Would trade curls for straight hair

Just look at my mother and you will see where it came from. It is actually why I think so many people think we look like twins. They see the black fuzz around our head and never actually look at our faces.

Anyway back to my curls, I was born with them. My childhood photographs look like Shirley Temple or Little Orphan Annie, except I had dark black ringlets instead of their blond or red ones. It was uncontrollable. My poor mother tried her best to pull a brush through the wild tangles, but it was hopeless.

Since I've taken over trying to control my hair, I haven't used a brush. I don't even own one. I just pull a pick through my curls best I can. It takes about five minutes to fix my hair. There's no point in trying to control it. My hair is actually a lot straighter than it was when I was younger.

I really want long, straight silky hair that swings from side to side of my head. I want to braid my hair and wear it in a long pony-tail. No matter how long my hair is, as soon as I pull it up, it curls up into a tight little ball. No swinging my pony-tail from side to side.

There are ways to straighten curly hair but I'm just not talented enough to do it myself. I guess it comes from years of not even trying with my hair. My beautician, the talented Robert Roberts, can have my hair straight in just a few minutes by "blowing it out." I just can't pull it off in my own bathroom.

I actually didn't know Robin could make my hair straight until just a few years ago. I read about a "blow out" in some fancy fashion magazine. I went to Chicago with a friend who was on a business trip. While my friend was in class one day, I made an appointment and went to this fancy salon. I ended up paying a lot of money for what Robin could do in Homer. She also does it a lot better and doesn't charge near as much as the big city salon.

I did have quite an experience in the salon. I called and made the appointment and got the address for the building. I took a taxi over and was sure I was at the wrong place. It didn't look like any beauty shop I had ever seen. It was a huge, brick skyscraper. There were no signs in front telling what businesses were located inside. I went to the lobby and found a security guard sitting at a desk. I told her that I had a hair appointment and she had me sign in and get a visitor's name tag. She then sent me up the 15th floor. I got off of the elevator and entered into another world.

As soon as I walked into the salon, someone rushed over and handed me a robe and told me where to change. I nervously said I was just getting my hair styled and that I didn't need to take my clothes off for that. She assured me that everyone changed into a robe and directed me into the tiny cubicle to change.

As soon as I came out tugging the thin robe around me, another lady hurried over and offered me a cappuccino while I waited. I got more nervous by the minute. I was sure I looked like a country hick sitting in the fancy salon.

A hyper older man was my "stylist." He was very nice and tried to put me at ease. I was on my way with straight hair in no time at all. Like I said, it cost a lot more than it should have but I kept telling myself I was on vacation and it was special treat.

When I got back home, I told Robin about it and she said she could do that anytime. Sure enough, she "blows out" my hair straight every time she cuts it. I don't get the robe though but I get to tease her and ask where it is and whether she has any cappuccino for me.

I was reading another fashion magazine recently and saw an article on "thermal conditioning." It costs $300-$1,000 and makes your hair straight forever. This is certainly intriguing but probably not a good idea for me. I'm sure that as soon as my hair was straight, I would be trying to figure our how to get it curly again.

Angela Gary is editor of The Banks County News and associate editor of The Jackson Herald. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.