When I was trying to think of a (catchy) title for this blog post, I just couldn’t go past “Happening Hair”.
While both our kids were baldy bubs, it seemed to take a lot longer for Miss 24’s hair to grow in. So we used to make a joke of it, based on the famous shampoo ad of the day:
It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen. It’s happening hair!“
But enough about the kids and their hair, let’s talk about me and my hair 😉 .
I must confess: up until the last few years, I never wore my hair up.
It’s not that I don’t love an updo – I do! Whether it’s a ponytail, bun or any other variation, I’ve long admired those who could pull it off. I remember being envious of girls with long and thick bunches or braids in primary school, or a high, sleek and bouncy ponytail tied with ribbon when I was in high school.
But when I styled my hair in a similar fashion, I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror.
Once the husbear came along, he tried to convince me to wear it up more often but his words fell on deaf ears.
Here are just some of the reasons I rarely wore my hair up:
- My hair is very fine, so my ponytail is quite puny (these days though I’m tempted to try a clip in ponytail or bun!).
- It would reveal my ears, which stick out a bit (one more than the other).
- I thought it looked too severe on me.
- My hair was usually layered, making it hard to capture into an updo.
- Also, fine hair is soft silky hair – which means hairclips, elastic bands and the like also won’t stay put.
- I couldn’t hide behind my hair if it was tied up.
- I felt like I needed hair to frame my face and make me feel feminine and pretty.
- And … I wasn’t very good at doing my own hair up.
Nowadays it’s a very different story, which is ironic given that I am probably now past the age when a ponytail topped off with a scrunchie is appropriate … but that’s not gonna stop me!
So what has changed my mind?
It’s been a gradual osmosis, that probably started about five or so years ago when I wanted to break the habit of washing and styling my hair every day (ain’t nobody got time for that).
I very quickly found that a ponytail or messy bun was a great way to disguise hair that needed a wash.
I also got better at doing them, mostly thanks to the guidance of Miss 24. I started to experiment and practise and eventually learned how to create a passable ponytail or messy bun.
I learned that having the right tools helps immensely – things like combs to hold straggly bits in place, dry shampoo or volumising spray to create grip, and a mirror in the bathroom placed strategically so I could see the back easily.
My ponytail might still be puny but that’s nothing a bit of backcombing and teasing can’t fix.
These days, I usually wear my hair up. It’s comfortable (especially in our humid Queensland summers) and practical (I hate having hair blowing into my mouth or eyes).
It’s also a great way to show off my earrings 😉 (although with the need to wear face masks that can get a bit annoying, as they all get tangled up together).
But most of all, I’ve grown accustomed to my face (to misquote the song from My Fair Lady) and don’t want to hide it anymore.
For all its flaws (which are probably only visible to me anyway, unless I point them out), it’s a kind, smiley face and I’m happy to show it off!
What’s your “go to” hairstyle – up or down, or maybe your hair is short?
