For Blondes: Lighten your hair with Lemon Juice!

I learned this hair care trick from a former 10th grade classmate of mine in high school. She was a natural blonde, but always colored her hair to a very light Sunkist blonde. My former high school classmate had told me when she was a small girl, her mother taught her to apply lemon juice all over her hair during the summer. Since summer gets very hot and humid, it is a great trick to add lemon juice to the hair; preferably for blonde hair types. Her mother had also told her to soak out in the sun outside to have some UV ray lights shine on her hair to lighten the color. This lemon juice trick is a great way for people who have blonde hair to tone up the lightness in their hair. If you have light brown hair, lemon juice will work fine for your hair too.

Lemon juice contains an acidic ingredient that will help lighten your hair out in the sun heat with UV ray lights shining on your hair as well. It is a very natural traditional hair method to use amongst blondes who prefer to lighten their hair outside naturally in the sun. You also have to be careful with lemon juice too because your hair could create a “streaky” look. You would not want to have that unnatural, messy look. Especially for blondes, you would want your hair to be “streak-free,” and not creating a dull, uneven quality of streaky undertones. You don’t want the shade of your natural blonde color to accidentally wash, fade, or dry out.

Think of red hair. Red hair can be very hard to maintain if not properly done with care. With blonde hair, it can be very tricky too. It is great way to soak out in the sun catching some UV ray lights, but sometimes too much for your hair can literally damage your hair. If you are a swimmer and spend many days of your summer near a pool or an area where there is water, your hair may more then likely lighten out in the sun. If you added some lemon juice on your hair and dived into the water with the sun blaring outside, you may experience a “bad-hair” day. You may not want to have that during a splash out in the summer heat. I have heard of stories where people’s hair will turn into streaks of a light-green color. This only occurs with blonde hair only.

For best evened out results, individuals with blonde type hair should squeeze out 3-4 good lemons into a spray bottle. You may add some water too. After the contents of the lemon juice are squeezed into the bottle, start shaking it very well. If you have a bathing swimsuit, change into that before heading out in the sun. Once you are changed into your bathing suit, bring your spray bottle and an extra towel. Bring sunglasses to prevent your eyes away from the UV ray lights. This helps your eyes from squinting. You don’t really want to squint at all in the sun because this could cause “crows-feet” and uneven wrinkles to form. Once you have all your items ready, prepare to lie out in the sun. Take your spray bottle filled with lemon juice and water. Then start spraying all over your hair. Spray until damply soaked. Lie out in the sun to catch some UV rays shining over your hair and body. Make sure you apply sun block all over your body as well. Catching a sun burn while outside in the sun is not fun at all. As you soak out in the sun, the UV rays will work its magic to lighten your original blonde hair to a lighter tone color. Don’t add lemon juice to your hair everyday because you want to keep the intensity of your hair looking healthy and alive. Remember, this trick of spraying lemon juice on your hair is preferably for people with blonde or light brown hair.

For more information on how to lighten your hair with lemon juice, click here.  

The Cost of Beauty: Plastic Surgery in Hollywood

A few months ago while walking down the magazine aisle at the local drugstore, I noticed a People Magazine with “The Hills” star Heidi Montag on the cover. I was curious and took the magazine off the shelf and started flipping to Heidi’s plastic surgery story. I just could not believe my eyes when I saw her before and after look. The story also covered Heidi Montag’s ten plastic surgeries in one day. Say what?? I just could not believe what I was reading. I was totally shocked and surprise. Why would the former “The Hills” star go through numerous cosmetic procedures to alter the look of her appearance? Heidi was so much more beautiful and natural looking before she underwent plastic surgery. What a shame.

