Saturday, May 1, 2010

Bad Hair Days

We all get them.  It doesn't matter who you are, some days your hair just doesn't want to cooperate.  It may be too frizzy, or it may be too limp and lank.  People make jokes about bad hair days, but I've been around long enough to know that it's not funny to most people.  If something negative is going on in your life, a bad hair day can only make you feel worse.  Somehow people tend to grab onto that as their focus instead of thinking about the bigger things in life that are distressing.  And really, that's no joke.

Sometimes you know why your hair is misbehaving.  It could be high humidity, rain, or a real lack of humidity. Other times, it's a mystery.

There are so many variables that can cause bad hair days. You may think that you've treated your hair the way you always do, but you may have put in just an extra bit of conditioner, or a little less than usual.  You may not have rinsed your hair long enough.  Your hair may have dried in an unusual position, so it may show a strange part or cowlick.

Another thing that I notice is that there are certain length stages that one goes through that seem to be awkward.  No matter what you try, nothing seems to make your hair look right.  These stages always pass, but it can be difficult to realize that when you're in the midst of it.

The thing is, bad hair days can really get you down, and if you have too many in a row, it can be discouraging not only to your process of growing out your hair, but to how you feel in general, especially if you're going through other more real stresses.

Often people will give in on a whim and decide to give in to a major chop when they're feeling down about their hair.  And just as often, people regret it and in turn feel worse about themselves.

There are things you can do to cope with awkward phases and bad hair days.

First of all, make sure that you learn at least one or two good, efficient, foolproof hairstyles that are easy to do.  There are styles that work for every length imaginable.  If your hair is too short to make a nice bun, it is likely long enough to make a French Twist or a Gibson Tuck.  Take the time to learn how to French Braid if you don't already know how to do so.

It may seem daunting, but everyone can learn some simple styles.

Secondly, make sure that in your purse or you backpack, you keep a nice hair accessory or two.  Depending on the length of your hair, what accessory you carry may differ.

I always keep a hair clip, a hair stick and a ponytail holder in my bag.  What you carry is up to you.  Just make sure you always have something to fall back on if your hair is getting out of control.

When all else fails, put your hair up every day for a while and forget about it. 

Bad hair days really don't have to be so bad.  It's not worth cutting over.

3 comments:

  1. "Often people will give in on a whim and decide to give in to a major chop when they're feeling down about their hair. And just as often, people regret it and in turn feel worse about themselves."

    Amen and I can relate. I should have left mine alone. The bad thing is that I keep thinking about going even shorter to try to remedy the problem. And I forget the loose and aging face hanging below it all. Not in a good hair place and haven't been in a good long while.

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  2. AutumnLeaves, I think we all go through wondering just what is going to look best with our ever-aging faces.

    The whole thing is, there is no magic answer. Some people are short-hairs at heart, some people feel best with shoulder length hair, and others like me are longhairs. I think you need to figure out where your heart lies in one of those categories, and then just try to make the best out of that.

    Easier said than done, I know.

    I don't know about you, but when I was in my 20's, I was rarely in a bad hair place for more than a day or two at a time. It does seem to become more of an issue with age, I find.

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  3. Very wise comments, thanks for sharing.

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