by Deborah Nies

Created on: April 19, 2009

I Have Naturally Curly Hair

It's taken a long time, but I have come to an understanding with my naturally curly hair. I AM Frieda, from the Charlie Brown gang, who told anyone who'd listen, "I have naturally curly hair." That's me, too. People ask me all the time, "Is your hair naturally curly? When I reply, "Yes, it is," I have been greeted with this reply a few times, "I hate you," usually followed by a smile. It seems that there are people that yearn for curly hair.

Well, when I was a child, I hated my hair. I wanted straight hair. Long and stick straight hair was so groovy in the 70's and I had the exact opposite. My hair was frizzy and unmanageable and unruly. Come to think of it, that is an accurate picture of ME then and now, too!

Today, I have reached an understanding with my hair. I have wash and wear hair. I wash it, I comb it out, I gel it, and it becomes (nearly) uniformly curly ringlets. That's it. I don't blow dry. No curling iron. I finger comb it or fluff it during the day to "manage" it. (That's funny...like it can BE managed.) I can trim my bangs myself, because no one would be able to tell if they are straight or not. My hair does not get messed up on windy days - or at least it doesn't appear any messier than usual. I spend less than 5 minutes on my hair...a day. Some would say, "Hey, it shows." Guess what? I do not care. I think that I was given the type of hair that fits me and my life. I will never have a gorgeous hairdo, but I have extra TIME not allotted to hair slavery, and a daughter who tells me that I'm beautiful.

My hair products? That kills me when the hair stylist asks, "Would you like some product in your hair?" The word "product" is vague to me. Shampoo and conditioner? The cheapest or the coolest bottle. Gel - firm and cheap. Hair cuts - Who's having a sale? Cost Cutters or Great Clips? Just learned how to cut hair...whatever. As long as you don't cut my bangs too short, I'll pay your $12.00.

I have friends who call themselves "hair sluts." They feel badly when they "cheat" on their primary haircare provider, by trying out someone new. They worry that their "hair spouse" will discover their infidelity. I say if you're paying $100+ for a cut and color, who cares what they think?

But back to me...here's the thing, today I sort of messed up my hair. I decided that it was time to cover the gray and to go a little darker shade for the winter. I was reddish-blonde for the summer. I was a little concerned when I looked in the mirror prior to getting into the shower to wash out the hair color. It seemed.....dark...and purplish. It is now dry and it is still dark and burgundy. I got out the Crayola crayon box and I have decided that it is a shiny coppery color called "burnt umber." What the hell is 'umber' anyway?

That in itself is not really the problem. The real problem is that I have light, non-existent blonde eyebrows. I have dark hair and no eyebrows. It looks sort of ridiculous. I now have to return to Walgreens and find something to color in some eyebrows. I guess that's my line in the sand. I will not be a slave to my hair, but I don't want to scare small children either...somewhere in the middle would be fine.

P.S. My grandma, Lillian, still dyes her hair at nearly 80 years old. JET black...so black that sometimes it appears to have a bluish tint. I love that woman.

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