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May 12, 2005
Good Hair Day
I just got the ultimate compliment from another woman. One of my co-workers asked me where I get my hair cut. I think it's a compliment, anyway. There are only about 4 women in this office, so there's not that many people for her to ask. But I'll take it.
What struck me is the way I immediately warmed to this topic. My stance relaxed, I leaned jauntily on the copy machine, and I got downright chatty. I told her where I went, and that before this place I'd gone to another place that was just way too expensive. I also didn't like the way that at this other place you had to call at least two weeks in advance to be able to get an appointment--I never know what my hair is going to be doing, so I just can't give them that much lead time.
Anyway, this was all undoubtedly more than my co-worker needed to know. But I love talking about my hair--its current state, its evolution, my goals for it. I think this has to do with acceptance of myself. It's a way of saying that I worry about myself and my self-image, and do you really think that I'm OK? It also put me and my co-worker on a more even playing field. She's always been a little prickly, and talking hair made her seem more human.
Sometimes, the things I love talking about worry me. I have a Ph.D. in art history, but it's not art, generally, that I like talking about. It's dumb little things. Just ask my best friend what happens when you get me started on Duran Duran--especially if you say something bad about them or if they're not included on a show about top music videos of the eighties (this actually happened--I can't imagine what moron put this show together).
I think I might still be a teen inside. Hair and music videos. Geez.
On the other hand, maybe it's these little things that make us human. Or maybe I just want to go back to a simpler (?) time of life when it really was all about hair. I remember that before going into band practice in middle school, I'd lean over and then violently flip my head back in order to add volume to my hair. Do you remember this, M.?
Well, this is certainly not one of the more inspired posts I've ever written, but our minds can't always be trained on things exalted, can they? Sometimes, you just want to have a good hair day, and that's as good as it gets.
Posted by Lisa at May 12, 2005 11:53 AM
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Comments
Flipping the head back and forth for instant lift was a mere example our full repetoire. Surely you remember the picks, the teasing, the crunchy bangs? True effort began directly out of the shower: Only a harsh towel drying, followed by a precise mixture of mousse and gel (ah, the days before Tres Semme)and high air wattage applied from the basic position of a reclining opposum could guarantee a shot of having decent hair. Even then it was a real crap shoot.
Hmmmmm. Perhaps your fixation with good hair and D2 were not too far asunder?
Posted by: Best Friend, aka M at May 12, 2005 12:39 PM