| | |  Health & Beauty | October 2009 
Does Hair Really Matter?
 Eddie Ortiz - PVNN
October 26, 2009
| | Jennifer Aniston could not snip a strand without it being the next big thing. | |
As much as I like to think my moving here to Mexico was a step towards retirement, I still find myself surfing the fashion magazines to see what's happening in trends and this past year I've noticed a big focus on hair, especially African-American women's hair. The first lady has always been a topic of style and hair, but more so now. Could it be because there is an African American woman in the White House? And does hair really matter?
Hair is an important part of every girl's young life; often as they grow older it can become part of their identity. It matters! Every woman's hair, no matter the color of skin or race, hair has a true significance in her life at some point or another. She could love it or hate it but at that point it made a difference on how it looked and affected her.
Women are not the only ones affected by the importance of hair! Men are just as "affected", I had a client who was a primetime news anchor in a very large market, his receding hair line became an issue with the network executives, and later his "natural" looking hair transplants saved his million dollar a year contract.
Colors and textures are stereotyped. If you are a blonde, you are dumb. Brunettes can be boring. Redheads have a temper. Curly hair means you are wild. And braids, twists, afros, etc., all come with their own stereotypes. From long and straight to short and kinky - and, of course, good and bad - these terms become shorthand for desirability, worthiness and even world view.
Often time's hair defines women and men. Tyra Banks was known for her different weaves as much as her modeling, which is why she recently revealed her "real" hair. When Tyra Bank's talk show premiered in September, she decided to reveal her "real hair" and declared September 8th National Real Hair Day."
 Even Chris Rock is in on this. His daughter asked him, "Daddy how come I don't have good hair?" which led him on a journey (which will be his next/new movie - Good Hair). Early reviews predict a hit.
Jennifer Aniston could not snip a strand without it being the next big thing. Would Megan Fox be as sexy without her long dark tresses? Macy Gray wouldn't seem herself without her afro? And let's not forget super DIVA mega icon Diana Ross (who I still love), her hair has a reputation all its own. Hair plays a larger part of your life than you think. Have you thought, what does my hair really say about me?
Now why would I really find this interesting?
I prefer to be honest and open with my clients, we discuss many topics and during my career it has helped me develop trust and confidence with each one of them. When my clients asks me to help them look 20 years younger, (10 is possible) 20? Not in my chair. Or to make them look thinner, I step back for a second and approach the answer by talking to them about being beautiful just as they are whatever age or weight them may be, and discuss possibilities that will help them look great and feel great.
Just like a snowflake, no type of hair is the same. Each person is as special and unique as a snowflake, regardless of texture, type, color, length, real, or not. We all have something special to offer, and once we look past what we see in the mirror we can move forward. But all of this focus and discussion on "real" hair in the salon sure has made me think about this topic, here is what I think.
I have met very few people in 25 years in this business who have loved or even liked their "real" hair. It's too thin, too brittle, too wavy, too straight, or a combination of all those factors. Many look for alternatives or solutions, and sometimes that is exactly what one should do.
The first step to sanity is to accept reality; most of what I mention above is due to genetics, you can't do much to change it, so you just have to learn to live with it. What you can do, is make healthy decisions about the way you care for your hair, learn about solutions, products and services to help you feel better about what you have.
I strongly believe in being able to communicate with your stylist, it's an important relationship to have. As I always mention, if you like lively conversations, come see us at Salon Diva's. In the meantime, and most importantly, remember to love yourself, you are beautiful just as you are.
Do you know your "real hair"? Meaning, without tints, weaves, blow dryer, flatiron? Are you stereotyped for your hair? Do you care? Let me know!
 Eddie Ortiz has been a professional licensed stylist and make-up artist for 28 years. Having trained in California at the Paul Mitchell Training Center in San Diego and the Vidal Sasson Education Center in San Francisco, his work as a freelance stylist and make-up artist have appeared in national magazines such as Glamour, XY, Bon Appetit, and Entertainment Weekly. His television credits include Fox News, CBS Productions, ABC News and CBS Evening Magazine. Today, Eddie lives in Puerto Vallarta and works at Salon Diva's in Plaza Marina.
For more information about the luxury salon and spa services available at Salon Diva's, click HERE. |
|
| |
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us