I knew when I clean
ed out the bathroom cupboards, I would uncover a plethora of hair products and appliances. I've spent a small fortune over a span of many years, looking for the right product that would relax my natural curls...., but not too much so.Except for a short period in the 70's when I surrendered to the curl and donned my version of the "afro", I've spent most of my life trying to find the no muss, no fuss hairdo that would work best for my hair. Why does it seems that those natural curls look good on everyone else, yet so messy on me?
My earliest memories of my naturally hair aren't actually real memories, but a story I heard from my mom many times. She told me of how she would cut my hair to about two inches long all over my head with a razor blade. I would then go door to door to show off my curls to the neighbors. This probably only happened once, but the way Mom told it, it sounded like something that happened at least every six weeks. I'm sure my neighbors looked forward to these visits, which were probably similar to watching a Shirley Temple movie. Or at least I thought so.
Beginning in Jr. High, I made several attempts to straighten my hair, using various products and home remedies. My best friend, Karen, was often solicited to help with this task. On one particularly painful afternoon, Karen ironed my hair. It seemed like a great idea, as I sat in a chair with my hair splayed out on the ironing board behind me. That was all fine and good until the steam escaped from the iron and burned my scalp. I remember the pain of the blistering and healing result of that attempt.
On several occasions, my brother, Larry and I each contributed $1.75 to purchase one set of Curl Free; one of two hair straightening products offered at that time. The other was called Straight Set. Larry and I would split the contents and go through what I recall to be a long process of combing some very smelly goup through our hair, only to find that the effects only lasted until the next shampooing. Being the resourceful preteens that we were, we would then write a scathing letter to the to company to complain about the ineffectiveness of their product, leaving out the minor detail that we had split the process between us. Of course, the company responded with not only a letter of apology, but two complete packages of Curl Free. We were quite thrilled at the response, but of course, the full process didn't work any better.
I recently made yet another attempt to "let my hair grow" (an odd expression, as pointed out my my brother, George). The rumor in the world of curly hair is that longer hair results in heavier hair, and the extra weight supposedly weighs down the curl. Not so.
Once again, I've surrendered to the curls, and I'm now sporting a short, curly "do." However, I've still not found the easy, "wash and wear" hair style that I'm supposed to have, according to those who have straight hair. The good news is I have an abundance of products and hair appliances to sort through, once again, hoping to finally achieve the results I want.
And, at the same time, I've now added another issue.....the "to color or not to color" dilemma, but that's "a whole-nother" blog for "a whole-nother" day.
ah, but... see, i was waiting for the conclusion that you've now decided to embrace your curls! my epiphanic moment came in high school when my friend cam finally persuaded me to 'let my hair grow' (well, and there was also the fact that the girls LOVED my curls). now, aside from every 8-10(+) months when i shave my hair back, i let the curls go. even when it gets to a point that i think is too long, everyone else seems to love it. so i let it go. my sense is that these curls that seem to look good on everyone else but you, look just as good on you.
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