Heather L. Barmore

"Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hair stylist you like."  ~Author Unknown

A few weeks ago a friend's wife who happens to work at my favorite area day spa, mentioned something about a blow out. Before she could get the words fully formed from her lips I clasped her hands in mine and told her YES! YES! YES! Of course you can blow my hair out. Have at it. Just really put your back into it and don't be surprised if it takes over two hours.

I don't think I've mentioned this but because of the natural state of the mass on my head I haven't ventured into a salon for anything other than a mani/pedi in over two years. Which means for two straight years I've been scrubbing at my own scalp with nary a nice deep massage. So that someone else wanted to do it? I was waiting for the heavens to open up and drop dollar bills onto me while she went at my scalp.

When it came to the blowdrying - my God - every time someone asks if I ever blow dry and straighten my own hair I ask just how high they are. It requires levels of ambidexterity fit for Zeus. And at the end there's the popping of codeine for the pain of having contorted my arms in such a way that I can feel it down to my ass. So no, I don't blow dry my own hair.

While blowing and straightening, Karla and I chatted about my hair and it's boring history of relaxers and how five years ago I was like fuck this noise and decided to just go for the 'natural' look. No sense fighting it. Also I don't have the will power to fight anything that is bigger and stronger than I am and could probably sprout legs and run away. So she's asking me about my parents' hair. My father is bald which means that now all of my brothers have receding hairlines and my mother has been gray since 17. I found myself relatively gray-less. Just one stray towards the front of my head that I barely noticed but took pride in because, awwww, I have one gray hair. Isn't that cute?

She kept blow drying and straightening and the more she straightened the more little white hairs popped up. They formed a nice little trail from the left side of my head. Sprinkled about as if waiting for Hansel and Gretel to find their way back home. There they were, one after another with a few in the back. The more Karla straightened the more I could feel my eyes widening and the more she apologized and remarked how normally I'd never be able to see them because my hair is so curly and the more I thought about freezing my eggs because I'M AGING!

After I took my Lipitor with a shot of Ensure and came to, Karla trimmed my hair and voila! It's no longer seven different lengths. Below is what it looks like now with nary a sight of a gray hair. This shot actually was taken on day 1,825 of growing my hair out. I tease my friend Karen who is also growing her hair out because she's on day 70 (maybe?) and is waiting patiently for it to grow. I'd tell ehr that after day 1,700 that her hair might take a life of its own, little creatures are going to form colonies and every time she loses one hair 15 more come in its place. And the best part is that it's like a giant magnetic field that draws hands to it like a pregnant woman's belly.

I'd tell her all of that but it would be so much more fun for her to find out on her own.

Speaking of hair: Danielle of Foodmomiac and Susan of...well, you know Susan because sometimes I should just rename this site No Pasa Susan. Anyway, we're holding a party in Chicago during BlogHer. It's been so much fun to work with them on this because while I never hold parties I love to think about how they would go if I were to plan one. But that only leads to strife as I think about how many people wouldn't show because there's a giant L tattooed on my head. Regardless we're holding a party at Sparrow Hair an amazing Chicago area salon where Danielle gets her hair done. Here's where you come in, we'd like to find 15 of you lovely ladies attending BlogHer to get your very! own! hair make over! Exciting right? The rules are below and I cannot wait to see what you all come up with.

And if you have grays, we can commiserate together.

The rules:

1. If you are coming to BlogHer and want a hair makeover, post a photo or video on your site, showing us why you need one. Please be sure to include links to our three sites and to Sparrow Hair.

2. Post a link to your post in the comments of this post, or Susan or Heather's posts once those are live.

3. All entries must be in by July 3.

3. All entries will be judged by the lovely ladies of Sparrow and by the super-talented Whoorl of Hair Thursday.

4. We will select and announce 15 finalists. These women will all be invited to attend a special party at Sparrow Hair on the Thursday afternoon before BlogHer.

5. At the party, we will announce the four winners and document the makeovers.

6. Before and after photos will be showcased on all of our sites, sending the winners lots of link love in addition to the joy they are already receiving from their new hairdos.

Color me confused. . . where's the picture of the blow-out?

No blowout photos because the humidity was so bad that by the time I got to my camera it was over. Next time I'll be more prepared!

I looveee your hair. My curls are all dry and frizzy and it's impossible to untangle them without ripping 1/2 the hair out of my head each time.

I never see any frizz in your photos, or at BlogHer last year and thusly, I'm a hater. It's not fair!

My 10 year old is transitioning from relaxed to natural and it has been driving me insane. I read on your blog about Miss Jessies' hair butter (??) and even that wasn't working for the nest on her head, but Kinky Curly Custard seems to be working...awesome! You're curls are beautiful!

As for the curls: I used Miss Jessie's forever and then Karen (same one mentioned above) turned me on to Kinky Curly Custard (www.kinky-curly.com/) and now my hair stays un-frizzed for much longer.

But all I do is wash it with a clarifying shampoo. Put in some knot today conditioner and leave some in. Then I comb the kinky curly into my hair. Pick six sections to twist and leave the twists in for a few hours (however long it takes me to do stuff around the house though I did just leave my hotel with my hair up and no one cared or noticed). Take the twists out and voila. The end. But it really has taken me five years to find product I love.

Your curls are gorgeous. I have mainly straight hair and I still avoid blowdrying. So tedious.

[...] Post a link to your post in the comments of this post, or Danielle or Heather’s posts once those are [...]

[...] so, check out this contest hosted by Susan, Heather and Danielle. It’s pretty damn awesome, so don’t dilly-dally! Leave your submission in [...]

Damn it all to hell. I won't be in town until 4:00 and then I have a Chevy Carpool thing. I would love to get in on this.

That is one fantastic haircut.

[...] a totally free, totally awesome hair makeover, you must check out this contest hosted by Susan, Heather and [...]

Beautiful!!!

[...] Susan of Friday Playdate, Heather of No Pasa Nada, Danielle of Foodmomiac and Sparrow Hair in Chicago are having a little hair makeover contest. And [...]

Oddly enough I have been in the room when four different friends found gray hairs on different occasions. Maybe you should blame me?
Anyway.
Here.
Thanks for putting this all together. I know you did it for people like me. Or, whatever.
mooshinindy.com/2009/07/02/change-my-hair-change-the-whoorld/

[...] of Friday Playdate, Heather of No Pasa Nada, Danielle of Foodmomiac and Sparrow Hair in Chicago are having a little hair makeover [...]

with my hair, everyday is a bad hair day

www.momecentric.com/2009/contest/when-you-are-me-bad-hair-day-is-every-day

I've done it, admitted that I need help. It's the first step, no?

www.designhermomma.com/2009/07/momma-needs-factory-restart-on-her-hair.html

I did it. God, I hope I win. :)loraleeslooneytunes.com/2009/07/03/a-shameless-plea-to-win-a-hair-makeover-at-blogher/

Your haircut looks fabulous!