A native of Colorado, Heidi Montag was raised in a very traditional family background. Heidi was very close to her mother, Darlene, who always thought of her daughter as a special little girl in her life. Towards the last few episodes of the last season of “The Hills,” it featured an episode where Heidi Montag was visiting her family. Heidi had an interesting meeting with her mother, Darlene, along with her youngest sister about her plastic surgeries. After hearing the news, Heidi’s mother was very unhappy with the news. Her mother openly discussed how she was against plastic surgery and said it wasn’t going to change her daughter in any way. She even asked Heidi why she had to have plastic surgery to make herself happy. Heidi asked her mother if she looked beautiful after her plastic surgery. Her mother answered saying she looks like a very different person. The reunion between Heidi and her mother was not very happy at all. Heidi started to cry and did not understand why her own mother was not being supportive of her daughter’s decision on undergoing plastic surgery.

Heidi Montag underwent ten plastic surgeries in one day to alter the look of her appearance. This consist of a breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, brow-lifts, chin reduction, and some collagen lip injections to name a few. Recently it was reported on E! Online network that Heidi’s plastic surgeon, Dr. Frank Ryan, recently died in a car crash. This tragic news loss shook practically all over Hollywood, especially Heidi. It was a sad mourning and loss for many close family, friends, and relatives that were very close to the doctor’s sudden death. The news of Heidi Montag’s plastic surgeries were headline news all over magazine articles such as People, OK!, and Us Weekly magazines. Many talk-show networks also had featured “The Hills” star to discuss further in-depth about Heidi’s plastic surgery experience. The raising question is, “Why Heidi?”

Millions of cosmetic procedures have been performed in the United States. Many popular areas such as Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles have high numbers of patients such as A-list actors, actresses, and big screen celebrity stars paying huge money to alter the look of their appearance. A famous network show called “Dr. 90210,” features plastic surgeons in the areas of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles performing very expensive plastic surgeries for various patients. In the world of Hollywood, celebrities will do practically anything to look their best before a movie premiere, event, live red-carpet award show, interviews, or on-screen. The show VH1 featured many celebrity plastic surgeries as well with many surgeries gone drastically wrong or simply beautiful. It is a huge “jaw-dropper,” when viewing celebrities who have gone under the knife just to change or alter the look of their face, chin, eyes, nose, breasts, and much more.

But the raising question is, “Is it all worth it?” In the new season of “Married to Rock,” four wives of rock and roll musicians may have gone under the knife to look beautiful. Who knows? I have seen many shows where it featured many young teenagers and adults having gone through the risk of plastic surgery to change the look of their appearance. Some people may want to get plastic surgery done for self-esteem issues, embarrassed about a certain body part, unhappy with their appearance, or to make themselves feel better. Many people may get plastic surgery for the right or wrong reasons. Whatever the purpose is, plastic surgery serves as a gateway to the patient’s needs and wants. That is for them to decide in life. What is your view on plastic surgery?

For an exclusive in-depth interview on Heidi Montag’s plastic surgery, please click here.

 

 

 

 

Maintain your Curls by using a Diffuser!

Well ladies, you can now make your hair maintenance a lot better by using a diffuser to keep your curls in place! Doesn’t that sound easy or what? This beauty tip technique actually saves you time and money. You don’t even need to head down to the local hair salon to get a perm done. Perms can give your hair some beautiful curls, but the harsh strong chemicals in perm may damage the ends of your hair. That is a huge hair “no-no.” Perm stands for “permanent waving,” so if the perm rods are not taken out of your hair on time, the strands of hair could easily break-off easily. I don’t think any hair client will be happy with that. Would you? Many hair types can be very sensitive to very strong chemicals in perms. To maintain beautiful soft curls, try using a diffuser. This hair device will instantly keep the look of your curls without the harsh effects of any chemicals.

I learned this beautiful hair care technique from a cosmetology student at the Gene Juarez Academy. I went into this Northwest accredited beauty school to get an “updo” done for my hair and specifically wanted curls. At many beauty school programs, student and senior discounts are offered. If you are a student or senior, this is a great way for you to save money on luxurious beauty discounts.

