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Frizz biz, I was born with a fright wig
In addition to her obsession with Richard Feder of Fort Lee, N.J., Saturday Night Live's Roseanne Roseannadanna was known for her hairstyle. The wig (I hope!) worn by Gilda Radner made her look a bit like a frizzy pharaoh. This is what my hair looks like naturally. Remember that ad campaign, "Got the frizzies?" My response, "You talkin' to me?"
My hair doesn't work short, it doesn't work long. I tried chemical treatment once. It smelled awful and didn't do much. Granted, that was a while ago. Today you can probably do it with an app. I tried pulling it back, but that gave me headaches.
I've started to experiment with anti-frizz products, so far to no avail. But there are so many to choose from! There's Aussie Moist 3-Minute Miracle Deeeep Liquid Conditioner, John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme, L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Smooth Intense Xtreme Straight Crème and Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Finish 5-in-1 Serum Spray. Just to name a few. These names seem scary to me. This is hair, after all, not the plague. Although extreme frizz can feel like a curse.
As a teen in the '60s I wanted Peggy Lipton's hair, long and blonde. It just flowed, like the hair of every model in every ad I've seen before and since. Peggy would toss her head - ever so sexily - to keep it from falling on her elegant face. Mine never covered my face, although it might blot out the sun.
Some people and characters can do frizzy and look cool, or at least adorable. Izzy, a character on the cartoon Phineas and Ferb, tells her buddies she has to wash her hair, then dances to the tune, "Izzy's Got the Frizzies," pausing to let us know, "It's because of the humidity." In my case, it's because of the heredity.
On a recent cover of O Magazine - theme, "Let's Talk About Hair!" - Oprah looks out from under a super frizz wig that was said to weigh three pounds. She called it "my favorite cover ever!" and added, "I wish I could say it was all mine."
"Your hair looks like Chaka Khan and Diana Ross combined," said Oprah's creative director. How cool is that? On her, funky. On me, Halloween. And I could probably achieve that look, wig-free, if I let my hair grow for a year or so.
It's probably time to make peace with my hair, although not to the point of letting it devolve to what is now its natural color. I'm thankful that my beautiful daughter has brunette Peggy Lipton hair. I just wish it hadn't skipped a generation.
- Ann Green
Ann Green is a freelance writer, editor, PR consultant and tutor.