Apparently Elmer thinks that people - especially women - aren't judged on their appearance, so one's appearance isn't worth the time. Or maybe that women wouldn't ever have jobs where appearance mattered.

I remember how many people were upset when the US Secretary of State pulled her hair back in a scrunchie, even though she'd been negotiating an international peace deal.....They felt she should have spent more time on her hair (and appearance), in spite of her internationally important work those days. A man not wearing a tie was fine, but she not spending time styling her hair was not, apparently.

isn't worth the time.

Perhaps starting an argument with Elmer is not worth the time. Such arguments never end and derail nice threads. Just ignore.

Curly hair here. On days I don’t wash my hair, I spend between ten and 60 seconds on my hair. On days I wash it (us. every 5-6 days) it takes about 35-40 minutes. My alarm is set earlier on wash days. Wash, condition, wide tooth comb to get out the loose bits. Wrapped in towel for maybe five minutes to get out excess moisture, but then re-wet the temple area that got too dried out. Section hair into six clipped sections. Apply product to each section, back to front, bottom to top. Product has to be worked in roots to tips with enough for chunks to stick together. Blow dry on low with diffuser leaning forward, back to each side. Don’t completely dry it. Add argan oil to almost dry hair. Clip top back in a small clip.

Days two and three I use a curl refresher. Those days I might not need the top clip — depends on how much I need to move my head that day and how windy it is. By day four it’s more wavy than chunky curly, so the curl refresher doesn’t really work anymore and I pretend it’s intentional, possibly tucking the temple sections behind my ears. By day five, I’ll have the top clip and probably a tiny pony tail because the temple sections have gotten pretty straight.

I never brush it. I don’t own a brush. Curly folk will understand.

" why wouldn't it matter to anyone else how much time I spent drying my hair? "

It wouldn't. But just as people with limited funds try to spend their money wisely, so too do people with limited time try to spend their time wisely. Whether someone spends morning time doing hair, washing windows, doing crossword puzzles, or watching the Tonight Show from the day before matters not a stich to me. It simply struck me that just like spending more money than one can afford, spending limited morning time on a task that could be rejiggered to take less time, seemed odd.

Jakabedy, as a fellow curly girl, I salute you. I have never found a routine that makes the frizz on my curls manageable....and lord knows I have tried. So many products, sooo much time spent, tried gels, mousses, humectants, anti-humectants, oils, more proteins, less proteins - Nothing. Freaking. Works. for me. I have just had to accept my natural curls have an unmanageable frizz. I look at people with pretty curly hair and sigh. It's just not to be for me.

Argan oil, heat protectant, and a flat iron here - or I will scare small children. The plus side is it's a pretty fast routine. Including blow dry time I'd say 20 minutes.

I should know better - sorry @lucillle!

@Ally De have you heard of TootiLab? I relate to much of what you said about your hair, BTDT with many products over the years. Somehow Gaia Tonanzi appeard in my Insta feed and I was intrigued. I've watched many of her tutorials and learned a ton. I don't go curly all the time but when I do I use her products and techniques (there are many options for different looks) and for the first time in my life I feel good when I go curly instead of like a misfit - and at my age that's saying something! Thought I'd throw that out just in case you want to give it one more try.

For the first two decades of my life, I had long hair. As a child, thick braids with ribbons and as a teen, an Ariana Grande ponytail. In college, at first a pixie cut, a Vidal Sassoon one, and then in my hippie days, long and straight, which meant ironing it, over the years, that blunt cut got shorter and shorter till it evolved into a bob, which I have worn for decades. I never have colored my hair and haven't been to a salon in decades after they screwed up the cut. I do it myself, and if I mess up, I have no one to blame.

Question: what is the benefit of using the Revlon brush versus a blow dryer and round brush? I am tempted to try it.

My hair is longer than it’s been in ages, and finally I can go a day or even two between the wash/dry process. But I can never just air dry — my hair is straight and fine (but somewhat thick) and the ends are always strawlike if I don’t blowdry with a round brush. I do the same as many here, letting it air dry until it’s at the point where I’ll need to blowdry for maybe 5 minutes. Right now I’m using a bit of Oribe anti humidity spray afterwards.

My new goal in life is to be able to put my hair up in a clip or ponytail. Right now I can do a ponytail that’s about 1” long. Only within the confines of my own home, as it looks silly.