The beauty school student called out my name at the guest lobby. I followed her to the salon chair and asked her during my consultation if there were other ways to help maintain my curls as well. The student told me as part of her training program at the beauty school academy, the instructors teach the students the process of using a diffuser on the hair. I was thinking, “What is a diffuser?” The beauty school student basically told me a diffuser is a great hair styling tool to use for any hair type whether it is straight, wavy, or curly to achieve that curling affect keeping the look and maintenance of your hair. She had also told me that the use of a diffuser will also evenly help distribute the heat throughout the rest of the hair as well. I instantly thought to myself, “What a great way to achieve natural looking beautiful curls!”  

As the beauty school student did my hair consultation with me, she called her instructor over about the “updo” she was going to do for my hair. Her beauty school instructor checked off her binder and the student proceeded on curling my hair. She was almost half-way done with my hair and asked me if I wanted to see how the diffuser works. I said, “Sure.” She attached the diffuser to her blow dryer and put it on high heat and started diffusing a small section of my curls. I instantly noticed the difference. The diffuser made my curls softer and bouncy. My curls were so beautifully done with just an easy step of a styling heat tool of just using a diffuser. I was extremely amazed. If you want to achieve magnificent, beautiful curls, try using a hair diffuser. All you need is a blow-dryer and diffuser. You may need to add styling products to your hair to keep the look of your hair as well. This styling tool technique will keep the look, maintenance, and elegance of your curls.      

For more information and advice on diffusing your hair, please click here.

Save Money by doing your own Nails at home!

With the tough economy on our shoulders, saving money is one of the top priorities on almost everyone’s to-do list. I knew some people like my friends and sister who would always visit the local nail salon for a manicure and pedicure service every couple weeks. At that time, the economy was not too bad with people spending money on beauty services such as hair or nail care. Now with the economy being on a tight budget in practically everyone’s pocket, the time to save money starts now.

I used to work with my friend at a local Oriental Retreat and Spa. I had worked at the spa as a front desk receptionist in charge of booking appointments, multi-tasking in between duties on the phone and in-person, printing out advertisement spa ads, payments, spa menu changes, and making sure the front reception area was clean and tidy. My friend worked as an esthetician at the spa and occasionally worked at the front desk with me. During her break time over lunch one day, my friend and I discussed about manicures and pedicures. Since we both love getting our nails done, it was a great topic to discuss about. My friend told me with her busy lifestyle from attending school, completing homework and projects, working full-time, and spending time with family and friends, she does not really have all the free time to spend doing her own nails. She would spend about every couple weeks at the nail salon between $25-$30 just on both a manicure and pedicure service.  

Recently, I went to meet my friend for dinner at a nice restaurant. I haven’t seen my friend for a very long time and it was very nice to see her as well. We discussed what was going on in our lives. I had asked her if she still currently visits the nail salon with the economy being bad and all. My friend said “no.” She basically told me that she does not have the time anymore since she is on a strict budget with spending now. She recently quit her old job at the spa where we used to work together and works at a new spa located near her house. My friend said with the bad economy occurring, there is no way she can afford to drive back and forth in very long commutes from her house to work each day. With the rising gas prices, it is very smart for people to save every single penny, dime, and dollar. That was what my friend did. She now purchases sets of nail colors to do her own nails at home. It is actually much cheaper and easy-to-do-yourself at home then spending money out of your own pocket every couple weeks. Even though getting a manicure and pedicure ranges about $30 at most nail salons, it does add up. This beauty tip technique at home will save you time and money. You do not need to waste a drive down to the local nail salon to get a manicure and pedicure done anymore. Just start doing your own nails at home for a low costly price.

My sister and I have started doing our own nails at home as well. She used to get manicures and pedicures at the nail salon too and couldn’t believe how much money she was spending. We had started getting into the habit of purchasing and collecting sets of nail colors to do our own nails at home. Even though it takes a bit of time to clean, coat, and dry our nails, it is much cheaper. You can also do your own spa foot treatment at home too. Doesn’t that sound great? So ladies, if you want to save money and time, do your own nails at home and save yourself a trip from driving down to your nail salon. With the tough economic times hindering on us, don’t even waste a single step visiting a nail salon to beautify your nails.   

