Hair ye! (A note while traveling…)
by Maria Eleanor E. Valeros, #newmedia specialist
CEBU, PHILIPPINES — It would be unfair to blame shampoo commercials and rebond services for women’s current whims of flaunting jet black shiny long hair. But it seems that because product ads have heedlessly referred to tying-back long hair as the dullest way to deal with hair grooming, girls nowadays are seen letting their hair down even in public conveyances.
In the past, when women were more careful, they travel with bandanas on. When I was younger, I took it as a way to keep off soiling one’s hair because we have to navigate dusty rough roads. On early morning travels, I assumed that the bandana’s major function is to protect us from “tun-og” (mist).
Lately, it dawned on me that because women were more decorous and proper then, they’ve taken it a point to keep their long hair in a knot or, if left flowing, the strands should be kept by a bandana from thrashing onto a seatmate’s face or getting into somebody else’s mouth.
Quite many times I traded barbs with girls inside public utility jeepneys who observe do-or-die the “ilugay, iwagayway” (let down, let loose) fashion in hair worship. I have pointed out many times that I don’t even grow my hair that long to avoid becoming source of other people’s discomfort. Since I’m a commuter, it is a “mane” concern to keep my tresses where they should be. Only on my crown and not stuck on some other glossed lips.
I would, in my meanest, sarcastic tone, point out how cheap are hair ties nowadays. And should one insist to let fly that hair beside me I will in time be in charge of pulling those tresses to emphasize a disgusted stance. There was one instance when the woman got irked at the reproof and harked back “ka-istrikta baya nimo uy!”
I gave him “the eye,” and retorted: “Palit og imong sakyanan para di namo makaon imong lusa (louse).” This would be one lousy thing to reveal, but some women adore too much their long hair they rarely spend half that much energy checking on what parasites have been thriving there for ages now. The way I saw it, it was like a season of winnowing done on her crown. Minute particles, like chaff, scattered all over. Truth be told: Lice! Lice! Lice!
I hate to blame this pop behavior on shampoo and rebond campaigns. It takes to propagate a meme to capture a market. But everything should have its rightful place under various circumstances.
Women who pull up their hair, tie it back in a ponytail appear lovelier because they become more prim and proper. Combing hair back and collecting it in a chignon or a shintaro, perhaps, doesn’t make girls less girl-looking.
I already bumped onto a nurse who, while on duty, let her hair down. I could not stop myself from chastisement, most especially that she was attending to an elderly relative of mine. She told me the mane is on conditioning after a rebonding session. She’s got a pretty face, mind you, but on that day she looked disgusting, and oh so out of place. An elderly lawyer, an events specialist, a practicing physician have joined the bandwagon too, but at least they have their own vehicle and there’s no way we could be juxtaposed in the same PUJ, or bus. But the sad thing is that these are the jobs that require women to be in proper grooming. Or what’s Deportment for?
Flight stewardess, bankers, management trainees, customer service personnel who are required to look neat and nice and kempt in hairnets do not look less feminine. They exude respectability.
They save a bad word from flying their way on a manic Monday. They also become peace advocates when they keep their split-ends from crossing my way.###
TRAVELEANORISM 