November 30, 2005
What’s the big hairy deal?
Written by RobynDeHart in Jaunty PostFellow Avon author, Jacquie D’Allasandro has told me on more than one occasion that I have heroine hair. This is a great compliment, but it’s time that the truth came out. I have naturally curly hair. Okay…I have mostly naturally curly hair, with some of it naturally, let’s say frizzy. That might be a bit of a stretch as well. Let’s try this. Some of my hair is naturally curly – I was actually born with curls – but some of it is wavy, some is frizzy and some just won’t cooperate at all.
So here’s my big confession. I get a perm once a year to even things out. There I’ve said it. I’ve come clean. I don’t really have heroine hair. It’s not pure and natural and glorious. It’s manufactured, assisted, and chemically enhanced. I have to use a $100 straightening iron to pull all these corkscrews out and then it lays there, flat, lifeless and boring. Which is why I continue to get those annual “treatments” because my hair just works better all wound up.
I’ve come to the conclusion that most women don’t love their hair. We just make peace with it, or at least strive to on a regular basis. But we all seem obsess about it. The color, the texture, the cut, the everything. It’s enough to drive you nuts. This might explain why most romance heroines come with perfect hair. That as much as the hero is part of our fantasy. 
And you know for the most part all this fretting we do is for all the other women in the world because most men don’t even notice. The Professor has voiced that he prefers my hair curly to the ironed straight look, but says the straight is a nice change when I do it. Diplomatic, that man.
It’s the same with all beauty. Our make-up, our clothes, shoes. Oh, don’t even get me started on my shoes (I’m trying to discover how many pairs of black shoes you can own at one time).
I’m picky about my products – I hate to admit I’m a snob in that regard, but I can be. Nothing but Avedo goes in my hair and my skin care regime is all Origins. The make-up varies from product to product, but I’m set on certain items for the most part. Like my mascara. It must be L’Oreal Voluminous. I’ve tried every expensive mascara on the market and this one just works better. I don’t know what I’ll do if they discontinue it. But seeing as I don’t put make-up on everyday now, perhaps that tube I have in my drawer will last a bit longer.
So what are your beauty secrets?
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Shana Says:
Robyn, how true that men don’t really notice our hair. It’s long, it’s short. If it’s there, that’s all they care about. My beauty secret? I get my hair lightened. It’d blond naturally but a dark blond that’s sort of yuck, so I have it lightened a few shades. Shh! That’s my secret.
Kimberly Logan Says:
I have to chuckle at this, Robyn. As a child, my mother took me to get my hair hacked off every summer. We’re talking really short, and I think it gave me a complex. She insisted it was much easier to take care of that way, but since my hair is poker straight and I refused to get perms because the smell made me gag, you can just imagine the results. I looked like Peter Pan.
The moment I was old enough to use a curling iron, I let my hair grow out all the way past my waist. I wish I could say it was heroine hair, but like I said, it was poker straight. I just wasn’t cut out for the 70’s Cher look.
So, I have discovered there is a happy medium. Shoulder length is the way to go for me. And the one hair care product I cannot live without is John Frieda’s Brilliant Brunette volumizing shampoo and conditioner. It actually makes my hair look like it’s got a bit of body to it, which is a miracle in itself.
Mary Says:
hahahaha….I ran out of Oil of Olay a few months ago, so I’ve been using the hand lotion from the conference in NY on my face.
No beauty secrets here!
I do like the Almay with Kinetin, though.
Mary Says:
And perhaps I should mention I haven’t gotten a haircut since LAST Christmas. Neither has my son
Mine looks better than his, though.
Margo Maguire Says:
Robyn - So that’s your secret! You’ve got great hair.
Mine is coarse and thick, and I wore it long for years (I mean, below waist-length). But now I keep it short and sassy :-).
Margo
Haven Rich Says:
Well mine hasnt been cut in over 3 years (except for splitends). Its currently just above my bum, hubby loves it.
I’ve tried all sorts of styles..short, long, layered, permed..I’ve done it all…even penny red. Now I’m doing the oddest thing of all..natural!!
My beauty secret is Dove face pillows..thats all I use. I dont wear much make-up but I never miss a night with that little pillow thing. It makes my skin softer.
My hair…I do whatever, I’m not picky.
Robyn DeHart Says:
Thanks, Margo. I get tired of it sometimes, but it’s so easy to do - basically wash and go, that I hesitate to do anything new with it.
Mary, treat yourself to a haircut! As for your son - I suppose this works since the shaggy-in-your-eyes look is popular for teenage boys these days.
Love all the secrets.
Anne Mallory Says:
Robyn, I wonder if we have the same hair? Mine can never decide if it’s curly, wavy, frizzy or just limp. That picture I have up right now makes it look like my hair is straight-ish. Uh-uh. I have crazy girl hair. If I wash and diffuse it or stick in some frizz-ease, I can get ringlets. That happens…never. I haven’t even touched a diffuser since one of my best friends in high school lent me hers.
I prefer to let it dry naturally (cough*wildly*cough) because I am beauty LAZY. I use Oil of Olay and chapstick. I used to not be able to leave the house without my Maybelline Great Lash mascara (that stuff rocks), but I have since gotten over that and am sorry to say that I’m 100% clean faced and ponytailed or up-clipped 9 out of 10 times I leave the house. I was just mulling this last night and thought maybe I should make a little more effort…
The one great thing about my hair is that after two or three days of not washing it it looks BETTER. Unfortunately, swimming does not help this.
Let me just crawl back under my rock now…
Robyn DeHart Says:
You know, I had a sneaking suspicion we were separated at birth, Anne. Well, except for that whole athletic thing, I have to make myself workout.
Mary Says:
Trust me when I say, getting a haircut is NOT a treat.
Anne, mine looks better if I don’t wash it every day, too.
clare Says:
Robyn,
So that’s why your hair looks so fantastic. It’s the hair of my straight-as-a-stick dark blonde dreams. I am told I can go redhead, though, so I’m pondering that.
I look forward to seeing how your next heroine’s head will be dressed.
clare
cystic acne Says:
Congratulations!you have succeded your mission in enlightening us.