Magical Wet Hair

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You know that look – when you get out of the shower, and your hair is fresh and clean? Or when you get out of the ocean and that salty wet hair molds into this amazing ‘do that won’t stop. That’s what I’m talking about! (Is this a California thing?)

I’ve been in-between hair dressers for about a year now. I had the worst hair cut for about 4 months, and got it fixed – but the fix cost me about one pair of Gap blue jeans. Now I’m letting my hair grow out again, and I’m hoping that I can get a decent trim that won’t cost me a ton of money. One problem: I have that straight, very thick “Asian” hair. It’s a pain, and if you don’t cut it right, it can be a bad situation and say bad things about yourself (similar to a mullet).

So I got thinking about what it takes to look your best – or what it communicates about you to other people. I listened to an episode of This American Life (on podcast) awhile ago, and there was a story about this couple who were in just the beginnings of their relationship (the puppy dog stage). She wore these horrendous pants that she thought made her look hot. But every time this guy would see her, he would wonder why she was wearing those ugly pants. She would plan on wearing the pants whenever she’d see him, and she even wore them on her first date.

Now I have a theory about these pants. Similar to the way I think my wet hair makes me look cuter, more tousled, more laid back, more whatever – maybe even attractive – these pants made her feel confident in a way that might have actually attracted her future husband. Last week I went to the mall, in search of – what might be my “magic” pants. I didn’t know then that was what I was looking for, but I think that’s what I was in search of. In fact, I think that’s what girls do when we go to the mall, we don’t just look for that one item, but we search for the ensemble, the whole piece that makes you feel za-za-zing. Its that confidence that you feel when you’ve got those magical clothes, hair, shoes on that we are looking for. It’s that feeling that communicates to who you are with that you are special, because you feel special.

This elusive feeling, of course, can take on a materialism that women are often accused of. So maybe what we’re really trying to attain, when we are subdued by “cute” new outfits is really the feeling of confidence that can seem so unattainable. I’m in my later twenties, and now more than ever, I feel more insecure about myself. It’s like junior high part deux. All I can do from falling apart and liking myself less is maybe give myself or my wardrobe a make-over. Maybe this is why Sephora has such a hold on me. And sadly, it’s not like I have a budget to be doing this often.

I’m not a big fan of using Christian language to express my feelings, but I as I continue to meditate about how God thinks about me (at the suggestion of my therapist) I sort of liken how I imagine how he feels about me into this elusive confidence that it builds. I mean, what is it to really KNOW that you are LOVED. I think I would act a little bit differently. My life would be focused differently. I don’t know, but I think there’s something to this feeling that you get when you think you look sassy (notice how this is emphasized on your own perception) and the knowing that you are LOVABLE. I think the common denominator is confidence. Both these gives off an aura of confidence. And for someone like me, that’s as good as gold.

Nods to this nonprofit: http://www.dressforsuccess.org/

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Filed under California, Candid Thoughts