I admire Maria Shriver – let’s start there. While I’m not sure why she had to stop doing broadcast media when she became the First Lady of California, I knew that she would make her own path in that capacity even though the title of First Lady rubbed my feminist sensibilities the wrong way. She took all of that energy and star power and redirected it to help families in her state with a call to community service. The Women’s Conference she leads gives women’s issue an important platform. And this week she is a special correspondent to NBC about women called a Woman’s Nation. I also have to say that when I sent her our Read It! Play It! book, I got a beautiful letter from her which meant a great deal to me.
So this morning I was looking forward to watching Maria as she kicked off her week long series with an appearance on Meet the Press. And as hard I was trying to listen to her–I got completely transfixed by her hair. Her hair is extremely long, has gotten lighter (seriously beautiful highlights) and just big loopy curls on a substantial mane that was positioned on both sides of her chest. My husband, not big on such comments, said without prompt–“What’s with the hair?”
The big “fantasy” hair just doesn’t match with the serious message and discussion Maria is hoping we’ll have as a nation. Maria is not alone. Her friend Oprah Winfrey is also wearing her hair very long with bouncy curls. Oprah made the point of establishing that her long locks are her’s and not a weave or a wig. She acknowledges that her hair is possible because of the staff of professionals that work on her hair for her show. To her credit, she showed a picture of what her hair looks like beforehand. Oprah’s show on hair was inspired by Chris Rock’s documentary on Good Hair.
When I turned 40 I cut my hair relatively short–thinking this is what older women do. I didn’t want to look silly with long hair. Of course almost as soon as I cut my hair, I realized that this was a carry over from another generation. I was making myself look older than I needed to (or felt) and I started growing it out almost at once. Although I haven’t gone blond yet, I do spend a ridiculous sum of money making sure it has all the color and luster that I remember it having when I was about 12.
If 50 is the new 30, I guess Maria and Oprah are just fine with their long locks. I just wonder if anyone else was distracted by them?
Personally, as a new Mom, I have considered chopping off my long locks for a little while now… similar to what you thought when you turned 40, I think “back in the day” cutting your hair off when you became a Mom was also the thing to do. However, I’ve resisted every urge because I am currently relying on my pony tail to get me through the days when I don’t have time for a shower!
As for Maria and Oprah – I’m with you on Maria… that hair is a bit much, very Jessica Simpson-esque. It seems a little too “sex-ed up” if you ask me, especially considering her forum. I think she’d look great with a nice bob – not because she needs to cut her hair off because of her age – but because it would look great with her strong features.
What am I talking about – I know nothing about hair… just my two cents 🙂
Jen 🙂
PS – I loved Oprah’s show with Chris Rock. He’s hilarious and it was really interesting.
The pony tail is a new mom’s best defense! As much as it’s always the first thing that goes on makeover shows–the truth is when you’re in the thick of taking care of small children, you really don’t have time for blow drying or lots of styling products! I just reached back and realized that my hair is in a pony today…what’s my excuse? 🙂
I agree that show was extremely well done…informative and funny.
I grew my hair out before my 30th because I thought it was my last chance to have long hair. How hysterical is that? Today there’s kind of a reverse thing happening with older women going long to look younger, and younger women cutting it all off. (the older Madonna gets, the longer her hair & higher her heels….)
(Maria, put your massive mane behind your shoulders when you’re trying to get your point across, or don’t bother!)
Is it a wig? That was my first thought. Yes, the hair is distracting. And the same is true for men with suspiciously large amounts of air when they are older than a certain age.