Now, if you're male and reading this, you're about to think, "seriously?", but as all girls know, our hair is a large part of our physical identity. I remember in college, getting a drastic hair cut - for those of you who know me well, you know that story will be the title of my first collection of short stories: My Boyfriend Dumped Me Because I Cut My Hair. (You would read it, right??) I found that people didn't recognize me. When a girl drastically changes her hair, people tend to notice. When something important happens in a women's life, many of us choose to reflect that change through our hair. Some bleach it, others chop it off, a few get extensions and yes, I have even dyed it black...huge mistake. Others get perms, while some choose to have their hair chemically straightened, some prefer it short and simple and others want long shiny locks.
In Bangkok I've found that most Thai women like to lighten their hair, a wonderous golden color - often wearing it long with loose curls bouncing off their shoulder blades. Most recently, there has been a trend toward bangs in the office. This past week three or four of the girls came back sporting cute, sidesweeping bangs, so naturally I decided to change things up as well.
Yesterday marked my first $4 hair cut in Thailand. Rather, my first haircut since I've moved, but also my first in my neighborhood. A lady wearing a stained children's smock, decorated with chubby teddy bears and hearts, summonded me in. Her hair was a yellow/gold hue, pulled back in a long straight ponytail with a light blue scrunchie. She doused my hair with a bottle of tap water and haphazardly went to work. I brought Pui along as my translator, but a "trim" must have been lost in translation, as I watched 4-5'' strips of wet, brown hair fall to the floor. Next, the "long, sweeping bangs," were somehow conveyed to mean short, blunt and across the forehead.
The next thing I knew a 15 year old girl and an inquisitive ladyboy were tag teaming my new 'do. Two hair driers, two round brushes and two straighteners going at once. In 15 minutes I was out of the chair. I didn't think it was possible for me to look any younger than I already do, everyone in the Salon guessed I was between 18 and 21, but with my grade school bangs, I think I rounded out nicely at a ripe age of 15. (This was later confirmed when I walked into the office and P'Eat told me I looked so young, she suggested pigtails and a teddy bear for tomorrow... however, I'm told looking young is a compliment here and "really, they look cute...")
I think what I like so much about changing your hair is that it marks a period of time. Like looking through old pictures with Lauren, her hair is a landmark. "Oh and this was a great year, I had long platnium hair and I lived in..." It's not to say it was a great year because of her hair, but her hair color reminds her of that specific point in time. I guess my first trip to Cambodia will be marked in photographs with my crazy looking bangs.
Another story, another day. If there is one thing I have learned from past mistakes, it's that hair grows, cuts heal, but stories remain :)
Next week I'm attempting to get to Cambodia to see Bret Crafton and Noam Ron! More info on that soon.
The older you get, the more rules they are going to try and get you to follow. You just gotta keep on livin', man. L-I-V-I-N
(Dazed and Confused)
ABA
I think it's cute! AND I cut my bangs last week... big mistake!
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