Hello, my carefully coiffed friends, thanks for stopping by for today’s Where Bloggers Live 10.2023: What Hair Care?? This month finds my WBL buddies sharing our hair care tips. As I told the girls, I’ve got nothing. Zippity do dah. Not a tip one. But you can bet your bottom dollar I can sure write a long-winded post about nothing!! One might compare today’s post to a helium balloon or a cone of cotton candy. Full of nothing but fluff. But with that said, let’s get started so you can quick finish up here then visit the blogs of my buddies who might have some real hair care suggestions to impart.
Where Bloggers Live
You probably remember from where the ideas for this colorful series originate. Bettye, Bettye, she’s our gal!! Many of them come from the creative genius of our fearless leader Bettye, who has recently embarked on the adventure of a lifetime…a move to South Korea!! If you aren’t already doing so, you might want to follow Bettye on Instagram as her posts and reels are delightful glimpses into this new chapter of life.
Hope that you will join me in checking out the posts of my co-hostesses. Maybe I will learn how to at least make my hair combed. And you might pick up a tip or two, also.
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Sally at Within a World of My Own
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Just a reminder: Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After occasionally uses affiliate links which are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link provided I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Please find the places and posts where I link-up on this page.
Where Bloggers Live 10.2023
I’ve always had a hate-hate relationship with my hair. When I was a little girl, my mother was my stylist. And still my stylist when I was a not-so-little girl. One might think that nearly cutting off my sister’s ear – a la Van Gogh – would have immediately curtailed Mom’s stint as an at-home beautician. But no, it didn’t even slow her down…much. She did stop trimming long enough to apply pressure to Valerie’s head before putting me up on the ‘barber’ stool for my haircut.
Mom liked my hair short. Shorter than short. With short fringe on my forehead. When I finally got old enough to argue with her in multisyllabic words, she consented to let me grow it out a little. But then there was always this one piece – not necessarily the same one piece – that was longer than the rest.
See what I mean? Even in my senior picture, there is a wisp of hair that is longer.
I have been hair hopeless since the beginning of time. I had oodles of wavy hair in high school, college and as a young adult. So much hair that I would often get it wet to try to make it lie down. Which would last only as long as it was wet!! With the exception of water and shampoo, I knew nothing of hair products. The picture on the right is from my freshman year, I think. And on the left, I was in my early 20s in Panama. See all the hair?
Notice the barrette? That is about as fancy as hair styling got. My mom never braided my hair or put it in pony or pig tails. She just cut it. The girls’ dad made me sit down one night when they were very young and practice French braiding until I finally figured out how to do it. Brennyn and Lauren wore braids of all sorts, always fastened with a bow.
I was 23 years old in the picture below, mid-hair wetting stage…my grandbaby Cadence is following my good lead on this now in 8th grade. One good thing about living in Panama, with the crazy humidity and days at the beach, my hair was at least damp 99% of the time.
Then I had babies. My hair became finer. And thinner. Along with my nerves. The girls’ dad liked my hair short. So short it was. Short hair on me was one thing Daniel and my mom could agree on. I didn’t exactly get a vote. Daniel called this my ‘quail cut.’
In preparation for a trip from Panama, where we were stationed with the Army, home to Tennessee, I decided to dye my hair. Not sure why exactly. Whatever shade of at-home hair color I chose turned I Love Lucy bright red on my head. When I got off the bus in Memphis, my mother walked right by me without recognizing her red-headed daughter. It was a long time before I dabbled in hair dye again.
But as I got older, I played with high lights, low lights, bangs, layers, bobs, Pixie cuts. I even discovered the ease (and expense) of having my hair done in a salon. However, it seemed that no matter what color or shade or tone I chose (or was suggested for me), everything turned brassy within a few shampooings.
This photo was from 2019. See the brassiness. I think it washed me out but I was trying to fight Father Time by covering my grays.
Then came Covid. I last colored my hair in the late winter of 2020. Until then, I was sitting in that salon for 2.5-3 hours each visit. Having to go every 2 months. And paying $120 that I really didn’t have to spend on my hair in the first place.
What Hair Care?
I decided to give up coloring my hair before Covid really took hold of our country. Here’s a picture from 04.2020. A mixture of brassy and gray.
I needed a haircut but no one was getting their hair cut. Even my mom had retired her shears.
The picture below is from 10.2020. Looks like I found someone to trim my hair and with the trim, some of the brassiness was cut off.
Six months later and it’s 04.2021. I am beginning to embrace the gray. Wirey fuzziness and all.
Going natural was the best hair decision I’ve made in a long time. My hair felt softer. And seemed healthier. I think the color – or lack thereof – suits me. The brassiness of the highlights was too close to the shade of my complexion. I like this contrast.
Fall 2021
By the fall of 2021, Covid was almost behind us. I was substitute teaching at Lucia’s school. We were still wearing masks, sometimes. But all of us felt like we had awakened from a very long hibernation.
Considerably more silver. And my hair has been trimmed…the bangs are back. I kind of like this length and the fringe but my family has different opinions. My sister isn’t crazy about the heavy-ish fringe and everyone else likes my hair longer.
