Hair

[Hopalong]

My inner cavewoman salutes yours, sister Mouse.

Hair has represented class and beauty throughout history in many cultures. But at the same time, there's implied luxury in having the time and supplies one would need to create those well-dressed tresses. Looking back, I wish I'd rejected the toxic chemicals I rubbed into my skin -- especially hair color.

I absolutely comprehend that there is joy and playfulness within playing with appearance, and I can celebrate those too. I love color, fabric and creativity. But way too often for my comfort, that playfulness morphs into pressure, and twists women's self esteem from a young age. That I dislike intensely. Little girls stuggle with eating disorders at 10, some cut their bodies to release the pain they carry.

I miss having what was accidentally (iow, biological quirk) beautiful thick hair when I was young. It gave me advantage points in the unspoken competition for males, or positive approval from adults when I was little, or a confidence in being viewed,  stepping out, etc. EXTERNALLY I was "good", not due to any quality of character.

Like facial features or anything else physical my hair was pure biological accident. What I've always disliked about the "beauty pressure" in our culture is the way it separates woman from woman and awards "pretty points" that unjustly exclude those who for physical or economic or any other reasons, can't focus on the never-ending search for beauty. Plus, I loathe the whole industry that begins when we are tiny to tell us our female bodies aren't okay as they are and we're supposed to be self-conscious about how we look every day of our lives. Black girls have it double.

Had I money to waste, I'd look better I'm sure -- I'd have services and products and appointments and massages and as much feminine ease as I wanted. But since I don't, I don't. Saves time to keep it simple but I doubt I'll ever be fully free of a thread of tension over various appearance things.

Over many years I've found step by step that it's more fulfilling to focus on other kinds of beauty -- the beauty of other humans old or young, nature, animals, interactions that are loving and not assessing.

Almost as good as caffeine, a nice morning rant. Whew.

hugs
Hops

[Meh]

To each her own as far as style goes. Sometimes one wants to do it and other times a person doesn't want to. Here, recently there was a windstorm that knocked out power, knocked down trees etc. It sort of felt like a tornado. I went to the dentist and the hygienist was picking leaves and twigs from my hair saying that ladies should do this for each other lol. Face it, doing hair and makeup also means one isn't caught in a rainstorm or whatnot. So much of women's fashion is really based on a kind of person set-apart from working class like you say. The high heels and what not they really aren't practical no matter what people say about it.

All of that being said. Setting aside some time to focus on oneself is ultimately good. It's good to care for oneself it really is, but I'd rather get paint on my fingernails, go hiking, look at beautiful windy landscapes, dig up some onions or whatever instead of looking a woman who is made-up because she needs to see herself that way.

This is a society where for a female to put her best foot forward it does often involve something Geisha-like for me it feels a bit not me. Also, I've got sensitive skin there is no eyeliner or eyeshadow that doesn't bother my eyes I'm not kidding.

I've got some sunscreen with coloring in it so it's sort of like a bit of makeup and that is all I do, for me that is my 'make up'

Still, I've had a super pretty haircut before that I loved and it did make me feel nice, I just don't have that cut anymore.

Teenage girls often instinctually like to do all this stuff, the hair, the clothes, the nail painting maybe it's even developmental phases where some people don't want to do it anymore. Maybe it really does come down to money or lifestyle and how a person was raised.

I've got a friend who is very nice and she loves to read she really doesn't care that much about clothes but sometimes I just wish I could give her a makeover. I get it, looking at other people knowing that if they got a different haircut and color with highlights once and got a couple of new outfits it would really transform their appearance at least. Sometimes there is an issue of some kind of social awareness. I'm rambling.

Dressing and looking nice first all requires a little bit of a blessing to have a decent figure, a decent face from the start, a certain age too, but then on top of that to be able to dress stylishly is sort of a social game, some women don't feel comfortable around other women who don't quite dress right- I've had female bosses like this.

The happy middle point is for people to do what they feel like doing I guess.

[Hopalong]

Amen to that last line!

And never forgetting you are an artist, I bet you'd do beautiful makeovers.
Even though I don't go for the madeup style, I've enjoyed The Makeover Guy stories on YouTube. It's fun to see worn-out women's energy lift like that.

Love what the hair stylist said because it made me think of how animals of so many kinds love grooming each other. Same instinct I'd bet. Dunno what Barbie has to do with it, it's the bonding human touch I find so lovely and comforting.

Nice ramble, Mouse.

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

For me, caring about my hair, after 15 years of not, means I'm not playing dead anymore. 

I want an easy braided way to wear my hair so I don't have to fight with it so often.  I'm tired of brushing knots out daily.

It's for me and no one else. 

Lighter

[Meh]

For me, caring about my hair, after 15 years of not, means I'm not playing dead anymore. 

I want an easy braided way to wear my hair so I don't have to fight with it so often.  I'm tired of brushing knots out daily.

It's for me and no one else. 

Lighter

Yep, that sounds good. Sometimes more attention on looks is a type of self nurturing. If you enjoy it and it makes you feel good then go for it    

[lighter]

I went in to Ulta today and bought some little clear hair ties, a couple kinds of chunky hair scrunchies I can triple up and a french hair braiding...... thing.  It looks like you put chunks of hair into it and it holds them for you. Will see.

I phoned my old martial arts instructor and asked if he'd braid my hair.... teach me some tricks. He told me to do what I'm doing..... watch Youtube vids. 

I'm enjoying a super high pony tail right now...... way up high..... feels more like me again.

Lighter