Tuesday, February 19, 2008

In Which I Beg For Advice

About 16 months ago, my hair looked like this:

Cute, kind of flippy, but a pain in the ass to do, even to get that little bit of out flip on it. I'm taking 45 minutes with a round brush. I do not have that kind of time, even if I did have the inclination. Which I don't.

And I haven't had a hair cut since then. And now it sort of looks like this:

(Only longer. And minus the beard.)

And I think I'd like it to look sort of like this:


What do you think? I'm worried that the bangs might get in the way of the glasses (which are an almost-black tortoise type now - very librarian). And I'm worried that I don't have the cheekbones to pull it off.

I hate hair. I obsess over my hair almost as much as I obsess over my body.

And can I just add, I have such a girl crush on Dawn French. I luuuuuuuuurve her and it pisses me off to no end that the stupid PBS station out here Westa Wistah doesn't show The Vicar of Dibley.

And while I'm begging for help, I need some serious hand cream help. I have tried just about everything. Aveeno, Eucerin, Aquaphor, Vaseline (straight and in lotion form), Shea Butter, and some expensive shit by Shikai called Borage. Nothing worked. My hands are so dry that they peel and bleed. I'm allergic to lanolin which leaves out a lot of lotions (like Udderly Smooth, which my mother swears by) and I don't want anything too scented because those can affect my skin too. I put lotion on my hands constantly. I need to get gloves, I suppose, for when I wash the dishes, because I'm sure that doesn't help. But I need a good, heavy duty lotion. Any ideas?






And it other news, this is, quite possibly, the coolest staircase ever and I want one.

20 comments:

elizasmom said...

As someone who looks idiotic without bangs, I am here to say you can combine bangs and glasses, but you should spend good money on the stylist because you don't want some Bucci 10-minute cookie-cutter cut that doesn't adjust for glasses. Not knowing squat about hair, they might have to be less heavy than Dawn French's, but that's just a guess. Good luck!

PS You totally do NOT look like The Dud, woman!

elizasmom said...

Whoops. The Dude. :snerk:

SUEB0B said...

Curel in the blue bottle. I use the unscented. It is holy miracle cream, and thankfully cheap.

Don't ask me about hair. My hair is tragic.

sandy shoes said...

Neutrogena Norwegian formula hand cream. I buy it by the three-tube pack at BJs.

Hair -- gah! My bangs-no bangs dilemma dates back 30 years now, and I still don't know the answer.

Anonymous said...

Yes to bangs and glasses, but not too thick, heavy bangs. Make them a little wispier.

Can't help with the handcream, but I swear by Bath&Body Works cream (not lotion) for my legs. Unfortunately, I have none with me, so I can't check for lanolin.

That staircase makes me dizzy!

Lara said...

i love that look, and i totally think you could pull it off well. :) do it!

Fairly Odd Mother said...

I fell down those stairs just looking at them.

Love the haircut idea---personally, I feel like bangs are more work then they are worth (and I'm horrible about getting a haircut "on schedule"), but I do like the looks of them.

Mamma Sarah said...

I personally hate bangs... too much work and my hair grows too fast. Not to mention if they aren't done right they look terrible with glasses. I would spend the money and get a good style by someone really pro at it.

Gold Bond Ultimate healing is the only thing that works on my hands (any my dad's too). I have (from my father who has it even worse) terrible eczema on my hands and arms along with washing my hands all the time... It's a little pricy, but lasts a long time (and as far as I can see on the label there is no lanolin).

Shannon said...

I have my hair styled like Dawn French and it takes me 20 minutes to blow dry and fluff. It's much easier and faster than when I had short haird because I don't have to tame the crazy cowlicks and waves I have all over my head. The weight of my hair does the trick.

As for bangs, I've had them all of my life and look stoopid without them.

We used a humidifier in our house and I don't have to use lotion. I highly suggest buying one. No amount of lotion will put the moisture back into your skin.

Lea said...

I love Dawn French- her hair is cute, too. Bangs are tricky with glasses, but if you decide to get them, make sure the stylist cuts the bangs dry and while you're wearing the glasses- you don't want to go too short.
I made my husband watch Vicar of Dibley with me while I was sick. I was LMAO and he just sat there, and didn't get it. :P

for the hands...Corn Huskers Lotion. $3.99 at CVS. It's old school and works.

Green-Eyed Momster said...

The staircase looks like a stairway to heaven! I want one too! Very Cool!!
I'm with sueb0b when it comes to hair. I've had every cut and color imaginable!!

Anonymous said...

When I lived a little sowtha wistah, my hands were a mess, too. I minimized the problems each night before bed by rubbing on a hand cream, then covering them with a heavy layer of Bag Balm, working the stuff into any cuts or cracks. Then I'd put my hands in a pair of old athletic socks to keep from rubbing the stuff all over the bed sheets.

It was uncomfortable at first, but the results were worth it. I never found a hand cream that could do the job all by itself.

Green-Eyed Momster said...

Thanks for the comment. I don't have anything against gay men, I just don't know what they have to do with women's fashion. They're on TLC, Project Runway, Timm Gunn has a show, etc....I guess I'm just not used to it. I used to work with gay men in San Francisco and none of them gave me fashion advice. I was venting that day...Don't take offense, please! BTW--Love your name!

Sarah said...

I really don't have an opinion about bangs...I don't have them as I think they are too much of a hassle. I grew mine out long ago and went for curls and layers, which works great for me because I have natural curl. I just wanted to say, also, that you are beautiful. Don't obssess too much!

Have you tried eucerin cream? Or what about Avon Moisture Therapy Hand Cream. That stuff is pretty amazing. I have no idea if it has lanolin though...

Maureen Fitzgerald said...

If you can get past the name, Crack Cream works really well - smells like cloves too.

I have yet to find I hairstyle that works for me, I'm the last person who should give advice to others...sorry.

Monica said...

Hey there. I have tried 3 times now to post. Will the third time be the charm? Ha!

Anyway, all I wanted to suggest was Cetaphil lotion (no lanolin. I have eczema so it's my issue too) or even Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning lotion in the tube. The pump form was disappointingly runny but in the tube it is thick and wonderful but not greasy.

MsPrufrock said...

My hair is total shit, so I'm hardly in a position to advise anyone else. As for lotion, I was going to recommend Udder Cream, but there goes that idea...

That staircase is giving me heart palpitations, and totally in a good way.

Josie said...

I think you could totally rock that haircut. Bangs are a good thing - even with glasses.

As for hand cream - do you have Crabtree and Evelyn there? There's no lanolin and as a hand cream addcit - I can attest its awesome.

If you don't have one - email me you address and I'll ship some down.

Anonymous said...

I've had good luck with JASON Fragrance Free Hand & Body -- there's no lanolin or urea or parabens.

Sandra Miller said...

Julia-

Gold Bond Ultimate.

Every winter for a number of years now Joseph has gotten raw-red, dry knuckles that split and bleed.

We tried a boatload of creams and lotions that did nothing for it.

(Except maybe sting the heck out of the poor kid.)

The Gold Bond is the only thing that's ever done the trick (and remember, this kid is always washing his hands).

Now, on your other question...

I'm feeling the same way about my own hair lately...

I say go for it. That cut looks gorgeous.