How important is your hair to you?
I wasn't born with the thickest of tresses so my hair has suffered through years of daily blow-dries, heavy duty teasing and product overdose: all to try and achieve that '' I just rolled out of bed looking like Giselle Bundchen - look'' ...
I am always on the look out for the perfect product, the most skilled hairdresser, the ultimate cut! So hair, important, VERY!
I do however think that I am not the only woman working AGAINST my hair as opposed to working WITH it which is why I with great interest read below survey - a survey by TNS Consultants on behalf of Sunsilk. The survey was conducted amongst women living in the Middle East and I've picked out my favourite lines that
I'm sure many of my readers can identify themselves with... // Teresa
"UAE, 23rd March, 2010: Bigger is better! According to local and expat women across the region, we want more volume to their tresses and will go to extraordinary lengths to achieve it!
* Local Arab respondents wish to arrest attention with their hairstyles as they see it as the most powerful avenue for differentiating themselves from the crowd in an “All Women” setting. It is one of their most prized assets in terms of their beauty and their hair must live up to the image of being visibly different and groomed. Influences? Zainab Al Askari and Shams are among the top choices.
* Expat Arab respondents take a slightly different tack; they like their hair to be a statement about who they are with their singular focus on not being part of the crowd. Their beauty definition is self driven with a focus on personality, presence and carriage along with external looks. Influences: celebrities such as Nancy Ajram and Haifa Wehbi.
* In stark contrast to their Arab neighbours, Asian respondents of the region prefer a more natural and feminine look, putting an extra ‘effort’ into taking care of self but without the effort being overly obvious. In their society it is more about fitting in than standing out, with balance of individuality and following the trend, crucial to the mix. These women tend only to colour or straighten their hair when it is time for a change, while blow drying, styling and colouring is a regular part of the expat Arabs hair care regime.
* So what measures do women take to achieve the perfect tresses? Due to its multi-cultural aspect, the region appears to be a hub of various hair care remedies. The survey has revealed an abundance of ‘solutions’, from the weird to the wonderful, which are still practiced within certain groups across all cultures. These include mixes of; Cactus water, Castor oil mixed with olive & sesame oil, Lime mixed with vinegar, Cacao mixed with henna, espresso & olive oil, Yoghurt mixed with sesame oil, Avocado, eggs.
* What is universal for all women? Iain Potter, Marketing Vice President, Unilever North Africa & Middle East said; “Throughout time a woman’s hair has always been a key attribute to her beauty and confidence. With such a diverse range of cultures in this region comes a wonderfully diverse range of hair types and in turn, diverse hair needs. Regardless of their backgrounds, all women want fabulous hair and once they find a product that gives them the results they are searching for, they will stick with that for a long time.”
Don't cha wish your hair looked just like hers???