Growing out the color was relatively painless. If you are contemplating taking the plunge, I highly recommend it!! So much freedom comes from not having to touch up your hair color every month or two. Exhausting. I had layers that helped camouflage the growing out process. And I was doing it during a global pandemic. Ha!!
For about a year, I was going to a very fi-fi-foo-foo salon (by my standards) for haircuts. But the gal was charging me $75.00 and I was not absolutely crazy about the cut. She always styled my hair after shampooing and cutting it but I felt like somebody else when I left the salon. These pictures are from 06.2022. Of all the pics in the collage, I like the first one with my hair casually piled on my head best of all.
Brennyn has bought me a curling iron and I have bought at least one straight iron – or whatever they are called – but I just cannot use them. I look in the mirror and get all befuddled. The end result is burns on my neck and some funky hair. I have very old hot curlers that I use now and then. Those I can manage. Barely. The picture below is from 10.2022. I was beginning to come out of the fog of grief after my mom’s death.
This Year
Fast forward 6 months and we are in early spring of 2023. Paul had been diagnosed with cancer. On this evening, we were having dinner with some friends who had also dealt with prostate cancer. My hair is certainly long. And the fam was happy.
Since then, I have been trying to have regular trims but I think it might be time to go for a fi-fi-foo-foo hair cut again. I don’t like the way my hair looks these days. I am using purple shampoo and conditioner which brings out the silvery color and masks the yellow-gray.
This Week
Today I scurried around cleaning upstairs, then jumped in the shower and headed out the door to run some errands. I usually wash my hair twice a week. Generally, Wednesdays and Sundays. But I have upped my exercise game so have been washing it a little more often. I hate to blow dry it multiple times a week because it gets so damaged from the heat of the blow dryer. Even when I use a protectant on it. My solution, hanging my wet head out the car window on my way to wherever I am going. School. Church. Walmart.
Drying my hair in the car is so much faster now with a sunroof. It adds another level of messiness that I like. Here’s how my hair looked after I parked the car at Walmart and dragged a wide-tooth comb through it. Ta-da. Good enough.
I have never had hair I loved. But I do love the fact that I don’t spend hours trying to style it. And it shows!! Ha!! But that’s okay in my book. Most days I do at least comb it. But I have better things to do.
If I can offer one take away from the silliness that is this post, it would be embrace your natural hair color. It has taken me close to 65 years to finally get over it all…I look back at those photos from 30-40 years ago and I wish I had just appreciated my headful of healthy hair. These days I am thankful to have hair at all.
A Couple of Products
Can’t have a post without a couple of shameful affiliate product links. If I am getting ‘fancy,’ (otherwise known as I can’t do a thing with my hair and don’t want to wash it), I will stick it up with a clip.
Novel, I know.
I recently purchased a square headband that replicates the way one’s hair looks when wearing glasses on the top of their head.
Didn’t realize that was a thing. But I do like this headband.
Probably more of me than anyone needs right there!! Up close and personal!!
One last thing that I have had good results with but haven’t used for a while, is salt spray. It gives my hair the illusion of fullness and texture with the soft waves it creates. Have used a couple of different brands but just picked up this one to try.
Your Turn
Tell me about your hair care routine. Are you a salon gal? Do you wear your hair in many different ways? Would welcome any tips you could offer this fumble-fingered grandma with 2 left hands.
Six years ago, I came across this hairstyle and pinned it on Pinterest. It has been repinned a zillion times, so I am not the only one who loves this carefree style. I also added having my haircut like this as a 2017 spring bucket list activity but don’t think I was successful in getting my hair cut to replicate it.
Nowadays, I am drawn to this style.
Working hard or hardly working to achieve that look!! My sister Valerie was very complimentary about my ‘natural’ hair color when I visited her last month. In preparation for this post, I asked what it is she likes about the gray. Here’s what she said:
I think it gives you depth like highlights but not the bronzy stuff you would get when you highlighted.
Best hair decision I’ve ever made.
Off to clean house. What are you up to this weekend? Whatever it is, have fun!! Thanks for putting up with my silliness and more pictures than anyone could ever want of my hair. You rock!!
Hugs and kisses,
em dirr
What gorgeous pictures of you! You were such a classic looking little girl…and wow…I am certain you were quite the head turner once you grew up! Just lovely….and you beautiful wavy hair.
So much of your hair experiences are similar to mine…especially my impatience with the time in the chair (2.5 – 3 hours every time!!!). I remember when you started to grow out your gray…it was what inspired me to do the same. My own gray is probably to my jaw line now, and I have a ways to go before it will be entirely natural, but mostly I like the change, so THANK YOU very much for getting the ball rolling!
Funny story (kinda): I have an entire collection of Hair I’d Wear photos and always bring one of them with me to my stylist. Did the same yesterday. Despite my efforts, it still looks like a variation of the same cut EVERY TIME. 🤷🏻♀️
Thanks for sharing your stories!!!
jodie filogomo
It’s so funny how we are so particular about our hair, yet I look at your photos and just see a beautiful woman. The hair doesn’t seem to make all that much difference because it’s your smile that I love.
