A couple months ago I told a lie that I have told hundreds of times in my life. While networking at a cocktail hour for a conference that I was attending, I lamented with the ladies around me about the weather, humidity, and our hair woes. "Yes, the humidity is killing me! I am one step away from a chia pet." We were all from the Midwest, visiting a city in the deep South known for it's hot and humid ways.

I always dread when the conversation turns toward haircare. But before I knew it I was eagerly telling the girl next to me about the salon in town where I get my hair cut. Big. Fat. Lie. When pressed further about who my stylist was I feigned memory loss and claimed I had her name in my planner back in my hotel room. I have told this lie so many times I don't even think twice about it. Why can't I just admit that I cut my own hair?

This is the point in the story where I blame everything on my childhood! But seriously, I think my self hair cutting ways stem from multiple bad experiences in a hair salon. Who among us hasn't had a bad experience? My hair had always been thick and long all throughout my childhood; never curly. But once the curls were unleashed, they could not be held back.

It all started when I was in 8th grade; 6 months after I had moved from Louisiana to Indiana. My mother had finally learned her way around town enough to find a salon to take me and my brothers to. When we walked in I was immediately whisked away to the other side of the salon from where my mother was trying to wrangle my younger brother into a chair. My mother usually told the girls how to cut our hair so I was completely clueless on my own.

I don't remember much from the experience. I don't remember what the girl looked like, if she was old or young, had a good hair cut or not. I don't remember requesting a certain look or making any sort of small talk. All I remember was her saying "I think you would look good with a Bob." And me pondering, "What's a Bob?"

Before I knew it, all my long, brown locks had been hacked away, right up to my chin. I had been bobbed. My mother was a bit stunned when she finally came around to check on me. She always liked us to have our hair long, even my brothers. I stared in the mirror in shock. My hair was still wet, so I had no idea what I was in for, but I was amazed at how different I looked.

Hair is complicated, but curly hair is a wild, feral cat just released out of the cage you've been holding it captive in for 12 years. After getting bobbed, my hair grew wings and flew...into a triangle around my head. Remember Alice from the Dilbert cartoons? That was me, minus the peak on top.

My mother was mortified at the way my hair looked. She took me back to the salon the next day to see if they could tame it. They did what they knew best - cut it more. And I soon looked like Blanche Devereaux from the Golden Girls (who had a beautifully appropriate haircut for HER AGE!).

Since I was new at school I had a lot of social capital - people were still getting to know me...I was popular...boys flirted with me. But my capital plummeted the moment I walked in to school with my helmet of curls. The teasing was relentless, (poof, fluffhead, afro-puff) although not very creative.

Looking back, I'm not sure how I had the character to get through it. But I know this much is true: my parents never stopped telling me how beautiful I was. Although all popular opinion was pointing to the contrary, I was still the most gorgeous thing to them. It is amazing how much of our self-esteem is dependent upon our parents.

My wild hair eventually grew out (because I never got it cut) and I learned to use my new nicknames to my advantage. "Hey, my name is poof!" When you don't let teasers know you're bothered by the names, they eventually get bored and move on to something else. I have given other stylists a chance but eventually grew gun-shy of letting someone else cut my hair.

Recently, I confided my deep, dark secret to one of my girlfriends. She was stunned that I cut my own hair and that I haven't been to a salon in years. My reasons are a mix of fear and finance.

Fear: Did you read above? I have had more bad experiences at hair salons than I care to remember. One time a girl burned my scalp while trying to BLOW DRY my hair. She didn't hear my protests for her not to blow dry my hair (because she had already turned the dryer on) and it wasn't until I yanked my head out of her hands that she stopped.

Finance: Why should I pay someone upwards of $50 to do what I could feasibly do myself? The first time I cut my hair it was out of desperation. I had a date but no time to find a hair stylist. I trimmed my ends, styled it, and was amazed at how the life came back to my curls. That was the best part about that date. After my success it was hard to go back.

I admit that having curly hair does provide some distinct advantages. If I mess up it is pretty easy to hide. And unless I cut my hair with my eyes closed I am reasonably assured that the locks will fall around the same length. But for some reason the taboo seems to persist. It's okay to color your hair at home, or even add highlights, but cut it? That's just crazy.

But crazy as it is, I like doing it. It is the one way I can maintain control over my hair, and not feel like a slave to it. I've learned to be fearless. If a strand is hanging longer than the others I give it two days to shape up or snip, snip! Maybe one of these days I'll summon up the courage to find another stylist with curly-hair experience, but for now, I'll use the money I'm saving to get a massage!

1. Curls are rare. According to Pantene :) only 11% of the female population have curls.
2. If I try, I can be ready for work in half an hour.
3. Curls help you sleep...because you don't have to get up so early!
   
4. Blow drying is optional - I actually do not own a blow dryer.
5. Styling options are endless...up, down, twisted, whatever you want!
6. A little bit of rain will not ruin my day or my 'do.
7. Humidity can actually be used in your favor - if you have the right products.
8. Easier to maintain hair health by not using harsh hair products or over-styling.
9. Save at the drug store by not using nearly as much shampoo.
10. You can cut your hair yourself!