When I had to cut my hair I was very depressed but the really bad thing followed: Never since I can remember I felt ugly this way! Before that I never realized what influence my hair had to my self- perception! Although I had ever worn my hair in an updo outside the house I went trough some really bad weeks in which it would have suited me best if it had been possible to stay at home. Can you understand my emotions or had I overreact? How much does your hair influence your well-being?

E.

I think I would feel just as upset as you did, if I had to get my hair cut. I'm honestly terrified of letting a stylist near it -- part of me is convinced that if I do, he or she will cut much too much off, and screw up my curls, giving me a finger-in-the-lightsocket effect!

My hair is one of the prettiest things about me, and having it look good increases my level of confidence. Getting it cut off would really mess with me.

On the old original LongLocks listserv, we used to have a subscriber who had beautiful, thick long hair.  Her husband found one day that someone had cut off a big lock of her hair from the back of her head (an inch wide or so, if I recall correctly) and she never even knew it!  She could only speculate that it had occured on the bus she took to work in the morning.  Even though she could arrange her hair to hide it fairly easily, I remember how violated she felt.  I think the whole incident bothered me almost as much as it bothered her.  Still sends shivers down my spine.

I am so happy that I am not the only one who feels that her hair is an important part of her personality. Many of my friends and family could not understand why I was so unhappy with my new look. But it changend my entire outer appearance completely and I could not identify with.

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For some of us, quite a bit!  I guess it depends how much your hair is part of your self-image.  I still think and move like a long-haired person, which looks kind of funny on me right now.  ;-P  I used to tell people I would no more cut off my hair than I would cut off my arm, but then the chemo thing happened and I eventually did have to cut what was left of my hair short.

I feel SO WEIRD!!  I'm still surprised when I catch myself in the mirror.  I don't know any easy way out of the "feeling lost without your hair" thing, but I DO understand and sympathize! 

~ Hasani

I've had short hair and now my long hair and the effect of my long hair on my life is immearsurable.  I am much more out going with my ong hair - it forces you to be the center of attention sometimes.  I was going to grow it until it hit the back of my knees or I turned 30...well that number is long gone an it is now about 2" from the back of my knees....I think I'll try for my ankles next because I don't see it getting cut any time soon. 

A really bad perm started the growing process about 20 years ago.  The only person I trust near it with scissors is my Mom...she trims it for me every 3 or 4 months. 

No matter how long or short your hair is though it is important to remember that you are a special person...If I had to get it cut off tomorrow I would be very sad but I would survive and start growing it again.  That is the great thing about hair...it forgives you for cutting it off and will grow back for you.

You should try doing old fashioned rag curls.  They are a lot less work and a lot easier on your hair than perm rods.  Great curls too!

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LOL!  I learned to do rag curls from my grandma too, who used old sheets.  I use old sheets too, but I find flannel ones are best, so if you have an old flannel nightgown, that would work if it's long enough.

Cut strips that are at least twice the length of your hair, 2-3" wide.  I can do all my hair in four rag curls, the more curls the curlier your hair will be.

Always start with very damp hair.  Divide your hair into however many sections as you want curls.  I part mine from ear-to-ear and tie the top section up out of the way.  Then I part the lower section of hair in the middle at the back of my head.  

Put one section of hair with one strip of cloth into a ponytail using those soft ponytail holders.  Leave at least 4" or so of the strip of cloth sticking out loose at the top of the ponytail holder.  You will be using this to tie the rag curl at the end.

Comb the hair in the ponytail so it is very smooth, it's important to do this to avoid knotting when you take the rags out.  Hold the cloth out straight (if your hair is really long, you are probably going to need someone to help you with this) and wrap the HAIR around the CLOTH, working down the length of the cloth in spiral.  When you get to the end, start wrapping the CLOTH around the HAIR and work your way back up again.  You have to wrap the cloth in the opposite direction you wrapped the hair, or it will come loose when you get to the top.  You should end up with a tube of cloth with no hair showing by the time you get back to the hair tie.  Tie the two ends of cloth together and you are done your first curl.  Repeat as necessary ;)

Keep in mind that your hair will take awhile to dry, especially if you only do a few curls.  It takes my hair about 24 hours to dry thoroughly in rag curls, but starting with it wet is really the only way to do it to make the curls stay in my hair.  Once your hair is dry, untie the ends and unwrap the rag from around the hair until it hangs loose at the bottom of the curl.  Grasp the hair tie firmly in your hair and gently pull the rag out of the hair tie and through the long spiral curl.  If you kept the hair smooth when you were wrapping the curl, the cloth should come out easily.  Slide the hair tie off your hair.  Once all the curls are out, finger comb to separate the curls or comb them for a massive head of big hair.