Monday, 22 July 2013

In my gene

As I mentioned in another blog of mine, I once had thick-black and long hair. Which is now a chronicle of history for me.
Until my primary schooling I had a cute bob hair cut, when my hair was trimmed regularly to keep it short and manageable. By the time I was in my middle school, I had stopped going to the saloon for the hair cut. May be out of choice, which I cannot no longer remember. My mother applied oil regularly and combed my hair. She made a centre partition to tie up to make two plait that would be folded and tied up with the help of a ribbon. I got compliments from my class teacher for being neat and tidy till the end-of-the-day. To set an example, Mrs. Leema, my class teacher called me to stand in front of the class and showed the other pupils how to pin up hair, that would not be distorted till the end-of-the-day. It encouraged me to nurture my hair. I did not take any extra measures, but to oil and wash regularly to keep away dust and dandruff. Oiling one's hair with plain and pure coconut oil is all one needs for healthy hair.
As years went by, my hair had grown as long as three-feet and still growing, may be genes in fact are partly to credited for this. Just that it took a little longer to wash and dry, there was nothing that bothered me. No special maintenance, or any special oil and shampoo, just the regular ones that the rest of the family used. But have to admit that it would take me over an hour to wash it. Than another hour to remove knots & tangles and brush even. After washing I would never brush them. Just wrap up in a long cotton cloth until all moisture was absorbed. And used a wide-toothed comb, to avoid frizz and split ends. An unwritten rule at my home would be that I enter the bathroom last.
At times, I felt low as I could not reinvent or try some new hair style. The fancy clip and hair accessories that generally fit my friend's hair-do, did not go well with mine. I could not use a lot of clips, buns, slides, clutches, pins that would allow one to style hair. Even a simple pony tail was impossible was I could not roll up the bundle more than once. I had to tie it up or plait it. But was happy that I grew to be popular. People identified me by my long hair. All of us want to have a mane that we can play with at the right time. And even if a woman is not too fond of long hair, she also wants healthy hair and problem free scalp.

There were many occasion, like my wedding, when guests wondered if I was wearing extensions. At my wedding reception, I could not go for a bun, that was in fashion, at that time. I just let loose the hair, with hair-spray to let it stand in place. But, by the end of the show, a lot of it had tangled in the garland around my neck making it impossible to remove without chopping either one of them. I preferred to cut of portion of the hair, not the garland. While many drool longingly at the models in the shampoo ads, which strut their long hair effortlessly in the wind; believe me, it was not that easy, as it looks. More than the cost, the time and energy spent on maintenance is great. If proper care is not taken, they could become dry and brittle, and have split end.

At 4 ft 4 inches, I had to ensure that I hold in my hand and bring it to the front and wear like a dupatta across the shoulder, so that it does not touch the floor rather than sweep it. There have even been times when I sat on my own hair. Once, when driving pavilion in my husband's two wheeler, a traffic inspector alerted me, if my hair would go into the wheels. My in-laws would tease my husband asking to use me for advertisement and endorsement of hair-care products. Or, apply for records. I knew, that the crown sits proudly on the head of the clear winner whose hair was long enough to set the book of records, and mine stood amid a bevy of ladies whose hair barely reaches their knee.

At 5 ft, people would ask me the secret of my long hair, and I would advice saying: Actually it's not too difficult to maintain hair and have a good scalp. Apart from washing it frequently and nourishing it from outside, it's important that you nourish it from within. The actual secret was in my genes.

After the birth of my second child, I went for a tonsure. I could no longer boast of long hair as in my youth since I had now lost the treasured inheritance.
Many had earlier asked me if I felt it heavy on my shoulder, i had immediately reply with a big No. Now i cannot resist the urge to go to the parlour and get a trim if not a full hair cut. I immediately dismiss the thought of growing my hair again, if given a choice. The reason being the time and effort that goes into growing them. Whether it is incorporating a fringe, a splash of colour or adding length and volume to the hair, extensions can help to attain any style in minutes. And Iam quite happy with my less than half-feet long hair now.




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