When I was a kid, I wanted long hair. What I got was a "pixie cut". Sigh. Some people look adorable with short hair. Sadly, I'm not one of them. I'm not bitter, no. But as a big girl, I keep it long. I like to imagine myself as an old lady with long gray hair. Not wild and tangled so as it looks crazy, of course--long gray braids twisted into a respectable bun.
Anyway, my youngest, the lovely Bronwyn, has been looking for ideas to curl her beautiful locks. We've been searching for a how-to on rag curls. Looky what we found! This exquisite film by TigerinaJar, the same people who made the inspiring-to-be-bakeish Dutch Oven Bread film. If ever there was an inspiration for Bron and I keep from cutting our hair, this is it.
35 comments:
Ok, true (random) story. When I was in college, I overheard a friend of a friend talking about his girlfriend Bronwyn, and I fell in love with the name. I knew that would be my daughter's name, someday. Indeed, I'd planned to name Cade Bronwyn until I learned he was a boy. At the point at which I had daughters, I was married to a different man. His last name is Galyon. I don't like the sound of Bronwyn Galyon. Too rhyme-y. But I love your daughter's name more than I can say and wanted to make a point of telling you.
Also. The thing about cutting one's hair is that it always grows back. A true statement, but misleading, because depending upon how short one cuts one's hair--it will go through so many horrendous stages of growing out that only 21.8%* of people actually make it to the grown out stage. *A made-up percentage, but I'll bet I'm not far off! Keep your long hair, for reals.
Brandee, thanks for the name love. Bronwyn Gaylon's not so bad. Sounds very Tolkien.
My hair went through all those horrendous stages of growing out when I was a teen. For reals. ;D
Thanks for sharing! Sometimes I wonder what my hair would be like short but I have way too much fun playing with it and I can always have it short when I'm older. :)
That is so lovely.
Really lovely!!
Dottie
I was locked into the pixie cut too! It kind of drove me nuts and I ditched soon after I got to college. Love this video. Oh, I love ladies doing old-fashioned things!
My grandma had long gray braids which she wore pinned on top of her head. I remember the first time I spent the night at the farm and saw Grandma with her long braids hanging down her back. I thought she looked so strange.
I hadn't thought about that night for a really long time, until I read your post.
A very peaceful ,charming video.
I have long hair, and my friend's daughter shared a trick which avoids the need for ribbons. Slightly damp hair twirled up into a scrunchie overnight produces a lovely effect. The video's lovely if you have the time and inclination.
Dan
-x-
Dan, I've been using the method you described to curl my hair for years. :) Unfortunately--or fortunately, depending on how you look at it--Bron's hair is ultra-thick and heavy. She can barely keep it in a bun. Dividing the pieces with rags might work better for her. But I do appreciate your input. Thanks!
Steph, your hair is gorgeous, and I admire the way you manage it, considering how long it is.
Linda, I do too.
Dottie, agreed.
Nancy, so glad to stir the memory pot. :)
Val, you should check out their other videos. They all have that same, peaceful vibe.
So lovely, and the music, mesmerizing....I posted about this to the Betsy Tacy list where we have in the past talked about rag curls...And even though my mother put my hair up like this when I was very little, I didn't recall exactly how......
My grandmother did my hair too. Alas, with with a curling rod heated over a gas stove. When I could smell my hair burning, I'd cry, "I think it's done now, Nana!"
Kristi, Awwww that's a sweet memory, although when you were little and you smelled your hair burning, it must've not been that sweet. Still, thanks for sharing.
okay. when i think of rag curls, the first thing that comes to mind is that skit from Hee Haw where the ol lady with missing teeth and her hillbilly husband are in their kitchen and she is always ironing and has the rags curled in her hair! (i watched a lot of Hee Haw as a child). anyhow, my hair used to be really thick too and my favorite way to make it wavy was to have mom braid it as tight as she could, usually in two braids, while it was damp when i got out of the bath at night. in the morning it was wonderfully wavy and usually pretty dry. i do the scrunchie thing too...
oh and i did a linky to your blog while ago :))))))
I love you Vicki, and your stories. You're so cool. And thanks for the linky.
I'm getting such a kick out of all these crown of glory sharings. I was telling my husband as I was reading them - "women and their hair". "Yeah", he said, "that's because it's connected to your soul". :)
Dear Jodi,
Have you tried the rag/handkerchief curls method from Rapunzel's Resource? It is meant for use with longer hair.
-Irena.
you guys are my heroes.
Irena, nice to meet you! I'll definitely check out Rapunzel's Resource. Thank you.
Emily, awww, shucks. xox
That's a lovely video. The hair issue? Well, let's just say hair is a testy subject around these parts. The curly stuff won't be so tame as to hold a style. It knows no rules - unruly and unkempt are truly accurate descriptions.
I'm trying so hard to grow out my heard. I'm afeared the 100 degree heat will break my will though.
I'll have to come back and visit here for strength!
My mother has been putting my hair in rags since I was 6 years old, I could have told you how.
We always put our rags in at night after we washed our hair, so our hair was wet when the rags were put in.
And by the way, if you haven't come across the information: use a muslin type of cloth for the rags. If you use terry cloth, the curls won't dry if wet. If you use jersey knit fabric, the fabric will stretch and the rag knot will loosen letting the hair out of the rag partially or completely.
How beautiful, Jodi! My mom used to do my hair in rags, but a little differently. Brought back some good memories.
Renee, I bet that down South heat would make curly hair testy. :)
JoAnn, don't be afeard. You and Leslie Young are the types that look gorgeous with short hair.
Niamh, Bron said putting it on Blogger was technically asking your advice :) And we are taking it. She's cutting muslin strips to work with.
Dear Connie, glad to have brought back good memories.
I have long wavy hair and tried for years to get it healthy and soft and flowy. It was limp and dry and brittle, no matter what I did. So I'm now 4 months into dreadlocks! I still see women like the ones in the video and miss my hair, but then I realize who am I kidding, mine never looked like that.
Jen, Bron wants dreads, too. Did you do them yourself, or have them professionally done?
My husband put them in for me. He used the rip and twist method. No real "ripping" involved. Ragingrootsstudio.com has the best information as to the hows and whys of what to do. It took a loooong time to put them in (multiple hour sessions over the course of about a week) and they aren't maintenance free by any means. They could be, I suppose, but I didn't want to have them be too unsightly for any longer than need be. Have her really research it because it's much different than a regular hairstyle. However, you absolutely can comb them out if you've given them a fair shake and they're just not for you. I read a blog (deniseandrade.com) and she just combed hers out after a couple years. And if you do the rip and twist method as opposed to backcombing, you're not damaging your hair or tearing it.
Dear Jen, thanks so much for the info. My daughter will appreciate that you took the time to give, and so do I.
Oh my! So gorgeous! The curled hair was so pretty. That is such a cool way to curl hair.
Also the other lady's hair...
the inside-out french braid crown.
Simply lovely!!! I tried it on my american girl, And it worked!Whippee! I want to learnto do it to myself.Doing hair is my new favorite thing to do.(one of many)
I am groing my hair as long as it can get! And when I am old I am deffinitly wearing my hair in long braids!!!!!:)
Love, Audrey
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