Anna Wintour may have single-handedly brought back the bob, but I'm pretty sure it's time to declare that natural is the new style - when it comes to hair, that is.
[Side note: Did you know that '"x" is the new "y" was one of the most used phrases of 2007? It feels wonderful to be a part of that. Jail Is The New Pregnant, Tan Is The New Tacky, Natural Is The New Style - I'm getting more creative with each (over) use!]
But hair: such a polarizing and sensitive subject. Time was when it'd take a miracle to find a blonde to admit she wasn't natural, a curly brunette that didn't straighten, or even (and unfortunately) a male without freshly frosted locks. But times are a-changin' and natural is making a comeback.
The fashion world has always been one of extremes. It's either pencil skirts or slouchy trousers, saffron yellow or chocolate brown, or, to put it simply, as Heidi says, you're either in, or you're out. And for every Rihanna, Katie, or Victoria, there are women out there who are embracing, or at least attempting, a more natural look.
I say: it's about time! As someone who has long eschewed the importance of a daily shower, let alone the time it takes to wash, condition, brush, style and blow-dry one's hair, I've been way ahead of the trend. My poor hairdresser, Brandon (at Mudhoney, tell him I sent you!), is saddled with the daunting task of giving me a stylish and playful cut that I don't have to tame with product, stressfully blow-dry, or even brush, and let me tell you, he succeeds winningly. And it's easier than it looks.
Embrace your texture. If you're curly, you're the envy of all flat-locked ladies, and be thankful! Leave the gel in the cabinet, the flat iron in the drawer, and let your curls live free. I have yet to see a curly-mop that looked better strangled by fists of gel or, worse yet, decimated into scraggly, broken strands by an over-used flat iron. If you must, work in some taming mousse, top with a quick blast of the diffuser, and be on your way.
If you're wavy or straight, consider yourself lucky! No stiff-armed wrestling with a paddle brush and a blow dryer, no slathering your hair in slippery serums. A couple spritzes of volumizer, some careful tousling of the roots, and off you go!
And as for those of you that I can already hear crying out, "But what about the frizz?!", I say, "Well, what about the frizz?" There is nothing wrong with a little fuzz, and if anything, a softly fuzzy 'do is one of the prettiest styles there is. The Spring '08 shows saw plenty of models stomping the runways with artfully-undone hair, and from BCBG to Betsey Johnson, the style was pretty, feminine, and utterly natural.
Look, why wouldn't you want to save yourself 40 minutes in the morning and years of therapy? Let's say no to the uber-coiffed, time-consuming, wallet draining, and unattainable standards of beauty. It's time to give it up, ladies, fight back, and start working with what your momma gave you.