 

Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and Conditioner

I fell in love with tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner about a year ago. I have first started using these products after hearing great reviews from my hair dresser and friends about it. The use of tea tree oil products on my hair is insanely amazing. I love tea tree oil hair products. Honestly, the use of tea tree oil hair products will magnificently change and save the look of your hair.  

Tea tree shampoo is great for all hair types. It is mainly used for normal to oily hair. The tea tree shampoo helps cleanse and remove the build-up from the hair. The use of hair styling products may be one of the biggest factors of build-up on the hair. It gently cleanses and cleans your hair too. Tea tree shampoo has a very clean, invigorating smell and aroma. Tea tree has a very natural, aromatherapy smell which reminds me of mint leaves. Tea tree shampoo is also very good for dry scalps such as flaky dandruff build-up. This product also adds moisture to your hair. Most tea tree oil hair products are chemical-free, leaving your hair and scalp feeling naturally clean and refreshed. It honestly feels like you just walked out of a nice, swanky hair salon getting a luxurious hair treatment done.

Tea tree conditioner has the same effects as it does with the shampoo. Not only do I love to condition my hair with tea tree oil after shampooing, but I also use it as part of my once-a-week deep conditioning routine. Sometimes I will often go see my hair dresser for a deep conditioning hair treatment. Deep conditioning with tea tree oil conditioner naturally defines the shine, smoothness, and health of my hair. The added moisture in tea tree oil conditioner hydrates my hair too. The use of tea tree oil conditioner leaves my hair feeling fresh, soft, and clean. The tea tree oil has a very light, invigorating, therapeutic cleansed smell. I love it.

You can purchase tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner at your local hair salon, go online,  or at stores that feature the products in the beauty and body care aisle. The use of tea tree oil products has miraculously changed the look of my hair. It not only maintained my hair in a very good way, but my hair feels and looks healthy, soft, and manageable. Tea tree oil products works for all hair types. If you have very dry to oily hair, these products are great. It is not very expensive to purchase tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner either. For a good 16 fl. oz. of tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner costs between $6-$8. It is really not that bad of a price and can be very affordable for your hair. Please do try the luxurious use of tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner for your hair. You will be very amazed with your hair results.    

Want Nice, Soft Hair? Deep Condition!

Have you always wanted to achieve that nice, beautiful, and oh-so-soft hair? Well folks, you most certainly can! Try deep conditioning! I learned this amazing beauty tip technique from my hair stylist at the local beauty salon about two years ago. Honestly, deep conditioning had changed and saved the life of my hair. I have very natural, flat straight hair and sometimes my hair seems kind of “limp.” My hair actually grows out very fast because I have a very long, thick volume of hair. Naturally, it runs in my family that both my mother and sister have thick hair too as well. I was blessed with having nice thick hair. Many people have asked me how I achieved that full thick of hair, maintenance, and even asked if I have hair extensions done.

Every time I visit my hair stylist at her local beauty salon in the downtown area near my house, she always gives me a luxurious deep conditioning hair treatment before any hair cut service. Sweet! Many high-end and local beauty salons charge their clients a full service fee for a deep conditioning service, but my hair stylist does not. She even does my complimentary eyebrow wax for free too. My hair stylist’s name is Phoebe and had been in the hair business owning her own salon for a few years now. I used to maintain a “bob” cut which was getting expensive and the maintenance to keep up with my look was every 8-9 weeks. The maintenance of my “bob” cut was not cheap.

While waiting in the salon lobby, Phoebe took me to the wash bowl area and told me she was going to deep condition my hair. It was my first time to see Phoebe just two years ago and told me the process of deep conditioning can really benefit my hair in a very good healthy way. My hair stylist used a rich, luxurious sweet kiwi conditioner and applied the nice formula all over my hair and gave me a scalp massage too. It helps increase the blood flow in our body as well as softly hydrating the hair. I love scalp massages. Then she put me under the hair dryer for about 10-15 minutes. Phoebe was multi-tasking in between clients and took me to the wash bowl to rinse out my hair before my hair cut service.

