The other morning, I was doing my hair. I didn’t want to take a ton of time to style it, but I also didn’t want to put my hair up in the usual messy bun. That’s when I gave thanks for the nifty little device that I bought on a whim last year.
One of the things I both hate and love about Facebook is the fact that you are sent targeted ads. On one hand it is entirely and absolutely creepy and scary, on the other hand, I see some really excellent products that I didn’t even know existed. I bought the L’ange LeVite Straightening Brush one day after seeing those ads pop up on my feed almost every day for at least a month. I figured it would be a fun thing to try. Holy cow! It is so nice and easy. I can brush my hair and have it looking like I just had the salon do a blowout in my hair.
After taking the time to stop and be grateful for a minute, I started to think about my hair story.
Childhood Hair
You see, when I was little, my hair was stick straight. I looked at all the people with gorgeous curly hair and was jealous. I hated my straight hair. It’s funny how the tables turn.
At about age 8 or so, I started getting perms. The curls just never exactly became those amazing spirals that I saw on other people.
I remember reading about rag curls in one of my books–I think from the Little House on the Prairie series. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to do that. It didn’t work.
Then, at about age 11 or 12, I bought a set of Benders. I remember plugging in that bag and waiting for the foam rods to get hot. Then, I would meticulously wrap up sections of hair. Then, trying to sleep on a head full of these curlers was quite an adventure. I did a whole lot of experimenting with trying to get the perfect set of curls. It didn’t work.
I remember begging my mom to pay for a spiral perm. I think I even had to pay some of my babysitting money to make it happen. Then, I went in with such high hopes and came out with my hair looking permed as usual. No perfect curls in sight, just a super wavy frizz. I was so disappointed.
High School Hair
One time, in my Junior year of high school, I asked my hairdresser what she thought I should do with my hair. I had been contemplating a big change but wasn’t sure what that would be. She confidently suggested that I cut it short. So I did.
My hair stayed short through the rest of high school and a couple years into college. It was annoying though, because I had to really style my hair every day or it looked horrible.
Finally, Some Curls!!
When I grew my hair back out, I had curls! My hair is completely crazily naturally curly now. I love it a lot of the time, but there are also those times when I wonder what I was thinking when I was young and yearning for curls. That’s when I am absolutely grateful for the tools that help me tame these bouncing spirals.
It is crazy how my desires about my hair have gone full circle. Now, instead of trying to find perfect curls, I work to find the perfect straightening tool. I am very content with my hair. It’s part of me. And I love that it is a little rebellious.
This post is a part of the 14th annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. After a few years away, I am challenging myself to write every day in March this year, along with an amazing community of other bloggers. You can find our writing linked up on the Two Writing Teachers blog.
We’ve had similar hair journeys! My hair was jet straight as a kid, then started to get curly when I hit puberty and was quite curly (except a few annoying pieces on the front left) by high school. I loved the curls at first, then started wishing for straight hair because it’s so much easier. I straightened it for my first several years of teaching, then started wearing it curly again. Now I’m proud of my mostly-curly hair because it’s unique (even though it’s work)!
I enjoyed how your blog was divided into sections. We must be about the same age because I vividly remember those Benders and getting a perm. I had stick straight hair growing up and tried everything to get it to curl. Now my hair is half curly – the bottom half and the back – so I may benefit from the straightening brush you mentioned. Thanks!