hair of the dog, new tricks

Even though it's such a firmly engrained part of my life, still sometimes this life-long learning thing manages to surprise me.  

I mean, I'm expecting to continue to learn new things in my usual ways -- from books or classes or teachers -- so when I learn new things about, for example, such a ground-breaking heavy topic as my hair, then, well, color me surprised.  I think I just never expected new k-nowledge to come from this quarter.

And what's crazy is how ok, yeah, it's super chick-magazine to even write about your hair, but hot damn, this new thing I learned really has changed my day-to-day life in profound ways.

Who knew?

Well, lots of people, not me, but clearly my hairdresser and lots of other people knew what it took me until I was almost half-a-century old (as my doctor likes to point out) to finally get.   

It took me until I followed Peggy's example and saw Nicole at Siren Salon to get it.  Peggy's hair had been looking better and better.  It suited her more and more.  And anyway, taking Peggy's advice is always, always a good idea if you want the Best of something: the tastiest food, the best music, the most delicious experience.  Anyone who's been in her yoga class knows that if you want the Best, then you need to unroll your mat in her class, listen to her voice and whatever delectable sounds she's playing that day.  Will it be Mozart or will it be Miles Davis playing Nature Boy?

So, thanks to Peggy, thanks to Nicole, I am no longer the same as I was.  I'm better, actually.

I learned something new.

I think part of my issue is that I do live with a skeptic who is of the opinion that all shampoos are the same, so you might as well buy the 99-cent gallon-bottle of Suave shampoo at Safeway.  Which truly, is no big thang if you have a buzz cut, I suppose.  And that Suave, some varieties anyway, smells good and comes with a handy-dandy pump, super convenient in the shower.  Probably there is some Consumer Reports expose that demonstrated that all shampoos are created equal, so it must be true. Regardless, I've routinely spent more than a dollar on shampoo since at minimum I insist on products that haven't been injected into bunny eyes, that don't contain cancer-causing bullshit, that are in recycled/recyclable bottles, etc.  

But never, never have I had hair like this in my life.  Hair that's easy, actually.  Hair I love.

It took me a long time to learn this lesson.  It took getting pink highlights a few months ago, for it to sink in, finally, that washing my hair every single day was a mistake.  That was a habit I'd had for most of my life, trying to make something out of nothing, trying to ensure that my hair had some body by keeping it clean at the scalp.  But all it did was dry my hair out, make it limper, ensure that it spent most of its time pulled back in an elastic, its droopiness out of my face.

To make the pink last requires washing less.  I resisted at first, which meant that the first round of pink highlights faded really fast.  And I love them so much, the pink highlights. Their fading pains me.

So now I've got it: the perfect routine.

I wash my hair no more than twice a week using the Oribe shampoo from the salon.  And after washing, I am religious about the Oribe products, the Creme for Style and the SuperShine.  Sure, the product is expensive, but it lasts a long time *and* better yet, it makes my hair last longer between washings. Yes, I spend a lot more than a dollar per bottle, but since I only use it twice a week, it's still a great deal. A great haircut, the right home-care regimen wth the right products: that's what I've learned recently. That's what's made a big difference in my life, a huge impact on my day-to-day happiness. 

And every-day happiness IS what matters. 

For years, I think I tried to be above such concerns -- good hair was a thing too beneath-me to think about.  But that was silly.  That was untrue.  That was just a way of hiding my hopelessness about my hair behind something even more hopeless.  After all, I'd had a whole life of limp hair -- of course I thought it would always be like that.  

But then came Peggy, then came Nicole, then came a really excellent perfect cut, pink highlights, good products, and that whole scenario changed.  For someone like me who wants everything to be pretty, what a perfect outcome!  And I learned something new to boot.  What could be better?  

Recommendations:

- Check out Peggy Orr's yoga classes at YogaWorks Larkspur and Embrace Yoga in Terra Linda.  She's amazing!

- Call Siren Salon in San Anselmo and make an appointment for really great hair.  Truly, that beautiful place has changed my life for the better in so many ways!

- Listen to this: