It’s Not Easy Maintaining a Nice Mane, Even in the 21st Century

All those expensive products leave you broke – and yet your hair woes seem far from over.

"Your hair is so dry and the texture is weak too. What shampoo do you use?” asked the hair dresser in a salon, the first time I visited one of those posh ones in the ninth grade.

I told him I used a Dove shampoo and I kid you not, his face fell like I had asked him for his kidney.

"Dove? WHY? These shampoos are so harmful. You have no idea the amount of SLS they contain." And he went on and on and on. And I was like, WHAAA?!!

But after several subsequent visits, I was smart enough to quickly learn the secrets of the trade. Mind you, no matter what shampoo you name, they WILL find faults with it – unless it’s one of their recommended products from certain brands.

Cutting back to my first salon visit... After a lecture that went on for some ten minutes, he finally gave me a haircut, post which he recommended that I get a spa done every fortnight if I wanted smoother hair.

Now tell me something, how can a 13-year-old shell out the monies for a hair spa every fortnight? Like there isn’t enough on the plate already. And I swear if I had gone back and told my mom that I have to go for a hair spa twice a month, she would have thrown me out of the house screaming, "Choti banake padhai karo!’”

That Monsoon of 2010

So I managed to live four years with my apparently bad hair with the help of home remedies and by switching between less-harmful shampoos.

Anyone who has studied in Delhi will know how difficult it is for college students to manage travel in monsoons – and the added reason for my misery was my hair.

Humidity becomes your – and your hair’s – biggest enemy. Your wash doesn’t stay for even a day and makes your hair even more miserable. So I decided to put an end to all this before the next monsoon starts.

My Big Makeover! (YAY)

In the summer of 2011, something amazing (or so I thought) happened. I gave in to all the pressure from the hair stylists and got a smoothening treatment.

To be fair, I felt AHHMAZING... It was like I was a new person, you know. I could run my fingers through my hair easily, I could do hair flips and knew my hair will look great no matter how it falls.

I also excitedly got all the products the hairstylist asked me to buy. I would get compliments – and it’s a big deal for someone who has been criticised for her hair almost all her life.

Those Products Kill You :(

Soon, though, I realised it’s all a vicious circle. I admit here that I absolutely envy those women who have naturally beautiful hair. My expenses on maintaining my hair (which looks okay now) has increased tenfold. From using a Rs 250 shampoo, I am now using a Rs 2,500 shampoo. From home remedies – which included putting honey and egg in my hair – I now resort to the devil’s treatment of going for smoothening every 6-9 months.

I am one of those people who have tried everything under the sun. Products that claim to be made out of natural substances, inexpensive shampoos, very expensive shampoos, hair masques, conditioners, hair oils, hot oils, massages, serums, spas, henna and what not. The list will never end because, no matter how much I crib, I know I am incurably caught up in this cycle of hair products and treatments.

When They All Talk Differently...

Another thing that really pisses me off is how all these salon stylists say different things. Especially how a certain product is so beneficial according to one and so harmful according to another.

Honestly, we all need a person in our lives who knows it all and can help tackle everything. Simply put, someone who’s not running after a commission from a salon for ruining multiple lives.

We're in This Together

But ladies, I now know that these treatments and these hair products only give you temporary satisfaction – and then it’s all in vain and you have to start from scratch. Whoever you meet and happen to discuss your hair with will give you tips and tricks. But you and I know we have to live with it. We will have to embrace the times we stand in front of the mirror thinking, “Ye kya ho gaya? Paise bhi khatam ab toh!”