Want to know the benefits of deep conditioning your hair? There are actually very good healthy benefits from just deep conditioning your hair. The benefits include:

  • Deep conditioning leaves your hair looking soft and shiny. When the cuticle layers of your hair are damaged, it will become frizzy and dry. Your hair will look “lifeless.” Deep conditioning all the cuticle layers of your hair will help maintain its smoother and soft appearance. It also adds shine to your hair too.  
  • Deep conditioning leaves your hair soft and manageable. Having a deep conditioning treatment will make your hair feel oh-so-soft. This will make your hair feel manageable as well.
  • Deep conditioning adds moisture and hydration to your hair. Our hair goes through many weather changes. When this happens, our hair will tend to look “dull-looking,” and “limp.” The moisture of our hair will then be completely stripped off. The constant use of a hair dryer, hair straightener, or curling iron will damage your hair losing its moisture and elasticity. Deep conditioning your hair will help add moisture and fullness to every single strand.   
  • Deep conditioning protects your hair. This helps strengthen and prevent split ends from ever forming. It is best to deep condition your hair once a week, but if it is done on a regular basis, it will help keep the maintenance of your hair from split ends. Your hair will also build a protect barrier from the use of heated products such as a blow dryer or curling iron.

What’s better then achieving gorgeous, sexy soft hair? I deep condition my hair once a week and leave on the conditioning formula for about 15-20 minutes before rinsing off. It is best to leave your hair in a plastic shower cap or if you have a hair dryer at home, you can sit underneath the dryer while your hair is being done. Rinse your hair after it is done deep conditioning. Then style! Maintaining the fullness, smoothness, and softness of your hair will help keep its healthy look. Use a nice, rich deep conditioning product for your hair too. I recommend kiwi scent or olive oil. You can also choose your own choice of hair conditioner for this luxurious deep conditioning treatment. Deep condition your hair at least once a week or if you use a lot of styling products or heat, deep condition regularly.  

 

Pineapple Facial Mask

It is almost winter weather and our skin may need some extra care and attention; especially our face. During the season of summer and winter months, our skin will tend to flake or dry out in areas of our body. Most importantly, our face is the most crucial facial area to delicately take care of. Skincare is one of the most important lessons to learn to really know what kind of special attention your skin needs. Taking care of the way your skin is now will affect how your skin will be in the near future. It is wise and smart to start taking very good care of your skin now. I was watching a short episode of “Keeping Up with The Kardashian’s” on E! Online one evening. The reality show featured Kim Kardashian preparing a “pineapple facial mask” in her kitchen. I thought to myself, “If pineapples are really healthy and good for us, why not try a pineapple facial?”

I love fruits. Pineapple happens to be one of my favorite delicious fruits on the fruit pyramid. Pineapple contains yellow flesh consisting of a zesty, pungent juice that varies in flavor from sweetly tart to mild. The delicious tropical fruit is also packed with healthy nutrients such as vitamin C (antioxidant), vitamin B1, vitamin B6, potassium, and calcium. There are healthy benefits of giving yourself a pineapple facial mask as well. Pineapples serve as a firming agent on our skin by boosting the process of collagen, lifting off dead skin cells, clearing our skin complexion, and even help with wrinkles from forming. Since our skin go through many weather changes, proper care of the skin and face is vitally important. A pineapple facial mask is great for your skin if you are stressed out, and especially great before heading to bed. This makes a very good once-a-week facial. The pineapple facial mask also contains a natural enzyme working as an astringent and exfoliating ingredient at the same time. It not only cleanses and moisturizes your skin, but great for all skin types. For more information on how to make a luxurious pineapple facial mask, click here.     

