Growing up half - white and half - Hispanic, I always have had thick, unruly, and curly black hair. My mother would brush and tug at it in an effort to make sense of my mop to no avail; my locks could not be tamed. My hair was too thick to be in a nice braid, and strands would always fall out anyways. I am sure I am not the only female who has had a love hate relationship with braids and other conventional hairstyles. Whether your hair is short, thick, kinky, thin, or perfect for braiding, take a look at a day in the life of one who cannot braid.
It is time for school and I am, as usual, running slightly late. I checked my hair in the mirror and settled on the classic too-messy bun. It’ll have to do. While rushing my way to class, I notice all the various hairstyles my classmates have decided upon for the day. The styles are admirable, and I can’t help but be slightly envious.
There she goes: waist-length, shimmery blond hair, perfectly curled, beautifully highlighted, the works. I can’t even hate her for it because she is actually a really nice person. Look, another should-be hair model! Auburn hair, slightly past her shoulders, choppy layers, shimmering even in the fluorescent hallway lights. One word: HOW.
But this one, she takes the cake. Deep, luxurious brown hair, not a single strand out of place. She’s got her hair woven in a braid straight out of Seventeen Magazine. I bet birds or some other woodland creatures flew through her window this morning and did that work of art for her. Oh come on, the redhead over there has her hair fishtailed!
What I don’t understand is how I, a proud member of the female species, missed out on this essential gene. I cannot braid hair. Ponytail, yes, bun it, absolutely; I can even brush it if you asked me to! But braiding or even getting my hair to do anything I want it to do is not an ability I possess. My “braids” look more like nests that even the homeless birds wouldn’t chip at. Well, they might, but it would be a mean squawk, not a cute little tweet.
All I hope is to find my kindred spirits: the other ladies who cannot braid or adequately do their hair. My tangled mess can’t be the only one in the world! If there is a God, can He or She please send me a sign that maybe, just maybe-
WAIT! OVER THERE! A girl with a light-brown messy bun that is too messy to have been intentional! Oh, across the hall! A blond with frizzy curly hair! Beautiful! And… is that… black blue hair with pieces falling out of her braid?! I pick up a strand of my own tangled mess. All of us, rebels of conventional beauty standards. With any luck, we’ll have a support group going by next Tuesday.
