There was a time when men used something called Butch Wax in their hair. It was this pinkish wax that was put on with a plastic rectangular brush that was held in the palm of a hand. It made buzz cut, flat top hair stand up to hurricane force winds and gave all the pillowcases an oh so lovely greasy glow. My mind went there the other day when I decided it was time to buy a new hair brush. Seems like an easy thing to do. Oh sure, sure. Well hereâs the story. Wait let me first preface it with this; why is it that what should be an easy straightforward jaunt always seems to turn out to be a marathon? It canât be just me.
I took a look at my hair brush when I was cleaning it. You know digging the last hair out and finding fuzz so you dig at the fuzz too. Then you realize it really needs to be thrown in the washing machine with the next load. I assume Iâm not the only one who washes a hair brush in the washing machine. Oh I have tried to wash it under running water in the sink, but it just doesnât get all the âstuffâ off the bristles. The plastic bristles as I have only had plastic bristle brushes.
Buying a new brush doesnât happen often. I mean only when you finally notice there are more broken sections than there are standing sections do you put, ânew brushâ on your list. Right next to new underwear. Yes like we all get new underwear on a schedule. Donât kid yourself. My mother was right when she told me when I got married to buy new underwear because it was something that wasnât going to be a high priority thing for the next umpteen years. Letâs pull âem up and be moving alongâŚ
So I threw my brush into the wash and it came out in three pieces which facilitated me to buy a new one. This should be a snap. Well as they say; the best laid plans⌠OK, so when was the last time you bought a new brush? I donât remember so it was a mild shock to see there are more than just a few choices. There are small ones, big ones, square, rectangle, and then there are round brushes. I can just see me with a round brush. I have a hard enough time trying to untangle my hair from a curling iron, I canât see me ever making friends with a round brush. Thatâs just asking for trouble.
There are plastic bristles and rubbery ones with little red dots of plastic melted on the ends of the bristles. Then there are metal bristle brushes that make this twang sound when you run your hand across them. I donât need to play my âdog has fleasâ on my brush so the musical one didnât interest me. I have a hard enough time playing the radio!
Then you move up to natural bristle brushes. Very nice I must say. Soft but not too soft. Nice padded backing behind the bristles and a pretty wooden, solid handle. It was when I was looking at this one I happened to take a look at prices. Oh my stars and garters! Iâm so out of the loop. Just when did a $5 brush become a $50 hair brush? I had to look twice to make sure there really was an extra zero in the price. Yep, 50.00, not 5.00. Wow! So no natural bristles for my head. I moved down to a lower shelf.
After looking at about a dozen different brushes a sales girl asked if I needed help. I said I wasnât sure what I needed, but I needed something for long hair â and I didnât want to mortgage my house for it! She looked at me and smiled a knowing smile. She had seen the $50 surprise look before. She moved me to not only a lower shelf, but the back side of the display. There I found a nice, for long hair, take out the tangles without tears brush that mothers buy for their toddlers â for only $11.95. Sold!
Yes even though itâs for children I like it. Itâs plastic, pink, machine washable, and as an added bonus it had a warranty. Really a warranty, for a year. I went to pay for my new brush and that same saleswoman asked me with a straight face, âDo you want to buy the extended warranty?â If thatâs the loop Iâm out of? I will continue to color outside the lines!
Trina lives in Eureka, Nevada. Share with her at itybytrina@yahoo.com