Okay, so I’ve been having this discussion with some of my friends. (Yeah, we’re totally superficial. Deal with it.) I hear a lot of guys say they prefer women who work the natural look when it comes to wearing makeup. I’ve heard that fairly often enough to think perhaps putting on that glittery mascara could be a bit much. (Which isn’t to say I’m not going to do it when the mood strikes.)
But when it comes to hair, the consensus on what is or is not attractive gets a little fuzzy.
The women I know tend to mess with their hair fairly often and change hairstyles more often than I change my nail polish. Among my age group, rarely do folk keep a monotone. More often than not, it’s a blend of reds, golds, etc. In fact, more often than not, I’m the odd one out. As for the boy, well he thinks the more blonde I put in, the more it reflects the real me. :/ Not amused. In fact, he’s been after me for the better of a year to fix the locks.
But. I like black. I really do. I’ve never wanted any other color.
At the same time, the gals say I should go out on a fashion limb. And maybe I should. After all, I do like seeing it on them.
But I’m sorry. Doesn’t anyone else find this tacky? Maybe I’m the only one who shudders when I see desi girls with blonde highlights. Ugh.
Nope, I’m not. Desigrrl Isheeta hates ‘em too.
Now, I love my hairdresser because 1) he is Italian (thus, total flirt ) and 2) he gives me great layers with my curls BUT he always wants to give me highlights. Now, highlights are fine and dandy if you are 1) blonde and 2) white and 3) have straight hair. Since I am none of the above, I cringe at the thought of highlights. I also remember way back in summer whrn Bruno gave me some shimmers/highlights.. he said all the boys were gonna be like puppies when they saw me. So I had said yes.
To cut a long story short, my highlights bordered on dark orange. I gulped, and thought, “hey, change is good, maybe I cant see the beauty in this just yet.” Then I came home, my bro/dad/momzilla… all looked at me funny. Apparently I looked about one hundred years old. After dishing out about 150$ on my hairdo, I went to Shoppers Drug Mart and bought a $9.99 hair color and fixed it. THEN I looked like a human being again and less like Pippy Longstocking.
There ya go. I thought redheads were the most beautiful women in the world when I was five. But at this point, I don’t think I want to start channeling Pippi Longstocking.
Read the rest of the post, it’s hilarious.
I will contribute an old man’s perspective.
Most men wouldn’t notice a highlight if it bit them, unless it were some unnatural color, like green or orange or blue. Very few women can pull off those colors without looking like they just stepped of the set of a sci-fi movie. Those looks, in my opinion, are more social or political statements than they are fashion, if you define fashion as an attempt to be presentable to others.
Men are much more likely to look at the overall of a hairdo, not at the detailed geography of it.
Men tend to like long hair. Beyond that, they are not particularly fussy.
I long ago concluded that women dress for other women.
Without getting into any question of physical looks, men are happy with someone who’s well turned out, curves in where she’s supposed to curve in, and curves out where she supposed to curve out. And that’s it.
Men are pigs. Pigs do not concern themselves with details.
Then, again, I’m from the generation that believes all hair, men’s and women’s, should be long all skirts should be short.
I am biased. I have issues with how black hair is deemed less- fashionable or whatever.
To me, in all the fashion shows and make-over or whatever, it always talks about lightening one’s hair. And if it is a little darkening, it is never (or almost never) going black or dark brown. It is darkening an already light color with some darker shades of that light color.
Basically, and I know I am extreme on this, it’s an example of reinforcing “Caucasian” beauty ideals. (I put “Caucasian” in quotes because it doesn’t necessarily mean white.)
At the same time, I am very aware that non-whites can have light hair.
But just the immediate want to lighten the hair, and if someone with complete black or dark brown hair is caught on the street by the makeover people, the first they they say is about softening the black hair or adding highlights to the black hair.
Yes! Yes! And Yes! To both of you. <3. Okay, now I need some highlight fashionistas to beg to differ….
Aside: My skin is as pink as it comes, and I’ve always preferred dark hair.
Remember, every time some hair dresser talks someone into putting chemicals in his or her hair, he or she gets to up the bill and be guaranteed high-dollar return business.
Not that that would ever affect their
sales pitchadvice or anything.Hey Phillygirl!… wow, I feel like I came across King Tut’s tomb – where have you been hiding all my life?!
I must applaud Frank’s comment – very true, and this is exactly what my brother tells me as soon as I come back from my hairdressers.
Phillygirl – I remember talking to one brown dude, and he mentioned how he loves old-fashioned girls.. meaning not people who show a lot of skin.. and then in the next second, he stated that he didnt like girls who didnt highlight ttheir hair. *sigh* Yay for inconsistencies!
I dont think men really know what they want. Like Frank said, they look at the general picture, long hair, sensual curves…. details? pfft! we women get so caught into it.. I know for a fact, I dress for women, unless its a date! :D
I for one am a fan of au naturel hair and makeup, without all the cake.
This post cracked me up. I don’t think highlights are tacky…on the right person. But LOL @ the boy wanting you to be blonde. (Mike likes blonde Asian girls.) I have no problem with blonde Asian girls. Some of them ROCK that look. But some of them really should NOT. :+/ Especially when it’s all fried and orange and looks like hay.
I love your natural hair! I Wish mine was as shiny and pretty-wavy. Don’t do anything to it!!
I am a fan of certain highlights on certain women. i think certain styles on certain people.
certain styles *for certain people
Everyone wants what they can’t have.
It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
blonde is overrated and boring these days, stick wiht darker tones unless u go exotic like blue or silver highlights. Screw the norm
I must admit to loving your silver highlights, W. :)
To isheeta: Men know what they want. It’s not highlights. It’s (evil grin) a highlights reel.
On topic: This column in the Guardian today.
It costs the cosmetics makers cents to make those containers of brand name goo, then they slap fancy labels on them and sell them to you for $$$$$.
Now, I’m not anti-makeup. I am just anti-getting suckered.
I’m like frank, but i like short hair too once in awhile (think clara bow or the flappers).
but yeah as for the rest frank nailed it (so to speak).
men are pigs and easily pleased.
Isheeta is awesome.
http://isheeta.typepad.com/
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i feel it