Well, our crowing glory could have tales as well as tails. It depends on which part you focus on. This story is about how the tale of my hair became just a tail of hair. Once a upon a time, I had a mane that most girls would kill to get. Nature had bestowed it on me- shiny black, silky, thick and straight. Yeah, I could've been one of the models for a shampoo ad. Only, no one approached me for it :-( My hair used to be the subject of envy amongst a wide-known circle.
"Oh! what do you do to maintain it?", "please share your secrets"..and so on. My heart would swell on hearing these oft-repeated questions targeted at me by known and sometimes even unknown people. (There have been instances where people would actual touch and feel the hair to believe it is real). I attained almost celebrity status because of my hair during college. I always felt my hair made up for all the other superficial imperfections I might have had. So, I would secretly enjoy all the attention while maintaining a very modest demeanour.
Really, I never did much to maintain them apart from the routine washing and shampooing. Not even conditioning. But yes, I was rather finicky about them in a different way. I never combed my hair when wet. Always untangled them with my fingers first. And boy! I have given my mother much grief when she used to tie them into plaits when I was much younger. The plaits HAD to start at the same level on both sides of the partition. The amount of hair left at the end of the twin-plaits also HAD to match. Not too loose and not too tight. Gosh! am surprised how anyone could put up with such idiosyncrasies. Not that she had much choice in this matter. However, she was only too relieved and glad when I took it upon myself to do my hair at the age of 10. Yes, when I was in class 5 or 6.
And, how I can I forget the hair-cutting ordeals? Ordeals for others, that is. I would throw tantrums after the hair was cut and demanded that the hair be stuck back, pronto!!! Even much later, during late teens, I would reluctantly enter a parlour to get my hair styled, after much cajoling by friends to sport a different and contemporary look. But, I would always come home teary-eyed, for the lady would have chopped off more than I'd have liked and would miserable about it for days. I know, quite silly.
But, all good things come to an end, someday, don't they? Things changed a whole lot after I switched cities post-marriage. The hard-water made my hair lose much of its volume and I couldn't do much, other than helplessly watching my best feature go down the drain literally. Later, work and home responsibilities left me with no idle-time to pamper or even devote decent care for my once prized possession. Post-pregnancy hormones only added more fuel to the already raging fire and now I am left with just one-third of the original strength. The tale that was has been reduced to a tail that remains. Of course, am grateful of that, to say the least. Something is better than nothing. There has been some good out of it too. My attitude has undergone a metamorphosis of sorts. I'm no longer a slave to people's appreciative glances (not that there are anymore). I am open to having a shorter, manageable and fashionable look and have become bolder in my hair-cutting experiments. So, that's not a bad bargain, after all. What say??
Loved this quote...
"Oh! what do you do to maintain it?", "please share your secrets"..and so on. My heart would swell on hearing these oft-repeated questions targeted at me by known and sometimes even unknown people. (There have been instances where people would actual touch and feel the hair to believe it is real). I attained almost celebrity status because of my hair during college. I always felt my hair made up for all the other superficial imperfections I might have had. So, I would secretly enjoy all the attention while maintaining a very modest demeanour.
Really, I never did much to maintain them apart from the routine washing and shampooing. Not even conditioning. But yes, I was rather finicky about them in a different way. I never combed my hair when wet. Always untangled them with my fingers first. And boy! I have given my mother much grief when she used to tie them into plaits when I was much younger. The plaits HAD to start at the same level on both sides of the partition. The amount of hair left at the end of the twin-plaits also HAD to match. Not too loose and not too tight. Gosh! am surprised how anyone could put up with such idiosyncrasies. Not that she had much choice in this matter. However, she was only too relieved and glad when I took it upon myself to do my hair at the age of 10. Yes, when I was in class 5 or 6.
And, how I can I forget the hair-cutting ordeals? Ordeals for others, that is. I would throw tantrums after the hair was cut and demanded that the hair be stuck back, pronto!!! Even much later, during late teens, I would reluctantly enter a parlour to get my hair styled, after much cajoling by friends to sport a different and contemporary look. But, I would always come home teary-eyed, for the lady would have chopped off more than I'd have liked and would miserable about it for days. I know, quite silly.
But, all good things come to an end, someday, don't they? Things changed a whole lot after I switched cities post-marriage. The hard-water made my hair lose much of its volume and I couldn't do much, other than helplessly watching my best feature go down the drain literally. Later, work and home responsibilities left me with no idle-time to pamper or even devote decent care for my once prized possession. Post-pregnancy hormones only added more fuel to the already raging fire and now I am left with just one-third of the original strength. The tale that was has been reduced to a tail that remains. Of course, am grateful of that, to say the least. Something is better than nothing. There has been some good out of it too. My attitude has undergone a metamorphosis of sorts. I'm no longer a slave to people's appreciative glances (not that there are anymore). I am open to having a shorter, manageable and fashionable look and have become bolder in my hair-cutting experiments. So, that's not a bad bargain, after all. What say??
Courtesy: google.com
Loved this quote...
hahhahah! this is kahani har ma ki :) hugs darling :)
ReplyDeletehey, it could have me saying this:)the school group photos makes me all nostalgic:) Now, barely 2 fingers thick, i counsel myself with 'this is the best thing to happen to you' and went boldly for a layer cut which i would never ever have contemplated before the kids came.. all this for having moved from the suburb to the city :(
ReplyDeletethis tale of your 'tail' is quite funny :) and well-written :)
ReplyDeletewe never do appreciate things when they are handed to us on a platter, do we?? you started doing your own hair at 10??? pretty hands-on, weren't u? :))
Ah Uma, I can relate to your post somewhat :). And looking at your photos I do feel you might be exaggerating, your hair still looks so good I'm completely jealous if this is actually your depleted amount !
ReplyDeleteI never had the satisfaction of having great hair.. always the frizzy rough kind which I never liked, but atleast it used to be thick when I was young. Especially post pregnancy, terrible terrible terrible :(..
@R's Mom
ReplyDeletetrue..hugs back..:-)
@Vidya
ReplyDeletereally? its so sad na..i used to feel bad before but now its ok..I console myself my saying its not that bad, yet..:-)
@Aparna
ReplyDeleteThanks, Aparna!
No re..I used to be proud of my hair and never wanted it any different..
hehe..ya..i was so finicky that i decided its best I do it myself..but not anymore..a lot changes after marriage and more after a kid..:-)
@Aparna
ReplyDeleteyes, it is the depleted amount..and thanks..:-) of course, photos don't give a clear picture always..
alas, the thinning hair adds to the mother's woes! :-)
lol this was a fun post! Love the pun on the tale of your tail :-) Ive always struggled with my hair, and now with pregnancy and motherhood, I hate to even let it down because there is SO much hairfall. Thanks for the light post, it made me smile while still staying distressed. I hear vitamin E is good for hairfall, i am trying them.
ReplyDelete@Between life's doings
ReplyDeleteLol Aarathi, thanks..:-) do try the vitamin and let me know..:-)
Superb hair tale :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are taking the thinning of your hair over time and post pregnancy as a good sport :)
P.S.- A very happy birthday to R :)
Hugs to the birthday baby and the sweet mum
@theerailivedin
ReplyDeleteHey thanks so much ME..glad you liked it..:-)
and thanks again for the lovely wishes..hugs back :-)