That time my mom home made a topsy-tail | WW

alternate title: I did my own do.

I’ve never been a long haired girl. I always say I’m going to grow it out, then I go in for a trim and get it all chopped off. 

I’m combatting that right now by not getting my hair cut. Since last November. That would be about 10 months if you are counting. It’s long and I’m just learning how to do anything with it (I can’t even french braid and I have three daughters).

Baby steps.

But it got me thinking. When my sister and I were younger*, the Topsy Tail was all the rage. Our friends had them. They were on commercials. They were at the store. They were everywhere. We begged and pleaded for one and we never got it. I’m quite certain that little loop of plastic was only like $10. But mom said no way.

She wouldn’t have us go completely without, however. Instead she took a wire clothes hanger, bent it into the shape, wrapped it into a loop and secured it with masking tape. It was so close to being the real thing. Right until you tried to use it.

You were supposed to effortlessly slide that point end through a ponytail. Instead the end of the wire was jagged and pulled your hair while stabbing you in the head. If you endured, and were able to push it through, the tape stuck to your hair and pulled even more out. But, you persevered because gosh darn it, you wanted that flippy disguised ponytail. So you pushed your ponytail through the loop and yanked it down, tape, sharp wire and all and got it done. So much fun.

My mom. She really loves us. (I now predict I will be getting a Topsy Tail in the mail very soon!)

So, I digressed a tad.

But, I learned that you really don’t need that little plastic thingy. Maybe I’m saying mom was right? You can just do it with your hands. I did it all by myself when I met Tiana and got many compliments. Which either means it looked good, or people didn’t know what else to say, so they complimented because their mom said they had to say something nice.

And then somebody posted their twisty bangs on instagram (I’m @SeriousKrystyn), and I was like. I want that. Talk to me like I’m three because I don’t know how to do my hair. (Seriously, took me until college to learn how to flat iron my hair). While I was impatiently waiting for directions for a toddler, I turned to youtube, found a tutorial and did it myself. Not too bad, right?

And now that I know how to do it, I’m rocking it way too often. Even though it’s for short bangs. Even though I don’t know how to tuck it behind my ear. Even though nobody else cares. 

Most recently, I’m rocking the bang twists with a low-side bun. Because that’s how I roll.

Watch out world. I might learn how to do a french braid before my kids don’t want one anymore.

*Really hoping that all of my readers know what this is. If you don’t, please pretend. I don’t need to feel that old!