Lusting for Long Hair

CEBU, Philippines - The moment I chopped off my long locks, I started missing them rather badly. It’s perhaps the same kind of feelingthat you get when you do away with a beloved worn and torn Teddy Bear that you’ve had for so long. You want a new one but then the moment you do away with it, you realize that the old one was so much better. If only hair grew back in an instant. For now, it’s getting used to regular bad hair days and realizing yet again that short, layered hair is definitely not the thing for me.

There are three other reasons why I’m growing out my hair apart from the usual comfort that’s there in being able to tie it up when the heat wave blows over the city. The umbrella reason really is that 2010 will be all about the relaxed glam and the dramatically disheveled tresses that’ll complement many of our thread trends in the coming months.

First on the list are two 1970s inspired ‘dos that speak hippie rather than disco with the first one being my top pick, as the quintessential style that looks great on the everyday average Pinay.

Naturally-style super straight long hair (sans the rebond) is Pinay Power to the nth level. This particular ‘do should not look as if it’s overly straight or slickly styled. It should look au naturel. This means that it shouldn’t make one look like Morticia of the Adams Family. Rather, hair should be voluminous and soft enough rather than salon-done. This works best with hair that falls to the midriff.

Girls who don’t have natural straight hair should worry not as another long hair trend for 2010 is all about wavy and textured bed hair that can easily be achieved without necessarily going to the salon. Volume and texture are the keys to pulling off this look. It works best with a center or side part. Your locks should tumble down from your shoulders in uneven strands.

From the naturally let down hair style, we move on to the fish plaits and side braids that are attempting to make a huge comeback this 2010 after being featured in the Alexander Wang Spring 2010, Missoni, and the Miu Miu runways.  

Style the braids and plaits loosely and don’t thread the fringe into the braid. Both trends work best with either the center or the side part with the side braid taking an edgier twist if done with a slicked side hair style. The side part is highly recommended for the side braid with the part being on the opposite side of the braid.

Another reason for wanting longer locks this 2010 is because of another rising hair trend that simply won’t do if you settle with pathetic hair extensions. The chignon, which comes from the French term chignon du cou meaning “nape of the neck”, will be making its presence even stronger in the coming months as a hairstyle for both the day and the night. The classic chignon will have a fresh, natural twist in the coming months with a textured low bun taking center stage instead of the classic, hairspray-heavy, wedding chignon. The new chignon will be about pinning down rough pieces of hair and misbehaving strands in place. Take inspiration from runway looks for Carolina Herrera and Karl Lagerfeld so you can bag this messy, textured, ‘do.

The French twist is another look that’s bound to score high on the fashion charts with its carelessly put up variation. Hot on the runways of Matthew Williamson and Zac Posen, rope twists can be easily achieved by separating your hair into two parts, twisting both groups of strands and winding them around each other and pinning them into interesting shapes. Finish it off with a bejeweled clip for an embellished look.

Long hair is perhaps a classic do that will never go out of style. Moral of the story, for me: keep hair at least until the midriff. (Photos from the wires)