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Dear Zelda, I have a good friend who is concerned about her hair. Okay, I know it's normal for teenagers considering we are still in high school. Sometimes she takes it to the extremes. We are at an all-girls’ school and no one else seems to care about their hair as much as she does. If I mess with her hair, she will tell me to stop making it look bad. She even keeps a hair brush in her locker. Maybe it's just me, but it seems a little extreme. So my question for you is... is this normal? Don't Give a Hair Dear Don't Give a Hair, Hair for me has never been an issue, but then again, long tresses aren’t my stresses. However, I do know a thing or two about teenage girls, and their preoccupation with the look of their locks is nothing new. Crazy colors, extensions, straight hair, curly coifs, spikes... hair can become the bane or joy of a teenage girl’s existence. Your friend is not alone. Just take a look at any of the popular teenage magazines (Teen People, Cosmo Girl, Seventeen, etc.). Every one of them will have at least one article on hair. You may consider your friend’s obsession with her hair frivolous, but for centuries women have been doing all sorts of things to their hair. From Bible lore to Broadway scores, from the ancient Egyptians to the pouf-style wigs of Marie Antoinette and Madame de Pompadour. (You can even check out some hairy history on www.hairrific.com.) A woman’s hair often defines her self image. In high school this can be particularly important, as many girls (and boys) are trying to figure out their own sense of identity. I’m reminded of one of my wisdoms: “Smile… it could be worse.” It wasn’t that long ago when hair pomades were made by mixing bear grease with hazelnut oil and lemon juice. The sweet-smelling hair products of today have come a long way. Women have long been willing to suffer for their crowning glory, and personally I think your friend, though maybe a little hair-obsessed, is pretty normal. I suggest you let her have her hair obsession and try to be understanding, even if you can’t see why she cares so much. As obsessions go, it’s not a bad one. And who knows... her hair obsession may be ‘hair’ today and gone tomorrow! Zelda Dear Zelda, You have short hair, but my golden retriever, Bailey, has long hair that he manages to shed with some regularity. I have a friend who won't let me bring Bailey to her house because of the shedding. What can I do? Owner of the Super Shedder Dear Owner, First, I'd get rid of the friend, but then I'm a dog. To me a house is not a home without dog hair. My owner likes to say, "Love me, love my dog." But back to the shedding your friend is dreading, I guarantee your golden retriever's got nothing on me. In fact, some short-haired dogs, such as yours truly, shed more than their long-haired cousins. Personally I wouldn't trust a dog who doesn't shed... it’s like never changing your clothes! But enough about me. Let's look at Bailey's problem, which is actually (surprise!) your problem. If you relent and decide you really want to take Bailey to your friend's house, you're the one who will have to make Bailey the perfect guest. To do that, you'll have to take Bailey to a groomer on a regular basis or bathe him yourself. This can’t be a one-time effort... you'll need to brush him every day or take him for a few grooming visits so all the loose hairs come out in the brush, not in your friend's living room. A curry comb works well, or you can try my favorite, The Furminator (www.furminator.com), which works wonders for me. With a little elbow grease on your part, Bailey will soon be welcome everywhere. Zelda Share this column with a friend! |
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