There are Fridays and then there are FRIDAYS. Yesterday was the latter kind.
If you have been a regular reader of my blog then you must know a fair bit about my hair troubles by now. For those who aren’t, I’m always there to recount those tales for you. So, yesterday something happened that made me think of an incident that happened long back in the year 2008. Yes, an incident related to my hair, what else?
It was early 2008; just a few months into my work life in Bangalore. My solo journey in the big bad world had just begun. How bad was it really? Well, I was about to find out, wasn’t I? And that too on a sunny afternoon outside an ATM Vestibule. So, this is what happened? As I stood in a long queue to withdraw some cash, the lady behind suddenly called out saying ‘Excuse me, Miss. Hope you don’t mind but you know you have really awful hair? I pity you’. Yes, she said that to my face and in so many words. For a moment I stood there, staring at her, trying to figure out if she was someone I knew but I didn’t. I felt insulted and puzzled being told off by a complete stranger. Falling short of words I turned away, withdrew money and headed home with a head of despicable hair.
That was about 7 years ago but I have actually been struggling with my curly hair ever since I can remember. A hairy heart break is what it has always been for me. But everything that is becomes everything that was one day. So, how long could this status quo continue? And just like that, I woke up one day with a new found acceptance for my brittle, dry and unmanageable hair. Alright, it didn’t happen overnight but the bottom line is it did happen. Just like that, I realized I was in love with my curls.
And yesterday something happened that reinforced this love further. It was late afternoon, a Friday, the weekend almost there. As a rule, everybody was in a good mood already and so was I. But what happened next improved my mood by many folds.
I was washing my hands when suddenly a woman entered the washroom. I didn’t notice at first but she kept stealing glances at my hair. For a moment, the clock turned back and placed me in the ATM queue once again. Was the acceptance finally wavering, those doubts about my hair resurfacing? A voice suddenly brought me out of my reverie. It was she saying ‘How do you maintain your curls? I try but it never works.‘
Imagine me standing there, wide eyed. Flummoxed is the right word perhaps. I didn’t know what to say. Would hugging her be the right response? No, I guess not. What could I tell her? It seemed like ages before I spoke but I finally did. Told her I don’t do anything special except oiling my hair. Of course, I couldn’t stop there, could I? So, I went on to add that if I don’t oil my hair it keeps standing, defying gravity. That I guess was a little too much information, something she didn’t need to hear. But it was a gaffe worthy of being overlooked for my hair story had finally come full circle.
No, I still don’t have Rapunzel’s hair and that’s fine. What I have is my very own brand of curly hair that defines me, makes me unique and I’m finally very content with. If today I meet that woman from the ATM queue, I would tell her just that!
Tell me your hair story now. Go on!
If you have been a regular reader of my blog then you must know a fair bit about my hair troubles by now. For those who aren’t, I’m always there to recount those tales for you. So, yesterday something happened that made me think of an incident that happened long back in the year 2008. Yes, an incident related to my hair, what else?
It was early 2008; just a few months into my work life in Bangalore. My solo journey in the big bad world had just begun. How bad was it really? Well, I was about to find out, wasn’t I? And that too on a sunny afternoon outside an ATM Vestibule. So, this is what happened? As I stood in a long queue to withdraw some cash, the lady behind suddenly called out saying ‘Excuse me, Miss. Hope you don’t mind but you know you have really awful hair? I pity you’. Yes, she said that to my face and in so many words. For a moment I stood there, staring at her, trying to figure out if she was someone I knew but I didn’t. I felt insulted and puzzled being told off by a complete stranger. Falling short of words I turned away, withdrew money and headed home with a head of despicable hair.
That was about 7 years ago but I have actually been struggling with my curly hair ever since I can remember. A hairy heart break is what it has always been for me. But everything that is becomes everything that was one day. So, how long could this status quo continue? And just like that, I woke up one day with a new found acceptance for my brittle, dry and unmanageable hair. Alright, it didn’t happen overnight but the bottom line is it did happen. Just like that, I realized I was in love with my curls.
And yesterday something happened that reinforced this love further. It was late afternoon, a Friday, the weekend almost there. As a rule, everybody was in a good mood already and so was I. But what happened next improved my mood by many folds.
I was washing my hands when suddenly a woman entered the washroom. I didn’t notice at first but she kept stealing glances at my hair. For a moment, the clock turned back and placed me in the ATM queue once again. Was the acceptance finally wavering, those doubts about my hair resurfacing? A voice suddenly brought me out of my reverie. It was she saying ‘How do you maintain your curls? I try but it never works.‘
Imagine me standing there, wide eyed. Flummoxed is the right word perhaps. I didn’t know what to say. Would hugging her be the right response? No, I guess not. What could I tell her? It seemed like ages before I spoke but I finally did. Told her I don’t do anything special except oiling my hair. Of course, I couldn’t stop there, could I? So, I went on to add that if I don’t oil my hair it keeps standing, defying gravity. That I guess was a little too much information, something she didn’t need to hear. But it was a gaffe worthy of being overlooked for my hair story had finally come full circle.
