Typical Mikhaela hairstyle, from sketch of never-made maternity dress
In my previous post about my hair woes, I mentioned that my hair has two and a half basic styles:
- "Down" (when it feels like not fanning out into a reverse triangle)
- "Up" aka "Ponytail" (most other times)
- "Half Up, Half Down" (when I'm feeling WILD)
My hair is particularly uncooperative in the summer, when I tend to wear a ponytail maybe 90% of the time, both for work and weekend.
Now, I've always assumed that a ponytail is a totally cute and acceptable hair look--I see it on the red carpet sometimes, even. I like the way it feels to have my hair out of my face, and I feel more well-groomed than when my hair is down and trying to fly in a gazillion different directions. I even have a ponytail in the banner for this website!
But via Already Pretty, I found this debate on Corporette: Ponytails at the Office: Yay or Nay?
So--all these years when I've been wearing a ponytail thinking I look professional and/or adorable, has everyone just been thinking "oh, she's having a bad hair day" or "she's too lazy to do her hair"? I asked Cartoonist Husband and he confirmed that he assumed the days I have my hair in a ponytail were a result of hair struggles, not a deliberate style choice. And they sort of are, but... well...
So I've been asking myself: do I need to cut back on the ponytails (giving them up is NOT an option)? Or should I just do what feels comfortable? Maybe I can start doing half-up, half-down more often, or using clips or barrettes to keep my hair out of my face?
I think part of the issue is I really hate putting any product in my hair--in fact, ever since I've been pregnant, I've been so worried about chemicals affecting Cartoonist Baby that I just wash my hair with mild California Baby shampoo and no conditioner at all. And I always worry blow-drying will just dry my dry thick hair out even more.
What do you think? If you wear ponytails, do you see it as a deliberate style or a "can't deal with my hair today style"? How is it that I've missed this anti-ponytail attitude all these years?
Or maybe I knew about it all along and have just been in denial--before I even read that piece, I forced myself to wear my hair down for the fabulous Brooklyn baby shower three of my awesome friends threw us on Saturday (the lovely ladies in question pictured below). Recognize that dress?
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