Rua,

I needed you today.  I was at the bart station in San Francisco and a kid started petting my hair.  It wasn't really threatening, and I think he was mentally challenged (I'm not sure that's the right term these days), but my partner had to push him away when he kept doing it.  Really wierd.  I need to learn to be more assertive, I just don't like to be mean. 

Valerie

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Actually it's funny that you mention that Valerie. Kids are kind of a tough one. It's easily to "Kung Foo Chop" adults because they should know better, but with kids...ekkk...it's difficult.

About 2 weeks ago we were babysitting these two kids of friends of ours. They are from Africa and the little girls is about 4 years old. All her life she's had someone braid her hair they way they do with African hair. Well, the wee girl decided that she wanted to braid MY hair - and she doesn't yet know how to braid. At all.

Before I could stop her, she had a section of my hair (I was sittin with her on my lap at the time) and started working a MASSIVE knot in the middle. My hair knots easily as it is, without the help of a 4 year old. LOL

So, what I did was carefully took my hair away from her and said nicely, "Ok, here I'll finish it." And swept my hair up in a really fast bun - every last strand - so as not to leave any to temptation for her. Then I thanked her very much for doing my hair for me.

She quickly lost interest and ran off to play. Thank goodness. It took me about 20 minutes to work out the knot that had accumulated. Can you imagine if I had let her finish my whole head?

AAAKKKK!!! 

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The kid was actually about 14, so I really shouldn't have let him continue for as long as he did.  Unfortunately you never know what can happen.  But luckily my partner just eased him away and he walked off without any problems. 

Rua, I can just imagine how hard that would be to untangle.  I doubt I would have had the patience for it and probably would have ended up with a lot more broken ends.

Oh dear, Galadriel. You're situation sounds like you are dealing with the increasingly common idea that once you hit a certain age, you have to have old lady short poodle hair.

Honestly, I don't get that! Where is it coming from? Who's propagating this?  ???

Don't give in!! There is nothing more refreshing than seeing people of all ages with lovely long locks....whether they have grey, white, black, blonde, green, purple, blue, whatever hair! 

Thanks, guys! 

I don't understand either, what's wrong with aging long-haired. Except that it's not very usual.

Sometimes when I get a moment of paranoia, I suspect that there's a worldwide conspiracy of hairdressers who want to get people caught in vicious circle of short, dyed and permed hair. I think that after one has done these things to her hair, it's pretty difficult to start growing it long and healthy again. And then some of these people just want to spread their misery around and tell those of us who haven't yet fallen to hairstylists' trap to cut it.

When I was little my mom always made sure I had short hair, I remember her chasing me through the house to cut my hair.  Now that I am all grown up I finally have my long hair.  She bugs me about it but my hubby loves it and that's all that counts!  And Galadriel I had that same conversation w/ my mom this weekend  ::)

you can assume the ones who tell you to cut are just totally jealous, and the ones who love it are honest. i know tons of people who admire me for having the patience to grow hair. people who want quick changes usually cut it. personally when i get bored or depressed i get myself some new make up or try to do some hair styles with my clumsy hands and non-cooperating hair.