They don't understand..

Curly-Asian · 12-18-2011, 07:46 PM

[My last thread reminded me of something! Sorry if I made another thread. I just thought since this was a different topic, I should make another thread so that it won't be so jumbled.]

As I was getting ready and putting product in my hair, my older sister comes in a tells me if putting all that product in my hair was necessary. (All I used was a leave-in, mousse, and a tiny bit of chi silk infusion.)

I told her if I didn't, my hair would be a frizzy mess.

She then shrugs and says it's a lot of effort just to go out. (we were heading to the movies.) This is coming from my sister who has long pin straight hair. When there is not shampoo, she literally washes her hair with handsoap and she's good to go.

Have you ever been questioned like that?
It kinda made me annoyed because she doesn't have my hair and she doesn't know what it feels like. I would LOVE to just wash my hair and leave the house as is, but I can't.
My whole family is like that. I'm the only one with wavy/curly hair.

forbee · 12-18-2011, 10:21 PM

It's all relative. Your routine doesn't sound that unusual or excessive to me, but I can understand that to some people, it might seem weird.

My mom still relaxes and flat irons her hair, and she is forever questioning what I do to my hair. I have given up on telling her, because she didn't get twist outs, she didn't get the twists (she thought they were locs that I took down every two weeks), she didn't understand why I used olive oil from the store when I could just buy the drugstore version, and so on and so forth. She would be horrified if she found out that I don't use combs or brushes anymore.

That is my long way of saying that I understand how it feels to be misunderstood. But I wouldn't trade my hair for straight hair, even if it means less maintenance, because I just look awful with straight hair. lol.

oh.hi.its.steph · 12-18-2011, 10:51 PM

Oh, I know what you mean. It can get very annoying! People always tell me it seems like I'm obsessed with my hair... but I'm really not, I just NEED to take about five minutes before I leave to put products in my hair, unlike someone with pin straight hair. My routine isn't like... high maintenance at all, but compared to someone who can brush their hair and go, it is! It definitely is just relative. My hair routine seems like nothing when you compare it to someone who needs to use four or five products to get their hair to look good, so, it's all individual needs/preferences.

Still does get annoying, though. :P

But hey, be proud you're the unique one in your family! That's awesome. Curly hair makes people stand out so much, I love it.

Chikyuu · 12-18-2011, 11:44 PM

That's weird.... Most people are kind of jealous of how low-maintenance my hair is since all my teen girl friends flat iron =P ...... Even some guys I know do too O.o

Gretchen · 12-19-2011, 10:04 AM

When I was in high school, my Dad put a water flow restricter on the shower head. I'm like, really, Dad? It's just going to take me twice as long in the shower now to rinse all the shampoo/conditioner out!

iroc · 12-19-2011, 10:13 AM

I was always super jealous that I couldn't just hop out of the shower and go. I always needed to put some maintenance into my hair.

And I'm always a mess after I go swimming.

Using my iphone with my toe thumbs. There will be typos.

Eecen · 12-19-2011, 06:16 PM

Try having an X chromosome and fiddling with you long-ish curly hair...

Farah85 · 12-20-2011, 07:24 AM

Not to undermine how annoying the situation you went through is (because it is annoying), I would like to share that I get instructed to STOP MY YAPPING about hair on a daily basis. My family thinks I am crazy and obsessed and is very vocal about it. It's not my fault that I'm trying to start a business and FORMULATE for curly hair which means that I live and breathe information about hair and when we are doing a 'let's talk about work' session that means I talk about hair.

In short, my family has always thought that I am crazy and obsessed with my hair. Shrug, dismiss it, and DON'T TRY to explain how your hair has very special needs because the chances of them getting it (especially if they have stick straight hair that can handle SOAP) is close to nonexistant. It will only aggravate you further.

For what it's worth, your routine seems pretty no-maintenance to me!!

thelio · 12-20-2011, 09:15 AM

Dont even bother trying to explain. I have relatives with bone straight hair who is SHOCKED i dont shampoo and only no poo! ACV?? *GASP*

Then I have the realtives who still relax and use grease who are shocked I dont shampoo or no heat at all or chemical laden products! "What are cones?" they ask.

I just let it go. They all say my hair routine seems like a lot. But when i feel like explaining myself, I break it down to them adn they realize, they do alot more to their hair then I do, and spend alot more too!

Ronnieaj · 12-20-2011, 11:32 AM

My short answer: "yes"

My long answer: "would you like to do it for me, because I'd surely love to take a break"

I grew up with people who (a) didn't understand how I could wash my hair only once a week, and (b) didn't understand why it took so long. So I got questioned REPEATEDLY about it. At some point I would always offer to let them do my hair for me, which always shuts people up for some reason...

At the end of the day, you do what you have to do. I don't even bother to explain, I just tell them to appreciate the outcome and don't worry about the process. If I'm not complaining about it, then neither should you.

CalamityM · 12-21-2011, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly-Asian

As I was getting ready and putting product in my hair, my older sister comes in a tells me if putting all that product in my hair was necessary. (All I used was a leave-in, mousse, and a tiny bit of chi silk infusion.)

I told her if I didn't, my hair would be a frizzy mess.

She then shrugs and says it's a lot of effort just to go out. (we were heading to the movies.) This is coming from my sister who has long pin straight hair. When there is not shampoo, she literally washes her hair with handsoap and she's good to go.

Have you ever been questioned like that?
It kinda made me annoyed because she doesn't have my hair and she doesn't know what it feels like. I would LOVE to just wash my hair and leave the house as is, but I can't.
My whole family is like that. I'm the only one with wavy/curly hair.

I've never had someone say that to me. I've never had someone care so much about my hair care that they'd feel the need...unless they're suggesting a product I might want to try out.

Each person has different grooming and personal habits. I wouldn't knock someone who enjoyed focusing on polishing their nails, skin care, clothing, physical fitness, makeup...or how much effort they like to put into their hair. After all, I have seen people with straight hair still spend time blow drying their hair each day to give it body and then spritzing it with hairspray so they get lift at the roots. Putting some products in to tame my curls and then diffusing my hair doesn't seem like a big deal to me in comparison.

I wouldn't sweat it. Your sister will get used to any routine you start up. Once the novelty wears off I imagine she'll stop commenting. Siblings always like to pipe up with useless comments from time to time. It's kind of their job to be annoying...it keep us on our toes.