Curly Hair Girl Goes Straight Haired and Other Observations

It is my third year of ups and downs in Korea and I have started to wonder what kind of mark am I leaving on this place and how is it changing me in return?
First was today's excursion for my haircut. Now the last time I had a haircut was in May, before I left for the summer. I used to be a routine monthly, by the book kind of kid. One amazing hairdresser that I have know since I was 12. I felt insane if I didn't go in every 4 weeks. Here I am going months at a time.

Then comes the situation of what to do with said motley hair. The heat and humidity cannot seem to be beaten for the curly and frizzy haired humans of the planet. So today I have taken one step closer in my Asian adventures and had my hair permanently straightened. We will see if this treatment holds true or not for the average American head of hair.

When I first went in they asked if I was here for the cut and perm. And I said "no perm just straight." So blood pressure already jumped with that. Can you imagine! I would look like a poodle on crack if I had a perm! Then one hair wash and head massage, love that part. A cut and apply magic potion. So far so good. Then second wash and head massage, still love that. Blow dry out and I look like the frizzy bride of Frankenstein and I am thinking, this may not work. Then a second cut and application of magic potion but this time with curlers so I asked my trusted hair stylist... "This is not a perm right?" she told me that this would help it straighten and flatten. (Mind blown) Then time for third wash and you guessed it, head massage. Then a blow dry and final styling. I told my hairstylist I didn't believe it could be done. She said "then I am a miracle worker today." That she was. Now apparently this will only start to curl as it grows out. That will be something to monitor.
But it made me question my stylist. "Do Korean people get their hair straightened?" She said that they do quite often. What? They always have straight hair! Look at me being so stereotypical! I felt bad that I even thought that way!

Isn't the rule usually that all those who have curly hair want straight and those who have straight hair want curly? Much in the same vein as some like seafood but not fish, or some like tomatoes but not ketchup. Do you like cucumbers and pickles or just one or the other? We always seem to have these daily contradictions, sometimes about such little things but they can change your entire day. Not enough milk for my full bowl of cereal. Too much sauce on my lunch. Coke but no Pepsi. Why do we get this way? Why does it even matter in the grand scheme of life? Why do we get angry about something so small and really insignificant in the global perspective. If it is the end of the world you really aren't going to think about how your cereal was a little extra dry today.

But as hypocritical and obnoxious as we can be about the little things in life, it is time I encourage all of us, to take care with the people around you. The family whether brought together by blood or circumstance. We cannot allow ourselves to wallow in petty problems with others. This is a big challenge for me right now. So maybe I am just asking that the next time we yell at the car in front of us for being total jerks we just think for a minute about the bigger picture. Maybe because that person was a jerk you weren't in an accident today. (Granted sometimes they are just jerks plain and simple) That is there loss. Let us embrace where we are for now. With hair adventures, life adventures, and whatever comes around the corner next. Thank you to my adopted home for making what was normally a routine part of my life something to think about on a much different level.

Special thanks to Clare Hubbard for always sharing the haircut experience with me. It never is the same way twice. Mark and Isaiah, thanks for letting me borrow your wife and your mum for a bit today. It was so good to have that time!








(and for all of you worriers notice I didn't cut it really short again so you can relax a bit)