No, I still don’t have Rapunzel’s hair and that’s fine. What I have is my very own brand of curly hair that defines me, makes me unique and I’m finally very content with. If today I meet that woman from the ATM queue, I would tell her just that!
Tell me your hair story now. Go on!
***
Linking this to Write Tribe’s 100 words on Saturday. Yes, I know it’s more than 100 words but I just couldn’t stop!
My hair story is kinda different and weird. I can get it to be curly when I want to, and straight when I need it to be straight! The only thing I can't control is the days on which this magical phenomenon happens! 😀
I can totally understand your hairy problem, a friend of mine has hair like this, and frankly, it takes her all of her self control and patience to stop her from just snipping off all her hair! :p
I love your curls! They look so good, though I guess they might require a little bit more care and maintenance than regular hair. I have wavy hair and let me tell you that such hair are really BAD 😀
Do you really wanna hear my hair story ? haha
Why do we all want to conform to the same idea of beauty? Everyone's hair is different. It's good to know you've accepted yours and appreciate it at last. Hugs.
I love curly hair. its true that we all envy the other's hair better then then our own. thank fully my hair is manageable and monthly parlour trips help
I have wavy hair and I seriously don't know what to do with it except iron them every week after a wash. I love your curls, they look more tamed that by frizzy explosive hair.
Naba I love curly hair ,but I know it is very difficult to maintain them.My mother had curly hair and she used to get bugged very often.
I am clueless how that lady in Bangalore can say what she said being a stranger! X(
Anyway when another one gave you compliment it made me smile. Curls are very difficult to maintain. A lot of women in my family have hard curls and are always conscious about them. Even my mother had curls like those but with time her strands straightened! Nice one. 🙂
Haha well don't we all have those exceptionally wonderful hair days once in a blue moon? 😀 And tell your friend I understand her hairy problems 🙂
Thanks Shilpa 🙂 my mom has wavy hair too but atleast her's follow gravity, so there's that…
hehe why not?
True Francene..I guess it's drilled in our minds in some way..
Thanks. Hugs right back at you
Ahh for me parlour trips too didn't work so I stick to oiling now 🙂
Oh the oil helps in taming those curls, otherwise I become an Einstein lookalike 🙂
Yes, it is Usha ji..so difficult to maintain truly!
Thanks Shesha…Yes curls do make us conscious …I'm always wondering if they are sitting or standing defying gravity making me look like Einstein 🙂
You've got beautiful curls and I wish I had them.. Mine are straight without an iron and it works for me. But some days I wish I had the oomph of the curled ones 😉
The lady at the ATM was rude, sometimes people hurt others unintentionally but in her case it wasn't so. Love your curls, I have dry, wavy, and rough hair 🙂
I love curls and I love yours. I still can;t decide whether mine is curly or not. One t day they go with curls and next day wavy and another day straight. Sigh!
I have the same amazingly unmanageable, dry and frizzy hair. I try to maintain them but fail miserably. Could you do a post on your daily hair care routine?
I have curly hair by birth and my story ends in short lines….!! huhu
Ahh straight without an iron…do you know what I would have given to have that?
Thanks Sulekkha 🙂 Your hair suits you 🙂
And yes I guess she was and it kind of hurt me…
Thanks Sheethal & see you have magical hair! Variety , all curled into one 🙂
I don't do much Pooja, just oil my hair after washing it…I have to wash almost daily, just with water and one or two days in a week I shampoo but I make it a point to oil my wet hair and not disturb it much..So the curls stay…Maybe I'll do a post about it 🙂
It's a short & sweet story then 🙂
How could someone be so rude? Was she trying to sell you something? You've got a head of beautiful, healthy hair! I'm glad wear it with pride! 🙂
well..!! I'm still wondering about that woman at the ATM machine.. she really must be having the balls to tell people stuff about them.. On the other end, I too struggle with curly hair.. Have got them straightened for a while.. but now I have my curls back again and for a change I'm starting to like them.. 3 years straight hair in a row.. My hair need a break now and these curls are doing wonders for me.. I like your curls.. I wish oil could work for me as well..
Cheers
haha Nabita mine is very simple, hair yesterday, gone today.
The grass is greener on the other side. Hai na? 😛
Thanks Corinne…Better late than never right? 🙂
As long as we are happy with our head of hair I think that's perfect… But yes someone telling something so rude does stay with you and not in a good way!
haha Sharmila…That is short and to the point, isn't it?
The woman was rude. I often wonder why people make such personal remarks.
I agree Lata….I often wonder the same