I just had a childhood flashback while washing the dishes. Growing up my Dad was a Boy Scout leader of a local troop and all of my brothers participated in scouting.  As the only girl I often was forced to tag along on camping trips since my mom assisted with the troop.  I couldn’t have been more than 6 or 7 and I remember being on a scout trip and one of the boys said my hair looked like a Brillo pad. He along with other teased me the whole weekend and threatened to use my head to wash the dishes. 

It’s funny how things stick with you from childhood – especially any name you are called. However, children remember good things too.  Like I always knew that being adopted and looking different than everyone else meant I was special. How did I know that?  Because my mom and dad told me all the time. But being special didn’t seem fun if it meant someone was going to use my hair to wash dirty pots and pans.

A couple decades and a million ounces of conditioner later, I know full well my hair is NOTHING like a Brillo pad, however my hair is a total sponge.  I laugh anytime I read directions on hair products. “Use a dime size” “pour a capful” “add a bit” Ha!  I usually triple or quadruple the amount suggested and then add more later.  Of course the longer my hair the more product I use.  My hairdresser from home, Cynthia (you’ll hear her name a lot), was the first to call my hair a sponge.  Notice different than my childhood tormentors she called my hair and not me the sponge.  She said my hair soaked up everthing. Water – she had wring out my hair several time before styling.  Relaxers (yes had a few back in the day), heat (try sitting under a dryer for 2 hours and still having damp ends), color, shampoo, conditioner, mousse, gel, curl cream, oil, you name it my hair absorbed it like it was a plant in the desert.

Because of the amount of hair products I use I am always stocking up when my go-to stores (CVS, Sally’s or Ulta) have sales. I love that all of them allow me to return products if I find they don’t work for my hair or I just don’t like them. As long as they are 3/4 full any of those stores give me my money back.  I can’t afford to throw away money with the amount I buy.  Since I typically wash my hair twice a week I always buy 2 conditioners for 1 shampoo.  When I find a styling product that works like Tigi Curlsesque (formerly Curls Rock) curl cream in the turquoise and black pump bottle I buy a bunch. 

So if you take anything from this post know that compliments and positive reinforcement go a long way with anyone but especially children.  When you are growing up and you have any feature that’s different and/or draws attention other kids can be pretty cruel and we need the love and support of our family and friends.

head full of hair – total sponge

And if you or yours have a ton of hair like me don’t ever follow the label when it comes to directions or if you do…double, no triple it. 🙌