challenged. However, I’m less worried about colour than coverage.
    A Free Man´s last blog ..What will be your look this season? My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @A Free Man, My coverage started being sparce at the age of 22, so I’ve had lenty of time to get used to it.
    Dan´s last blog ..Star Wars: A Small Hope My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

  21. #21 Barbara
    on Dec 9th, 2009 at 7:06 pm

    Bloody hell, until I read this post and the comments I thought I was the only person who’d ever been blonde as a child and then turned brown. I’m gobsmacked and slightly warmed that there are so many of us.
    Barbara´s last blog ..Pickle My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Dan Reply:

    @Barbara, yes, I really must start a facebook group for it or something.

    BTW, I saw your blog get a review on… Can’t remember the name of the site now. anyhow, wanted to say I got a similar reaction when I was reviewed by them about 2 years ago :)

    You handled it rather well.
    Dan´s last blog ..Hurrah, its Lee and Dan’s Midnight Movie Club! My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Barbara Reply:

    @Dan, haha (or lol, as I believe it’s spelt nowadays), a facebook group would definitely be the way forward!

    Thank you.

    Reply

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