Tote Bags 'n' Blogs: straight hair

Saturday, March 09, 2013

Curly v straight—the great debate - Kandy Shepherd

Do you have curly hair you wish was sleek and straight? Or straight hair you wish fell to your shoulders in glorious waves? And what about the color? Happy with your brown/blond/black/red? Or always wanting to change it?

Straight or curly - is anyone ever happy with their hair?

Personal observation and years working in womens magazines tells me there are many of us not happy with the hair nature gave us. I have dead straight hair that is healthy and easy to manage. But I’ve always fancied having wavy hair. Suffice to say, I can’t bear to look at the photos of the three disastrous perms I’ve had in misguided efforts to get that longed-for wavy hair! A friend has repeatedly told me: “If you ever get the urge to have a perm again, call me first.” For a curl-avoiding intervention.

I loathed my auburn (okay, ginger!) hair when I was young but it darkened as I got older and though I threatened to dye it black, I never actually did.

And then there are people with wavy hair who do anything they can to straighten it. Reverse perms. Straightening irons. Even real irons—one friend burned her ear while trying to iron her hair on an ironing board with a steam iron.

It takes work to turn curly hair into straight - and vice-versa.

Harlequin Desire author Paula Roe, was blessed with naturally curly hair. But last month Paula decided to go straight for the first time in a sleek, sophisticated new look. “It’s surprising how different it looks,” says Paula. “I’m told I look younger and it definitely feels more swishy. But it’s temporary—I could never do away with my curls.” I think Paula looks gorgeous both ways!

Harlequin Desire author Paula Roe with naturally curly hair.

Here's Paula with her hair all sleek and straight.

For years, my “day job” was as a womens magazine editor. One aspect of the role I particularly loved was working on reader makeovers—coordinating with hairdressers, makeup artists, fashion stylists and photographers to transform everyday women into their look-best selves. The experience inspired me to write about a girl who wants to reinvent herself and hopes a “me makeover” will help solve all her problems. (Of course real change takes more than new hair and makeup!)

One of my favorite makeover movies is The Princess Diaries - here the transformation process for the Anne Hathaway character starts with having her riotous curls tamed into sleekness.

Rose, the heroine of my new contemporary womens fiction release Reinventing Rose, starts the book with wild wavy locks, “the kind combs get lost in.” She feels “like an extra from The Lion King.” Rose jumps at the opportunity to have her hair permanently straightened for a magazine makeover. I had such fun taking Rose into the hairdresser and the studio for her makeover scenes. Especially when she meets a handsomer-than-handsome photographer who may or may not end up being her dream-come-true hero…

What about you? Are you happy with your hair the way it is? Any interesting/disastrous/fabulous hairdresser experiences to share? I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment for a chance to win a free download of Reinventing Rose. Don’t forget to include your email address if you want to be in the draw.