Things I don't get done enough to me.

[reynardo]

Hair brushing.



If you know me, you know what I mean. There's a ton of it. You know those Mary-Sues who have red hair tumbling in cascading waves to their hips? Yup, for real. Which means when I read those stories or see the movies where Female is running around with her hair loose and looking stunning, I am sitting making pointed comments about "Bet she's got a tangled mess there" or "gee, her trigger must be completely jammed up with loose hairs by now."

You see, it's actually a lot of work to look after. I tend to keep mine in a thick plait at the back, and it will often only get a rough brushing in the morning before being braided back in, ready for the day ahead. To actually stop and brush the whole thing out, untangling and smoothing as I go, takes a good 20 minutes or more. If I leave it loose on a windy day or for a night's dancing, it's a cobbler's knot of twists and tangles later on.

Brushing it out also results in lots of loose hair strands and broken ends scattered everywhere. My parents' old vacuum cleaner had a spindle at the front with a belt that drove the brushes underneath - my mum would have to take off the belt and cut out the fat knot of hairs that wrapped themselves around it before each vacuuming session. And the hairs also seem to get anywhere else I comb or brush - the car is a disgrace and I hate to think how often the drains get clogged deep down inside.

And while I know it looks good and some people seem to really appreciate the sight of it cascading down, for day-to-day wear the tied back look is definitely the lowest maintenance way to go. Then it can be let out for the special occasions.

So while I will gladly brush various other special people's hair for them (and quite enjoy gently untangling the knots and rendering the whole smooth and shiny), I tend to be rather protective of my own. It takes a very gentle hand to get the worst bits out, and I had a few too many experiences while young with clumsy or overeager comb-wielders to allow just anyone to do it. The beautiful shadow_5tails is someone whom I adore brushing my hair (but alas distance means she can't manage it that often), and ambitious_wench did a sterling job. However, somehow the wedding vows between lederhosen and I seem to end up with his hair lovely and smooth and mine awaiting attention. (Oh well, that is how we got together in the first place :-)

That and trying to find a brush that will actually penetrate this deep forest of strands and get to the scalp without breaking at the handle due to the pressure there is an effort in itself. I have 4 hairbrushes ranged in front of me - one has such wussy bristles that they barely penetrate the top, one feels as if a decent brushing will snap the handle in an instant. One has metal bristles, but they've pushed in through the pneumatic pad and won't stay out. The fourth requires the hair to be pre-untangled, but then it does a bearable job. I'll usually have at least 3 hairbrushes in the bag, and I know there's about 10 around the house anyway.

Hair elastics also have to be strong enough to hold the mass in. Trying to put the hair up for a formal appearance requires hair-pins and bobby-pins in the triple-figures (I kid you not), and most of the ibis-clips and hair-nets and clamps will keep things at bay for an hour if that, then let the entire lot slip free again.

And don't get me started on shower-caps. I'll only wash my hair once a week (especially in winter) as it can take almost an entire day to dry, so usually in the shower I want my hair to stay under cover. I have 2 caps, and neither quite does the job - one's too weak and the other's plastic liner has started to perish.

So why keep it long? Vanity has a lot to do with it. It's taken me 25 years to get it this long (although with the bi-annual trims the ends are probably about 8 years old), and every time I think it's getting too heavy or hot, someone will comment that they love the way it cascades down my breasts, or how glorious it looks. I enjoy the attention. And I do like the way it looks on me. And when I do keep it tied up, it's not too hard to keep under control.

But I shall definitely be asking for more hairbrushing from now on.

Comments

Re: My hairbrush recommendation

[wingedkami.livejournal.com]

I suspect mine doesn't tangle as much as yours, except when I'm stupid enough to go mountain walking without plaiting it first. My hair seems to like being the way it is. I use the brush and my fingers for getting bad tangles out. I tend to lose hair that way, but my hair's so fine and weak that any other brush would just tear it to pieces.