Last night's topic of discussion for the LaLaLa Sisters (fabulous group of fabulous writers) was hair and the embarrassments inflicted upon us by well-meaning mothers or sight-impaired beauticians.
After the Sears Perm Debacle (3rd grade - and really, the hair was only half the problem), the mullet (4th grade) and the nickname "Tilted Head" (5th grade), my mom pretty much let me do what I wanted with my hair as long as it wasn't hanging in my face.
It may not sound like much. I mean, we all have a bad hair cut at least once in our lives, but you must understand that THIS 3rd/5th grader was very image conscious (because she was already into boys) and it didn't help that my mother - dear, sweet Mother - laughed about the perm EVEN THEN. We still can't talk about it over meals.
I think hair trauma builds character. In real life, it teaches us that pride has no place, and even if every one tells you you're the cutest child they've ever seen and compliments your lovely, chestnut brown hair, five minutes in Rose Anne's chair can nip that in the bud.
In fiction, it adds a sympathetic element to your characterization, a layer of insecurity or grit or compassion that takes hold and somehow alters their lives. For Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, bad hair is yet another external conflict to overcome. For Big Dixie's Kaylen Murphy, bad hair in middle school was just one more reason to hide behind her big brother and build a pattern she'd spend the rest of her life trying to break free of.
What life experiences are mirrored in your characters? Good or bad?
Happy Writing!
Ava
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