Since we're sharing hair tips, here's one some of you might enjoy -- SalonApprentice.com. The better hair salons all have educational requirements way beyond cosmetology school and licensing, even for styists with years of experience. The have an ongoing need for hair models with all kinds of hair. The cost is very low and sometimes free. I was a hair model for years and have been to many of the finest salons in Manhattan. (I call them "cappuccino salons," since they usually bring you a beverage.) The website has listings in cities all over the country. I've gotten some of my best cuts and color this way, and it's fun to go to these places.

" There's no end to things you have strong opinions about but have no background or experiences to base such opinions. "

Ah, hubris writ large. You have no idea what experiences or background I have, yet you continue to insult me about my lack of background and experience.

I shouldn't have to cut it short just because I'm a working mom!

This. I always call short, easy to take care of hair the "Mom on the Go" look. It's not for me, so my hair has always been a bit longer and sometimes much longer.

I wash my (just to the shoulder) hair once a day usually, but I try not to blow dry it every day because I know it is not good for it. As I've mentioned, my habit is to wear it back in a clip, with a few strands framing my face.

Like it or not, the world treats you better the better you look. Grooming and dressing is time well spent. Moreover, women have such complex emotions around their appearance (gee, wonder why) and therefore we really do feel better when we look better.

Yesterday my DD had an appointment with an oral surgeon. She was feeling awful but I advised her to look her best. I joked "on some subconscious level, you want to convey that you would be in a position to sue them if they did not exercise the utmost care."

Hi Dlm - thanks for thinking of me. :-)

I have tried everything over the years. I'm not kidding. I've lost track of the number of times I've heard, "you just need to ...." There is no "just need to" for my hair. My hair is not damaged, it's not dry, it's not over-moisturized, it's not over or under loaded with protein, or product, or any other data point known to man. Yes I tried the curly girl method too.

My stylist for decades was a black woman, and we had some of the most insightful conversations about hair over that time.

I know my curl type, I know my porosity, I know my hair width, etc.. I know what product types are generally recommended for my hair type. I can spend hours futzing around with my natural hair, and will have an outcome which is still...not good.

My hair is not ever going to be the stereotypical "pretty hair." Once I accepted that my natural, undamaged hair is not ever going to be what I wish it was....it got easier for me. It's faster for me to slather it with heat protectant and flat iron it. I look better, there is way less frizz, and it's faster and easier besides. So it shall be. :-)

I spend about 10 seconds on my waist length hair each morning when I wear it down. 20 seconds if I put it in a bun. On wash days that's another story. It takes about 30 minutes to wash and several hours to dry.

I love my hair but if I were into a more high maintenance routine I would rock a crown of curls with a HUGE afro. Love the look. I suspect that would require 30 minutes or more each day. FYI short would not equal easier in my case.

I prefer to use the extra time applying makeup instead. That takes 30-45 minutes and I enjoy every minute of it.

Ally De, I hear you! I have thick, curly, frizzy, cowlicky hair. I wash it every day and blow the front and sides dry to smooth them out a bit, which takes about 5 minutes. The back I leave curly.

Of course with the least bit of humidity the front and sides become curly and frizzy as well, and no amount or type of product can change that. I wear my hair on the shorter side, and a good cut helps to keep things slightly under control, so I get a trim every 6 weeks.

On the plus side, I'm 67 with only a little bit of grey - unless you look closely, you'd think I was completely brunette, and I've had a lot of people ask where I get my color done. I tell them to lean in closer, and then they see the silver strands. (Thanks, mom and dad, who also went grey very late.)

I like short hair, not because it's easy (although it can be) but because it looks good. At least better on me than longer hair that can drag down my face, fall forward and need to be pulled back, all the things. I think short hair can actually be higher maintenance because it requires a really good cut and more often. There's something so liberating for me about short layered hair.

Some of you notice clothes and decor. I notice hair. Everyone's hair. Great hair, bad hair. Hair I'd love to get my hands on and give it a good cut. I do not say anything to those with hair I've deemed bad, because they either can't help it, like it, or just don't care. And that's fine. It's their hair. But I can't help but noticing. If I see someone with hair similar to mine with a really good cut, I often tell them I love their hair, and then ask where they get it cut.

I think long hair is a thing and a lot of people don't necessarily look that great with long hair. I think the most attractive length is somewhere between chin and just above the shoulders. Just above the shoulders still gives length but it can move freely. It's funny to me that hair skimming the shoulders is considered short by some. Also calling all short hair "pixie" cuts.

I'm a little obsessed with hair, don't give too much of a damn about my clothes. If ever we meet in person, I will be checking out your hair. :-)

“Question: what is the benefit of using the Revlon brush versus a blow dryer and round brush?”

