I have the utmost respect for women in the city that I see successfully rocking non-frizzy curls, and can only imagine what it took for those women to be where they are today. I have had long, curly hair for my entire life (except for that one time when I was 8 years old, and my dad was in charge of the haircut), and only very recently have I learned how to manage my hair so I do not look like a poodle that was accidentally electrocuted.
However, even now, it is hard not to notice the horizontal growth of my hair throughout a humid, 90-degree summer day. Here is a list of struggles for people who have curly hair.
1. Your arms always get tired when you brush your hair. The knots are never-ending, so having to take a break with a 30-second stretch is not unheard of.
2. Starting from a very early age, you always got the question, “Have you ever straightened your hair?” And you always think, "I have curly hair; I don’t live under a rock. Of course, I have!
3. It is always a hoot when people who you see on a daily basis do not recognize you when you have your hair blown out.
4. Going to the hair salon is always a roller coaster ride. First of all, you can’t just go to a cheap salon. The stylist usually always attempts to comb through your hair and when the comb gets stuck, they realize that a brush is the proper tool. After having your head yanked at for five minutes and the anxiety of a 2-inch trim becoming a 6-inch cut, it comes time for the blow out. Every stylist calls for backup of at least two other stylists so the blowout only takes an hour, and not a whole day.
5. Putting your hair up in a ponytail is a hit-or-miss decision. If your hair is too big that day, it ends up looking like you have a giant pom-pom tied to the back of your head, but sometimes it is the only choice.
6. Speaking of giant hair, humidity is a curly-haired person’s worst nightmare. You walk out of your house, and your hair is in tiptop condition, and an hour later, you can’t see in front of you. Too bad hats can’t hide our ginormous manes.
7. When your favorite daily hair product goes out of production and you are forced to go into hiding for the rest of your life.
8. One positive thing is that if your earrings fall out, they won't be lost. They are definitely hiding in your hair somewhere. You’re used to this.
9. If you try and go to sleep with your hair down, you will wake up looking like Hagrid from "Harry Potter."
10. Okay, yes, my hair is a pain, but at the end of the day, I love it and will always be reassured knowing that I will never go bald.