Pineapple is not only good for you to eat, but great for your skin as well! Please do try this rejuvenating, invigorating, pineapple facial mask at home. It just takes a couple minutes to make in your kitchen. It is not messy to make either. The clean up is very easy too after mixing up your facial. If you want to try a facial that’s less messy, clean-up, and very easy to make at home, I recommend creating your very own pineapple facial mask. It is also very cheap too. You do not need to head out to some expensive, swanky, high-end spa to receive this kind of facial treatment. I am not a fan of receiving facial treatments at the spa because many ingredients in certain facial products will irritate my skin. You can whip up a bowl of your favorite pineapples into a mask at the comfort and convenience of your own home. This pineapple facial serves as a luscious, exfoliating beauty mask. Doesn’t that sound like a sweet facial?

 

Body Scrubs

Taking good care of your skin is very important. Since we go through a lot of weather changes along with taking care of our own personal lives, it is always good to keep in mind by paying attention to our skins needs. Not only does skin live on our body, but we must take very good care of it as well. One of my favorite beauty techniques in achieving smooth, baby soft skin is by applying body scrub to my skin in the shower 2-3 times a week.

I have been using body scrubs for a very long time. You don’t need to head out to a department store and buy a whole bottle of very expensive body scrub. That is not necessary. My favorite body scrub? I am in love with St. Ives Apricot Body Scrub. There are also the option of using your favorite body wash and adding body scrub for a luxurious shower. It is kind of like adding two steps in one with the best ingredients for your skin. I always use my favorite bath loofah to help exfoliate and scrub my body. This is an excellent bath tool to have as part of your bath caddy. I add all my favorite facial cleansers, scrubs, shampoos, conditioners, shave cream, and soaps all in a beautiful bath caddy hooked onto my shower head. You could also use exfoliating bath mittens or huge body brushes to help scrub your entire body as well. Also, if you are on a strict budget and do not want to splurge on a very expensive spa treatment at the local spa, just do-it-yourself for cheap at home. It saves you time and money too.

There are benefits of using body scrubs. A body scrub is simply a spa treatment that helps exfoliate, soften, smoothes, and moisturizes your skin. It reveals a soft, clean, and smooth skin complexion as well. An abrasive body scrub product is applied all over the skin and massaged. This process lifts off dead flaky skin, which is then rinsed off leaving your skin feeling fresh and clean with baby soft skin. Applying body scrub may feel like rough sand paper on your skin, but it is not. It is just simply a luxurious cheap spa treatment you can do for yourself in your own bath or shower. What I love about body scrubs is that it isn’t too harsh or irritating on your skin. Many facial cleansers and body washes usually consist of scrub beads. This is also an excellent option to use as well. You can also make your own body scrub at home too. My favorite is adding brown sugar and honey.

The many benefits of body scrub include:

  • Improve the circulation of blood and lymph.
  • Help fight cellulite.
  • Improve skin tone.
  • Opens your pores.

Body scrubs are great for everyone to use. It is best used 2-3 times a week. Our skin is pretty much our best friend, so treating it with a luxurious spa treatment at home is very important. Not only is it affordable, but a fun skincare experience!

Add Potpourri to your house!

Want to add a bit of fresh, natural scent to your house? Add potpourri! I used to be a housecleaner and would see many home owners add potpourri to their bathrooms. I remembered when I was just a small child coming over to my parent’s friend’s house and seeing potpourri displayed all around their house. Potpourri adds a light, fresh scent to any room in the house whether it is the bathroom (most common), living room, office, or a guest room. In many public places such as a luxurious hotel or elegant 4-star restaurant, potpourris are sometimes displayed in bathrooms.

Potpourri is basically a mixture of dried roses, plants or flowers, which are naturally scented to provide a light, natural scent in houses. Most often potpourri are added into wooden bowls, or placed in small silky sachet cloths that are tied tightly to keep in the scent and moisture. The use of potpourri gives the house a clean, pleasant scent. What I like about potpourri is that the smell is not too overpowering, musky or strong like men’s cologne or Glade’s scented fragrance collection. I used to work in the retail business and quite honestly, I am not a fan of heavy perfume or cologne scents or very strong home fragrance collections either. A variety of chemicals inside perfumes and home fragrances are too much and the scents do not even smell that great too. I would prefer a scent that was much lighter, fresher, and natural. That is just my preference. I am sure many people have different tastes in scents as well.

