July 25th, 2023

About six months or so ago, I decided to let my hair grow long again.  It's been a very long time and every once in awhile, I just feel the need to mix things up a bit.  The real capper on making the decision was  the continually rising cost  of getting my hair cut. The price had gone from "wow" to "crazy" all the way to "insane".  I'm not saying that these people do not deserve the price they charge. I'm saying I'm not willing to pay it.

What I had apparently forgotten in making this  decision were two key things:  First, straight hair is a pain in the arse to deal with.  I have straight hair.  It's very soft, like baby hair, it's very fine and it's Very straight.  Secondly, my bangs.  Was I going to grow out everything?  Or everything except the bangs?  I decided to go for broke and just let it all grow and as far as the straightness, well I would figure that out as I went along.

Yeah, sure, Easier said than done.  As the bangs got longer and more and more in my face, it began to drive me crazy.  I just  cannot stand having my hair in my eyes. 

I tried all sort of things:  various clips, pins and barrettes , hair bands, hair gel and even hats.  The clips, pins and barrettes work fine for a short time but as the day goes on, they begin to slip their moorings and ultimately end up on the floor somewhere. So I have to constantly put them back in.  Also it takes roughly a zillion clips to keep my hair, even short term, where it belongs.  Lots of clips, lots and lots.  Way too many. So Annoying.

 Hair bands, well, hmmmm.  The plastic ones eventually give me a headache.  I guess I have a big head and they squeeze ?  The softer hairbands, as long as they are anchored with hair pins, actually work BUT they cover my hearing aids causing two things to happen: one, I cannot hear becoz the receiver is covered and two, they squeal becoz the receiver is covered.  Dang.

Hair gel?  Sort of works as long as it's in partnership with clips, pins or barrettes. On it's own it does little to nothing.  I know there are more powerful hair glues' out there. But I choose not to invest more money in something that I am unsure about. Also I hate it when my hair looks like  a helmet or a wig. 

And that leaves hats as an option.  I like hats.  I own a few.  I wear my ballcap every time Joy and I hike.  And I generally wear a wide brimmed hat when I walk outside.  But as an inside thing?  nahhhhhh.  I don't think so.  Scarlet O'Hara pulled it off, but she was probably the very last woman to do so.

Which left me wondering what options I had left. I did a little googling about growing out bangs and saw a wonderful video of a young woman doing magical things with a curling iron.  Curling!  Great idea!  Well I don't have a curling iron.  I do, however, have a flat iron.  Now why a person with straight hair would own a flat iron, I have no idea.  It was so old I wasn't even sure it would work!  Turns out, if you fiddle with the on switch long enough, yes, it does turn on and it does heat up. Yay!  Let's give this a whirl!

The results were not good.  I do not have a natural aptitude for hairdressing as it turns out.  Oh well.  Back to a different instructional video (love You Tube) on working hair magic with a flat iron instead.  I watched that video several times  in a row, hoping to have absorbed enough technique to duplicate it.  Nope.  No bueno.  I was able to get the end to curl up for a Very short time but the bangs went crazy. With the least amount of encouragement they went total frizz. Yikes!  If I tried to cool the flat iron at all, the bangs defied all effort and remained stick straight. So those were my options, frizz or straight. Sigh.

There was one last possible option.  Electric rollers.  I had some long ago and while I didn't use them often, I was always (or almost  always) pleased with the results.   I did a little online research, found a set that wasn't horribly expensive but seemed to have everything I remembered needing in the past.  I talked to Tim about it, he was agreeable and did his own research.  They were ordered and arrived yesterday.

How cute are these?  I was so excited to try them out this morning.

Now bear in mind that it's been a very long time since I've used these and that meant things were not going to go perfectly the first or tenth time.  I forgot how dang hot they get, burned my finger tips a little bit.  Didn't remember correct placement of the different sizes.  Also did not recall whether to roll them up or down.  So I did what I always do, I faked it.  Just jumped in, as if I had a clue, and slapped those babies in as best I could.  Several rollers had to be re-done, one of them more than once. but eventually I got all of the hair (or at least most  of my hair) properly corralled.  

Yeah, I know, not the best job ever.  I'm sure with time and practice my technique will improve.  Or at least, gosh, I certainly hope so!  Yikes.  Can you imagine if this is it?  This is the best that i can do?  Wowza.

Anyway, I couldn't remember how long to leave them in, so basically I left them in place until they weren't hot anymore.  Seemed like a good plan.  At least I didn't burn my fingers taking them back out!  Bonus!  

I carefully unrolled each one, putting the rollers and clips back in their proper place and then I left it alone.  Just left it completely alone.  I did a quick google search on tips for using hot rollers.  One of the rips said exactly that (Love it when my instincts are correct).  It then suggested using a bit of hair spray before brushing. Before brushing?  OOOKKKAAAYYY.  I don't get it but I was open to new ideas and willing to try.

Results:

Yeah, it's not perfect, not by a long shot, BUT my hair is out of my eyes and I think I can live with this.  

Obviously this will not be a daily thing.  Too much work, too much effort, too much time, too  much fussing, but I'm so happy to have this as an option!   I'm sure with more practice I will get better at it.  Never Great but better. And in the meantime, it's still an improvement.  No clips, no hair gel and no hats required.