I have a hair appointment next week; as usual, I am obsessing about what I will have my stylist do for me. My hair is already short, so my options are sort of limited. This time, we’re doing color — I’m going darker, which is a new thing for me. I’m really excited.

My hair is an important part of my look; I’m That Girl with the Pixie Cut. I live in a part of the country where big hair is still the norm, so having short hair here is a statement. What does my hair say about me? Lots of things, starting with I am lazy, and also I am styling challenged. The trick, of course, is to get a cut that says something more than that, though — like I’m edgy or quirky or unconventional.

This is my dream hair. Although part of the dream would be looking like Michelle Williams.

I typically pair my short funky hair with more conservative, classic wardrobing pieces, rather than with anything trendy or edgy. It’s not a look I thought out in any great detail, but it works for me; I’m not especially compelled by provocative or trendy looks, and I like to be comfortable. Also, I am lazy, which gets us back to my hair.

My look works for me because it translates practical concerns (lazy, unable to wield a curling iron, flat chested) into a distinct style, one that is not like everyone else’s (or, in Oklahoma, anyone else’s really). I already stand out because of my politics (I am a blue dot in a red state) and my job (”blogger” is hard to explain at dinner parties) — if my hair sets me apart as well, I’m good with that.

This week, the incomparable Gwen Bell got her hair cut, and it left her wondering, “What’s your hair saying about you?” At her salon, she overheard the following: “your hair is 52% of your look. You could be wearing sweats but if your hair looks hot, it doesn’t matter. Put it in a ponytail and suddenly you’re not looking so hot.”

Yes — and no. A great cut, no matter what your hair style, can change your look, even when you’re running around in sweats. But I think your hair is only one piece of the puzzle.

One of my favorite parts of What Not to Wear is the descriptions of the participants’ “before” looks; various friends and family lovingly say that their sister or wife or bff looks like a hippie cat lady or a demented preschool teacher or a troll doll on crack. The phrases are hilarious and accurate and never flattering. The participant, of course, is mortified by the revelation that her friends think she looks terrible, and it motivates her to change her look.

But they beg the question: What is your look saying about you? Not just your hair (right now my hair is saying, “has not had color since JULY omg look at those ROOTS!”) — your whole look. What do you wear on a normal day? Are you putting your best foot (and face and hair) forward? If not, why? And are you good with that? Or would you like to change your look?

Not sure what your look is saying? Ask someone you trust. Yesterday a good friend described my look as “impeccable 50s housewife,” and I had to laugh out loud. Because yes, that’s pretty much it. Although ironically, my house is a mess and I haven’t cooked in days.

But the look is working.