Here’s some info. My own experience is it mostly reduces drying time a bit, especially with thicker hair like mine.

• Time-saving:By combining the drying and styling processes, you can achieve a salon-quality blowout in less time than using a separate dryer and brush.
• Increased volume:The oval brush design and airflow create lift at the roots, resulting in fuller, more voluminous hair.
• Reduced frizz and static:Many volumizer brushes feature ionic technology, which helps to neutralize static and reduce frizz, leaving hair smoother and shinier.
• Versatile styling:Some models can be used to create a variety of styles, including straight, wavy, or curly looks, in addition to adding volume.
• Ease of use:These brushes are designed to be user-friendly, often with multiple heat and speed settings to customize your styling experience.
• Professional results at home:With practice, you can achieve salon-worthy results in the comfort of your own home.
• Potential for less damage:By reducing the amount of time your hair is exposed to heat, and potentially distributing heat more evenly, some volumizer brushes can help minimize heat damage.

Hmmm long hair thar is always worn up seems like short hair to me. Some people look better in short hair; some look better with long hair. Some look better with layers, some without. Not everyone cares how they look; but if you do, find a style/length that best flatters you.

I like short hair, not because it's easy (although it can be) but because it looks good. At least better on me than longer hair that can drag down my face, fall forward and need to be pulled back, all the things. I think short hair can actually be higher maintenance because it requires a really good cut and more often. There's something so liberating for me about short layered hair.

I feel the same way. I wore my hair shoulder length for years, and one day I just got the urge to cut it, and I did. Night and day for me, in terms of confidence and freedom. On me, at least, it looks so much better, and I know this not only from looking at myself in the mirror, but pretty much everyone I know has commented. It's lower maintenance day-to-day, but yes, I do need a really good cut, and more often. So it's much more expensive. At least I am lucky enough that my wavy hair does what it's told, and I only need one product apart from shampoo and conditioner. But agreed, it's not for everyone. Some people look better with short hair and some really don't.

But one of the things that motivated me to cut mine was that, sitting at a meeting in a conference room one day, I noted that almost every one of the women in the meeting (including me) had variations of the same shoulder length or slightly shorter bob-type cut. So I wanted to try something different, and figured if I didn't like it I could always grow it back.

@sas95 that's my mantra when my stylist asks 'are you sure' to a request I make for bangs or something significantly shorter or any big change. It's just hair, it grows back whether I love the cut or hate the cut - it will grow and start noticeably changing in about 7 - 10 days. I'm in a 'why not' phase of life.

Well darn Bunny. My hair sucks - but I sure adore you! Guess we can't meet up in person ever though... LOL.

@DLM2000-GW, when I decided to go short, my stylist at the time didn't say "are you sure." He actually didn't want to do it because, as he said, if I didn't like it, he didn't want to lose a customer. So instead, he lost a customer when I went to someone else who gave me a short cut.

Oh Ally De, I will love your hair.

When I wash it (about once per week), it's about 30-40 minutes to blow dry and straighten.

When I don't wash it, and I am leaving the house, it's about 10 minutes to run over it with straightener.

I work from home now, so most days it's zero time. Nobody is seeing me except DH and DS.

To answer Elmer's question - yes, when I worked in the office, I still did the necessary steps to look my best. And it wasn't just hair styling but also putting on makeup. Like someone said, add up all the chores and figure out what time one needs to get up and still be on time. It's not that difficult.

For me, short hair is much more high maintenance, because I have to get it cut monthly. I love the look, but hate the maintenance.

Think of it as someone else doing the maintenance on your behalf!

" Think of it as someone else doing the maintenance on your behalf! "

That's only true if I have a personal assistant make the appointment for a hairdresser to come to my home to cut my hair. Otherwise, I'm still doing a bunch of 'work'.

Sometimes I think I really need a personal assistant to make my appointments, invoice clients, and remind me to pay my bills. And to make sure my water softener has salt, and my water and heat pump filters are changed on time. Probably other stuff, if I keep thinking about it.......

Cracked me up. I just had a pop-up on FB that Jenna Bush got a short bob cut on the Today Show today. Some star I don't know has one, and she said this is THE new look for the summer. Hey Girls, I have been wearing this new look for 30-odd years, the length you're featuring. What a rock star I am...lol

Just teasing! I have little to no interest in my hair, so getting it cut very short is the most I can handle. It's gray, and has been that way since my very early thirties. One of our favorite family stories is that when DD1 came home from nursery school at 4 years old, with the Mother's Day portrait of me that was my gift, she told me that Mrs. L*** didn't have any gray crayons, so she couldn't make my hair the right color. But, as DH said, "At least you have hair!"

