I have had long hair for the majority of my life.
When I got my first real hair cut when I was eight years old I had to convince the hairstylist to do the deed, because she admired my long hair so. She even called her daughter out of their house to come look at it. Once I got home and saw my fresh new bob I ran around the house crying, and muttering tersely “I look stupid! I look stupid!!”. Since that word was considered taboo in our house (and a word I still do not use to this day) it was shocking to say the least. Needless to say after that traumatic experience I grew my hair out so long I could sit on it, and then cut it once in high school, and once again in college. Three haircuts my whole life.
Growing up, I read a lot of classical literature, and was enamored by the 100 stroke method of combing hair. I never really got to the point of brushing my hair that much, because I grew bored, but I still believed that brushing was incredibly important. Sometime in late high school my previously stick straight hair began to go AWOL and I was left with a wavy type of hair previously unknown to me. When I woke up, rather than lying flat, it had all these strange twists and turns. I could not brush it straight however hard I tried, and I simply did not know what to do with it. It was not curly. It was not straight. It had turned wavy.
The Book
It was not until I read Curly Girl by Lorainne Massey (affiliate link) that I began understanding the wave in my hair. This book taught me to dry my hair with a t-shirt instead of a towel, use conditioner instead of shampoos, and never ever brush my hair. Suddenly, my hair began to look better than it ever had before. I began passing around the book at church and other women began showing up with beautiful curls and waves. Previously dull hair began springing back to glossy waves and curls! It was an epiphany!
Since then, I have maintained a somewhat minimalist approach to this lifestyle. I have not brushed my hair in years (other than finger combing in the shower) and my hair continues to do what I tell it to…most days.
My New Favorite Hair Pins
I still struggle with how to style my hair on a daily basis since I do not like using damaging products like curling irons or flat irons very often since they damage your hair. So when my friend Nathana, blogger over at The Engaged Home, asked me if I was interested in trying out a Lilla Rose product from her new shop I answered with a resounding yes! Perhaps even this minimalist could learn a thing or too.
I chose the long You-Pins, and I love them! I poured over all the options available to me, but I chose these starfish because they give a nod to my hubs who is from Maui. 🙂
I am enamored by these pins, because they make putting up my long hair so easy! I just watched this simple video, and twisted my hair up into a french twist and the pins kept it there all day! Two pins. Not forty. This was a revelation to me!
The Giveaway
I have teamed up with Nathana to offer you a chance to win a pair of these starfish U-pins for yourself!
// Update: 3/9/16 *This giveaway is closed! //
Enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Beautiful! I love your writing style.
I don’t own a hair brush either! I used to only brush it if it was wet, but now I use a wide-tooth comb and that helps me maintain my wavy hair better.
I’m gonna have to get me that book bc my hair drives me crazy! It’s wavier than yours, perhaps even curly. I don’t brush it unless I’m straightening it, but I wonder now if I shouldn’t do that either. Thanks for posting!
beautiful hair pins
You are beautiful. That’s it. I love the hairpins on you, and your photography is gorgeous! It just keeps getting better and better. <3
Bethany, how fun! I just watched the video. Wish I’d seen it when I had really long hair. I’ll have to try these pins.
The title of your post alone made me curious enough to want to read this! I generally don’t use a brush… only a comb… so I was certainly intrigued!
Hair pins look super!
Thanks for sharing!
everyseasonwoman.blogspot.com
I have always admired your long, wavy hair; it’s so graceful. I have long looked for something that would hold all of my hair up without taking an hour to make it neat. This could be my solution! Thanks for sharing.
I’ve heard of this book! I tried really hard to go without brushing my hair other than finger combing and it just doesn’t work for me sadly. My hair has gotten to the point where I nearly sit on it so maybe that’s why. Your hair is so soft looking and the bobby pins are too cute<3
Those starfish pins are cute! Yep, brushes are not for us curly girls. My hair is usually 6 inches long or less, but I won’t use anything other than a wide-tooth comb, nobody should brush curly hair!
I’ve never heard of Lilla Rose before! But now that I am browsing the website…I find that I want all of it! haha