Ah yes – hair – the topic of discussion that women could go on and on about for hours. It evokes all sorts of sentiments; disgust – ewwwww – I found a hair in my salad; envy – she has the most beautiful hair; enthusiasm – blondes have more fun; frustration – I’m totally turning gray; and creativity – look at that young girl with the trendy gray/purple hair – she totally rocks it. We women seem to want what we don’t have – those with curls and frizz want straight hair, those with straight hair want curls and frizz, brunettes want to have lighter hair, and blonds want to be a red-head. Don’t forget the inevitable gray hair – should we go natural? Let it go? Dye it up?
Not only does hair conjure up such passionate emotions – our hair is a label that we are stuck with day in and day out- not like clothes we buy in the store and have a choice over. Hair pours out from our body and we have no control over it. The labels that are associated with hair are stereotypes that are hard to overcome – long hair is viewed as sexy, short hair professional and modern, spikes can appear dangerous, curly hair portrays a sense of being whimsical and fun, straight hair evokes a severity yet a professionalism as well. Blondes are viewed as party girls, brunettes have a reputation for being mature and sophisticated, black hair is seen as exotic and mysterious, while red heads are perceived as unique, interesting and fiery.
I never liked my hair. I have hair envy like no other. Before the days of straighteners, my hair looked like a wild puffy cloud of brown marshmallow – it was everywhere. I wanted Farrah Fawcett’s hair – the wispy flowing tapered hair that cascades down your neck. I wanted pencil straight long hair like Cher. I basically wanted what I didn’t have. As I have gotten older, I am tired of fighting the will of my hair. So I let it go and have never looked back.
Go with your strengths. If you hair is straight, keep it straight. If it’s curly – keep it that way. When a hairstyle looks great on a person it is because it is natural and is what makes them unique – I truly believe that. Accepting my hair for what is truly is has taken the pressure off and has gone a long way in helping me to express my true self. It is empowering and it really frees you. I have stopped worrying about how all the people in my life will perceive me and most importantly, how I perceive myself. The positives are many. I am now a huge fan of the “wash-n-go” which has shed a solid hour out of my morning routine.
So my hair philosophy is this: LET IT GO. Once you unchain yourself from your torturous beauty routine you will find a genuine confidence and a new freedom to live your life as you choose – not as your hairstyle dictates!
Just to show you how fun hair really is – enjoy these little tidbits!
- Humans are one of the only mammals to have a “naked” appearance with the majority of our hair concentrated on top of our heads.
- We are also unique in the length that our hair will grow. No other animals resort to cutting their hair the way that we do.
- Water weakens the weakest bonds within strands of hair, removing 1/3 of its strength. The simple act of brushing can lead to dire consequences in this weakened state.
- Black is the most common hair color. Red is the rarest and only exists in about 1 percent of the world’s population, with blonde hair found in 2 percent.
- All hair is dead, with the exception of the hair that’s still inside the epidermis of your scalp.
- The life span of a strand of hair is 5 years.
- Aside from bone marrow, hair is the fastest growing tissue in the body.
- The average person has 100,000 – 150,000 strands of hair on her head
- In Ancient Rome, women used to dye their hair blonde with pigeon dung
Life Experiences Add Up 