Before DH and I went on a trip, I asked my hairdresser to cut my hair as short as it had ever been and then to cut it a little shorter. I didn’t want to have to mess with it on vacation. OMG! I never ever want it that short again. She did exactly what I asked, but I told her if I ever said that again, just say no! I swear it was just a slightly longer crew cut. Upkeep was easy, but it just wasn’t me.

I have a theory that you can tell when a woman graduated high school because the odds are she is still wearing the same hair style. The only difference between my hair now and my hair then is ”then” it was a flip; now it turns under.

Hah! my hair was in a flip when I graduated in 1963. I had to manhandle it into flipping up. Now I have to manhandle it to not flip up. It’s time for a haircut.

Wow BB! I’ve never had hair that short. My hair has changed many times since I was in school lol.

bbstx - High school hair for me was way below my bra strap so that blows your theory! It's never been that long again, cut it after freshman year in college.

Meh. When I was a pre-schooler, I had long golden locks. Really. My teens were fairly miserable and so was my hair - very fine, a bit curly, too difficult to manage unless I spent a lot of time and money on curlers, curling irons, conditioners, perms, etc etc. Just not me, at all. Got it cut short and have never let it get anything close to shoulder length again. No disrespect to others who do things differently but I've recognized that I'm a wash and wear gal. Keep it short, quick wash in the shower every day, and I'm good to go, I do have a hair dryer, but haven't used it since wedding (they're divorced now). I'm too old to give a damn about anyone else thinks. But, on reflection, that was probably my mindset when I was 20 ;)

I have waist length straight fine hair. At home it's my hair tells me it's doing that day, lol. And a bit on what work is planned for the day. Usually a couple-few minutes. Finger comb and then swirled into a baseball cap, ponytail holder, or twist up with a clip. French braid(s), chi knots, a fast set of pin curls, a set of dairy braids pinned up, a bun. Often a hair scarf if I'm not wearing a hat. Mostly protective hair dressing for manual working.

On days I go into the shop, it will depend on what I'm wearing. My coiffure is an accessory to what I'm wearing. Picked up the habit in corporate city life when the dress codes were tight and the hair codes almost non-existant. So more variety in hairstyles, a wide collection of accoutrements. It can take a couple-several minutes if it's fairly simple. If I'm working a lot of braids, grooming in a look, complex jewelry, or the base for wearing a hat or something it can take closer to 15-20 minutes. The shop I work at is downtown artsy, and I enjoy the freedom of leaning into it. I for sure take more time now than I used to in the city. Commute times- often an hour plus then. Now it takes me 15 minutes to travel the same distance. 20 if the weather is real bad or I get stopped by the train, the occasional tractor or parade float going somewhere.

I like to take time with a boar bristle brush to give the proper 40 strokes on the regular. I sometimes use hair oil to the ends. I sleep in a hair cap. Sometimes its a simple braid in a silk bonnet. If I know I want my hair to stay very straight or have a lot of curl and/or body the next day, I will do the leggings trick to sleep in. I find taking the time to dress my hair before bed keeps it nicer and my morning hair is usually lovely to work with. I own a hair dryer, but I can't recall the last time I used it on my hair. Still got the travel butane curling iron I got as a teen, and still use it sometimes if I need a quick curl on my bangs or the errant strand.

I have a theory that you can tell when a woman graduated high school because the odds are she is still wearing the same hair style.

Not my issue, but I think that's true for so many people. Makeup, too.

“Still got the travel butane curling iron I got as a teen, and still use it sometimes if I need a quick curl on my bangs or the errant strand.”

Me, too! I seldom use it anymore but when I need it, it’s so handy!

@beesneeds it's almost as if you are speaking a foreign language - translate please! Chi knots? Working a lot of braids, grooming in a look, complex jewelry (in your hair?), or the base for wearing a hat? The leggings trick? I'm fascinated!

Chi knots are a pair of buns on the top of your head, often seen in anime. Working a lot of braids would be if I did a pair of braids off each side and then pulled them together for braiding down, or if I split up the whole ponytail into a dozen braids and then loop them up. Takes time to braid waist length. Or I'll finger crochet my hair, that can be a bit fussy. Sometimes I will knot my hair, with or without ribbons, in the fashion of fancy necktie knots.

Grooming in a look can be creating a bouffant, pinning in a hairstyle- think wedding hair but not always that crazy. I don't use any products like hairspray or gel in my hair, so sometimes things need a bit of grooming in to work well.