The word “potpourri” is actually a French word which was later transferred into the English language. There are various meanings of how the word “potpourri” came into the French and English language. Some believed that the word came from a French town. The word “pot” has the same meaning as it does in the Spanish and English language as the word “pourri” means rotten. During the 17th century era, the French would gather up fresh herbs, flowers, mint leaves, and roses around the warm spring and summer months. The herbs, flowers, fresh leaves, and roses would then be left out in a dry area to become limp. Once they were all limp, sea salt would be sprinkled on. Many different types of scents and fragrances would also be added as well to the potpourri and then stirred in a bowl or container until it achieved that quality, alluring fragrant scent.

Many naturally scented ingredients added into traditional potpourri consist of:

  • cinnamon bark 
  • all spice 
  • cloves 
  • fennel seeds 
  • jasmine flowers/oil 
  • lemon peels 
  • lavender leaves 
  • orange peels
  • rosemary leaves
  • rose flowers
  • mint leaves/flowers

Potpourri can be purchased at many local stores and fragrant shops. You could also purchase fresh potpourri online as well. It is best to keep them fresh in a pot, vase, or bowl sealed tightly to lock in the moisture and scent. I love to add potpourri to my bathroom. Adding potpourri all over the house is great too or even in the car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hair Politics

An interesting read in the New York Times this week, by a woman in her 50s who prefers to keep her hair long.  It seems that this confounds some people, although they seem not to realize it. 

I hadn't thought about it, but I have had some odd reactions to my hair, as well.  I'm pushing 40, and I have always kept my hair long. 

(Mostly because, being thick and coarse and curly, it's a lot easier to manage when it's long.  Just clip it back with some barrettes or a headband, and you're done.  When it's shorter it tends to stick out at wacky angles, or encircle my head like an awkward "middle-aged white woman afro.")

However, about two years ago I cut it all short.  Really short!  About an inch long all around.  There were two reasons for this: I wanted to donate my hair to Locks of Love, and I had just broken my right wrist, which made hair maintenance impossible.  (Ever tried to put your hair back in a ponytail using only your non-dominant hand?  I pray you never have to.) 

I was surprised by the lack of surprise, frankly.  People were a little startled, but they didn't exclaim over the change the way they had when I was younger.  I did the same thing - grow it long and cut it short - back when I was about 19.  The way people had carried on back then, you would have thought my hair was a valuable natural resource.

This time, as my hair gradually grew back in, people started to ask about it.  "When are you going to get it cut again?" my stepmother asked.  "Soon, or are you planning to grow it in a little more?"  Her question - which was genuine, and not meant as a criticism - reflected her belief that I wouldn't keep growing it out long. 

In fact, the longer it grew back in, the more it caused people consternation.  I think people find it particularly disturbing because after I cut it back, I stopped dyeing it.  Some people seem to find visible gray hair - even on other people - extremely upsetting.

"Well, too bad," has been my opinion on that point.  I spotted my first gray hair at 16, and it progressed steadily from there.  At this point my hair is about 50% gray.  And after dyeing it, month in and month out, for over 20 years?  Yeah.  Enough.  The cost alone ($10/box, 2 boxes each treatment, 12 treatments a year… I can't even bring myself to do the math) is bad enough.  The chemical burden, perhaps worse.  The fuss and mess and hassle?  I do not miss it.  Not one bit.

My hair isn't nearly as long as Dominique Browning's.  It's only just past my collar (the curls mean that it has to grow farther to get longer than someone with straight hair).  But it's already longer than the social norm for a woman my age. 

I tell you what, though: my mother adopted the "middle-aged white woman afro" when she was my age.  And I would pretty much rather die than wear my mother's haircut. 

Photo credit: Flickr/moniquewingard

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