I only say that because I was the same way for the longest time. Now I just say, what will be, will be, haha.
As for the grey, I LOVE it. I call them my natural bling and who doesn’t look better with sparkles?
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Natural bling and sparkles…best description of silver hair ever. Thank you for the very sweet words. You are precious.
Sally in St Paul
The grey hair looks great on you, and I LOVE the “stick your wet head out the window” hair-drying technique! Your comment about the preferred level of messiness resonated with me – I’m always trying to straddle the line between chaotic and flat hair.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
LOL I like the beachy look but I live in a desert so it isn’t very plausible. Just looks like I forget to brush my hair. Which is always a possibility.
Marsha Banks
Leslie, I know you’ve heard it from others, but it bears repeating! You have amazing hair. I wonder if Raquel Welch liked her hair? I would love to not have to spend (honestly) hours doing my hair every day. It takes a village of products, rollers, and tools. And, just like your one bit of hair, my hair never ends up the same way twice! I never know what it’s going to do.
As for going grey, I am so glad I’d decided to do it waaay before the pandemic. My natural hair color was light brown so my stylist had been adding highlights to it for years. It’s been grey/silver for several years, and I love it. I also love to play with color, but my stylist does it, not me! I don’t know what it is about hairstylists, but I have never, ever had one do my hair in a way I liked. Not one time in all the years I’ve been getting my hair cut…and that number is now in the decades! I once heard you should ask someone who has hair like yours (and you like it) where they had it done. Or, even better, find a stylist with hair like yours because they know what you are going through.
Loved this post, my oh-so-talented friend!!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au
Hi Leslie – I’ve had thick straight hair all my life and I’ve always envied those with natural curls. That being said, I do think straight hair is easier to manage. You look really good with the hairband (they give me a headache if I wear them too much) and I like that it gives the sunglasses on the head hair-do. I’m also nowhere near grey enough to embrace that journey yet either – it looks good on you. 🙂
Nancy
I love how you wear your hair now, also the colour. It fits you perfectly. Some lovely photos from you! You looked like a movie star!
Cindy Andersonb
I like your hair. The color and styles you choose go well with your smile and bright eyes. I’ve never colored my hair. I’m now in my early 60’s and the gray is starting to show but I’ve never wanted to HAVE to get my hair done. I’ve seen some women who have that streak of gray down the middle of their head and I think, ‘I don’t want to have to deal with that.’ I love the way you stick your head out the window, and let the sunroof work it’s magic! 🙂 Made me laugh! I do use a hair dryer and flat iron because when my hair drys naturally, it becomes like straw. So dry and ‘poofy’. Not shiny and bouncy at all. But yeah, I don’t spend too much time on my hair. It is what it is. 🙂 Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!
Christie Hawkes
Hello Leslie! I just loved looking at all of your past photos. So fun. I think your hair looks great. I have not yet reached a point of accepting my natural gray. I am currently getting dark highlights (lowlights?) every other month, which blend with the gray, so I don’t get a distinctive stripe along my roots between hair appointments. I’ve been going to the same hairdresser for more than 30 years now. When he tells me he is getting ready to retire, I will likely transition to my natural color. I can’t imagine letting someone else do the highlights.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
How wonderful that you have had the same person doing your hair for years. I appreciate that friendship and relationship. I have bounced all over El Paso from salon to salon. I like what they do the first time or two and then I get tired of paying for expensive cuts and color that really don’t wow me. Now my hair can look mediocre for free!! I bet you will find the transition to natural very easy as it sounds like your hairdresser has created a very easy way for you to move in that direction when you are ready.
Jill
So fun to read about your hair journey! I love seeing all of the throwback photos of you! Grey hair looks great on you! I used to air dry my hair with the car windows too!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Great minds!! Hanging my head out of the car window to dry my hair adds much needed volume!!
Deb
Oh you do make me smile! What a fun post, thanks for sharing the good and the bad styles you’ve had over the years. Isn’t it weird though, that even though we may be sitting in the stylists chair knowing that we don’t like what they have done, we still smile and say ‘lovely, thank you’ when they hold the mirror to show you the back? Or is that just me 😉
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Your turn to make me smile. I absolutely thank the stylist and offer her a generous tip, then go out to the car and try to ‘fix’ it myself. Ha!!
Amy Johnson
You look great with grey hair. I don’t know if I could ever so it. I just don’t seem to have the right skin color or style of hair to make it work for me.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you so much. I think going gray was much easier that I thought it would be. A lot of gals I know feel like the gray wouldn’t work with their complexion. You might try a platinum – well, not PLATINUM – but a silvery blonde tone and then grow that out and see what you think.
Marceline Miller
Loved this post. I’m totally your twin where hair is concerned. So refreshing to read your take on it! I clicked through and ordered one of those square headbands and am anxiously awaiting delivery. I sure hope it works on my freakishly big head! LOL
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hope you liked your square headband. Thank you for using my link to order. I wear mine several times a month. Even like my hair the day after I’ve worn it.
Thank you for the sweet words. I appreciate your kind comment.