Complex jewelry can be jewelry. I have hairpins in precious metals, set with gemstones, chains and ropes of metal and beads to wind into hairstyles. Sets of things like a barette and clips to do a rolled updo, or a pair of sticks with a set of pins with chains that have crystals dangling from them. I have a sterling set with hematite wire mandala that sets of that dozen braid loop up. I have a couple blown glass hairpins that are also great to wind the braids around. I have a lot of hair stuff I've been collecting for decades, lol. I also wear literal jewelry in my hair. I'll hit up the jewelry chests for pins, ropes of stuff, a pendant to pin in if that's the thing.

I like hats too. A thing about hats. Some are meant to be worn on your head, like baseball caps, cowboy hats, fedoras, most winter hats. Others are meant to be worn on your hair, your hair is a setting and the hat the gemstone. Like styling the hair in rolls to support the tilt of a 50's hat, or the hairstyles that go into ladies at derbies and some churches with their wonderful hats and facinators. It takes me longer to make my hair base right. I often pop the hat on a few times while doing my hair to make sure it will sit right. If I'm going to be using hat pins, I need to make sure my hair under the hat has a secure point for the hat pin to seat through. I have a lotta scarves too, and wear those in various ways in my hair.

The leggings trick. I'm not even going to try describing them, going to let Youtube help me out. There are other variations of people doing this, but these are two handy shorts.

Straight hair trick:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5TZi-37hwLM

Curly hair trick: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Mx8veytAgvM

I'll pick my jaw up off the floor now - pantyhose/leggings for hair styling? Who knew? Certainly not me! beesneeds if you ever decide to show your styling prowess with hats, jewelry, braids etc I'm sure you'd have a audience here. Totally out of my wheelhouse but I love seeing what other people do. Thanks for all the explanations.

Maybe.....5 minutes.

I wash my long curly hair every morning. I take about 10 mins to get wet hair ready for work.

Those legging videos were crazy!!

I have never had enough hair to consider something like that. Who thought of that?!?

I don't know who thought of using leggings in recent times. But silk wrapping and windings have been around for centuries. As a teen, I used to do the curl trick with silk ribbons or T-shirt strips, and have done the straight hair with a tube sock and ponytail holder. Much less effective for good morning hair at the base where the waist of leggings caps the hair much nicer. I had a tube sleep cap a long time ago, but it went AWOL at some point. And I'm too lazy to do the smocking to make a new one.

There is also hair sewing, which as it sounds is literally taking thread and needle to bind hair. I do that sometimes to weave ribbons or the like into a hair wreath. There is also long term hair sewing kind of akin to broom or basket making, but I don't do those.

Hah, and all those years I had thick waist length hair I either braided it or just rolled it up in a knot and pinned it up.

patriciae

Took me along time to click on this because I spend very little time on my hair these days, other than washing /conditioning a couple of times weekly - no blow drying, no styling, no coloring.

Skipping down to also say I really miss having short hair - it definitely was more flattering and also so much easier to care for, since I'm not good with 'styling'. It's pretty long and grown out right now. I tend to only get it cut a couple of times yearly. My routine these days is comb and pull back in a messy low bun and plop on a baseball cap.

I hate having long hair - especially those long shed hairs that seem to infiltrate everywhere, but I don't have a regular person/salon any more since 2020, so it's always a challenge to figure out where to go.

I'm also reminded of one of the cultural revelations from the pandemic lockdowns was how much more time women have had to spend on getting ready for work than men - esp. those in professional positions. Plenty of women related how they loved not having to do that when working from home.

My DH says he was first attracted to me by my hair. Really? Really. IDK what other girls' hair looked like that made mine so great. I think this is just part of my theory about men marrying the first decent gal who comes along...once that 'marriage alarm clock' goes off in their heads. 'War brides' are one illustration of my theory.

I'm so tired of looking at middle-aged and older female TV news readers with long hair and extensions dangling over their shoulders. Worse are girls and women who can't stop 'caressing' their hair. Freaky! Look at a business meeting with men and women; the women are forever 'adjusting' their darn hair.

Last week Karoline Whatsis, the president's news secretary, walked up to the podium in the press room; looked down at her notes; and used both hands to flip her hair forward over her shoulders before speaking.

" I'm so tired of looking at middle-aged and older female TV news readers with long hair and extensions dangling over their shoulder "

This makes me realize that one of the (more minor) reasons I do like having long hair (other than the lower maintenance) is that it bucks the trend of older women having short hair. There aren't too many women with long gray hair, as if someone declared that older women must have short hair.