I’m not one who puts a lot of effort into styling my own hair. I usually get haircuts that are low maintenance because I don’t like spending a lot of time getting ready in the morning. And for as long as I can remember, I convinced myself that I lacked the ability and creativity to do my own hair.
The last time I went to the hairdresser, she talked me into getting a balayage. They are hand-painted highlights that are supposed to look more natural. After the initial shock wore off of how light (think blonde) the highlights were, I was glad I took her advice. The highlights definitely updated and brightened my look.
I watched how she curled my hair so that I could attempt it at home for an upcoming wedding. I also watched a couple of YouTube videos with tips and techniques on using a curling wand.
Styling My Own Hair
On the day of the wedding, recalling what I learned (and believing I could do it), I proceeded to curl my hair. It came out better than I could have ever imagined. The loose curls flowed yet framed my face and the highlights made it even prettier. As someone who has never been good at doing her own hair, I was so proud of myself!
I walked into the reception with confidence and I didn’t feel self-conscious about how I looked. Not to sound conceited, but I looked good and I felt good. It probably helped that I put on some makeup and my little black dress fit well. I was dressed and ready for the occasion, but it all started with a good hair day.
Feeling Good About Myself
It may be superficial and shallow, but how we look is an expression of our self and is what people base their first impression on. It can also have an effect on how we feel about ourselves. For example, how do you feel when you don’t like what you’re wearing or are having a bad hair day? I don’t know about you, but it can make me feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. I’ve learned not to let it bother me, but in the past it had the potential of ruining my day if I let it.
One could argue that how we present ourselves to the world is a reflection of how much we care (or don’t care) about ourselves. One could also argue that we should look past the external and not judge a book by its cover. I won’t get into that now, but I will say the confidence didn’t come from just looking good. It came from feeling good about myself. Yes, I felt beautiful and got compliments that day, but I felt great about doing my own hair and that it turned out so nicely.
Even though styling my own hair was not hard, I had convinced myself otherwise. I felt joy and a sense of accomplishment in doing something I told myself for so long that I couldn’t do. I think therein lies the true power of my good hair day.
This is a great article.