My hair story.

  As much as we don’t like to admit it, our looks matter. People are superficial and subconsciously we judge people by the way they look. A person’s appearance can tell us a lot about their health, well-being, social status, hygiene and personality. Hair is one of the first things we notice in a person. 

  For most of my life, I have had naturally thick and healthy hair, thanks to genetics. My mother and most of my maternal relatives have beautiful wavy/curly hair. Even at 69, my mother continues to receive compliments on her hair from others.  

  When I was a baby, my hair was light brown and straight. Later, my hair gradually became darker and curlier. 

    I looked pretty funny with my short curly hair.  Our deaf and mute neighbour was passionate about photography and enjoyed capturing candid moments, often taking pictures of me. Since my family didn’t own a camera at the time, most of my childhood photos from that period were taken by him. I almost appeared biracial in some of the pictures from that time. 

     In elementary school and middle school I had long wavy hair. Brushing it every morning was a torture since my mom had no patience with my tangled hair. 

   In 9th grade, my mom decided to cut my hair, and the result was disastrous. A short bob on wavy, frizzy hair was far from ideal. At the time, we were struggling financially, and I mostly wore hand-me-downs—paired with that unflattering haircut, it wasn’t exactly my best look. I won’t be sharing a picture; in fact, the only one I have is from a yearbook, and I’d rather keep it to myself.

  During university, I kept my hair at shoulder length since I didn’t have the time to maintain long hair. While it was more manageable, it wasn’t the most flattering style for me.

    After graduating from university, I finally had more time to focus on hair care and decided to grow my hair long again. In fact, my very first blog post was about hair care—it’s called Rapunzel, Rapunzel.., which I wrote in 2011. Feel free to check it out if you’re interested.

  It was around that time that I discovered hair oiling, a practice I’ve continued ever since. I believe my hair looked its best in my 20s, though I’d say my true prime is in my 30s. The photos below are from my late 20s.

  In 2020, I was hospitalised due to heart arrhythmia, which I believe was triggered by anxiety and panic attacks. As a result, I began experiencing significant hair shedding.

  In the fall of 2021, I got Covid delta and had a prolonged fever lasting over a month. Also, my mother temporarily lost cognitive function due to the virus (she has since recovered). The combined impact of illness and stress led to another episode of hair loss. I thought I would go bald, though it was likely less noticeable to others due to the natural density of my hair. However, I could tell that my ponytail had become visibly thinner.

   In February 2022, the war in Ukraine began. Living in Sevastopol, Crimea, I have faced significant stress over the past three years, further worsening my hair loss.

   Recognising the impact of prolonged stress and illness on my hair health, I decided in 2023 to take a more proactive approach to hair care. I realised that I would end up looking like Gollum from the LOTR if I don’t do anything. In an upcoming blog post, I will share my current hair care routine, including the products, devices, and techniques that have been most effective for me. When I was younger, I used an inexpensive drugstore shampoo, skipped conditioner, but remained consistent with hair oiling. Despite the minimal routine, my hair was naturally healthy and strong. Now I need a little more help to keep a healthy mane on my head. 

   These Christmas pictures were taken in the end of December 2024. My hair is in a pretty good condition as you can see. Despite almost ruining my hair with hair dye last summer. 

    Fortunately, I don’t have any gray hair yet, despite being in my late 30s. While there’s a growing trend of embracing natural aging and grey hair, I know myself well enough to say that I’ll likely never let mine go gray.

  Although gray hair can look elegant on some women, it often adds 10–15 years to one’s appearance. I can’t predict the future, but for nearly 40 years, I’ve been diligent about my hair and skincare, and I don’t see that changing as I get older. I’ve been dyeing my mother’s hair every month for years—I never let her go gray. So, if I’m that consistent with her hair, you can only imagine how committed I’ll be to maintaining my own natural dark brown colour in the years to come.

  With time and experiments, you learn what suits you best. I’ve discovered that my natural wavy hair texture is the most flattering for me—I used to straighten it during university but eventually realized that waves complement my features better. I’ve also found that brown highlights enhance my complexion, adding warmth and dimension to my hair.

  The only thing I haven’t quite figured out yet is whether mid-back or waist-length hair suits me better. Sometimes, I feel that very long hair makes me appear even smaller, given that I’m only 5’2” (90 lbs/40 kg). Additionally, since my face is thin and angular, extra-long hair can make it look even longer and more narrow. On the other hand, not many women can grow their hair very long, and ultra-long hair always draws attention.

   I’ll attach photos comparing mid-back and very long lengths for reference.

  I guess I will finish here. In my next blog post I will write about my detailed hair care routine. I’m keeping this blog mostly for myself, but perhaps someone will find it interesting. :)