Read How to Liv for Free Online Page B

cat.  Earlier in the week, I’d made a spur of the moment decision and called the hairdressers, booking myself in for an appointment.  My long blonde locks were on their way out.  I wore it up most of the time anyway so it seemed practical and I was in need of a change.
    So I was sitting in the hairdressers, after leaving work early, on my birthday, instructing them to chop it all off, when I suddenly lost my bravado.  The hairdresser sensed my change in mood immediately and putting her hand on my shoulder reassuringly, she said with a squeeze that I could trust her.  She said she would make me look young and sexy.  The look in her eyes as she faced my reflection, and the tone in her voice, reassured me enough to trust her judgment.
    I was so glad that I did.  My new style was sexy and chic and definitely made me feel younger than I had when I had entered the salon.  I’d walked in with dull, straight hair, tied high on my head in a ponytail that swung as I walked.  I left with golden highlights and a fringe that I hadn’t had in years.  The hairdresser had cut my hair just above my shoulders, parted it on my left and cut it on an angle across the front.  I looked younger and I felt incredible, the smile on my face unable to be wiped off.
    I went straight from the hairdressers to my parents’ place for a birthday dinner.  Mum practically screamed when she greeted me at the door, she was so shocked to see my new hairstyle.
    “What have you done?” she asked, spinning me around to look at the back.
    “Do you like it?”  I was suddenly worried that it wasn’t as good as I thought.  She spun me back to face her.
    “It looks fantastic Libby!”  She beamed.
    “I’ve come straight from the hairdressers, it was a birthday present for myself.”
    “I love it!  Happy birthday darling.”  She gave me a warm birthday hug before letting me inside.
    “Well who do we have here?” Dad greeted me with his trademark smile and hard-almost-to-the-point-of-pain hug.  “You look beautiful sweetheart.  Happy Birthday!”
    “Thanks Dad!”
    “AHHH!  Ermahgerd Libby!”  My overly excited sister greeted me seconds later.  Ermahgerd was Ally’s new favourite word, always spoken in this weird hard to place accent.  She stepped a little closer and ran her fingers through my hair.  “Wow, wow, wow!  It looks so different.”
    I stood in the centre of Mum and Dad’s lounge room while both Ally and my mum played with my hair.
    “I really do love it Lib,” Mum gushed.
    I was kicking myself, why hadn’t I done this sooner?  I was loving their reactions and it was a dramatic change that I really needed.  It’s amazing what a trip to the hairdressers could do.  I had no idea.
    “It looks fantastic!  You don’t look a day over thirty!” Ally said and I smacked her on the arm for that, hard .
    “Thanks a lot Ally!”
    “Ow,” she said rubbing her arm, “I was only kidding!  Honestly, I think you look younger than me now.  Maybe I should cut my hair short, too.”
    “Don’t you dare!” I snapped and then relaxed when a smile appeared on her face, letting me know she was kidding.  Ally was fully aware of my insecurities, she didn’t agree with them, but we were close enough that she knew this was something I needed for myself.  We already looked enough alike and this was a change that would set us apart.
    From now on there would be a vast difference between my sister and I.  Now I felt almost as pretty as she was.  The funny thing about it is, even though I was jealous of my sister I was also partially to blame for my appearance.  I knew that.  She took the time to look after herself whereas I didn’t.  I had just spent two hours at the hairdressers, something that I never ever did, but my sister did on a regular basis.  I’d always just looked how I looked, I didn’t bother with make-up very often, I ate what I wanted, regardless of its nutritional value, and I rarely did any