Love Is in the... erm, Hair!

Love is in the hair — what a beautiful play on words. I totally, unequivocally agree. It’s no surprise they call it the crowning glory.

For reference, just look

at Samson — the biblical strongman whose strength lay in his hair, until Delilah had her way. And closer home, think of those ethereal women in Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings — long, lustrous hair, tidy and well-worn, gorgeous to boot.

Clearly, great hair has always been the stuff of myth and muse.

I’m lucky to be bestowed with a head full of thick, curly, whatever-type-it-is, South-Indian-genetics hair. People often say I’m blessed to have it — especially now that I’ve crossed forty (and counting), when most of us start counting the strands on our scalp and trying to dodge the dreaded pause button life hands us.

And yes, before you ask — that’s a subtle nod to Squid Game. One of the best series I’ve seen, even if Seasons 2 and 3 never quite matched the brilliance of the first.

My hair has a mind of its own — it follows its own diktat. I try, in vain, to rein in its free spirit, but I’ve come to realise it has a vibe that’s entirely after my own heart.

It’s curly on some days, straight when it decides it’s had enough of the curls. Honestly, it’s exhausting being this mercurial. On that note, I sometimes wonder if my shampoo contains more than the recommended dose of mercury — it would certainly explain this bewildering behaviour.

I’ve tried everything — from pantry-made, larder-raided concoctions to expensive serums, shampoos, and conditioners, even sleeping with a silk cap. Alas, the tresses won’t be tamed; they’ve bolted from the stable.

I’m currently inspired by Robert Langdon from The Da Vinci Code — on a holy grail quest to find the perfect product, one that keeps my hair clean, conditioned, frizz-free, and free of chemicals. A tall ask in a world that’s often short on patience.

I even experimented with the no-comb, tousled-hair look — much to everyone’s horror. My dad once remarked, “Sanj, your hair is so dense... the closest analogy I can think of is a bird’s nest.”

I’ve sheared it short, worn it long, changed it according to the march of the seasons — but to no avail. My hair remains stubborn and stoic, not given to lamentations or bickering.

Maybe that’s why I love it so much. It’s original, unapologetic, and delightfully unpredictable — a little like me on most days of the week, except maybe on a Sunday morning, when

I wake early to sit with a hot cup of filter coffee — India’s answer to espresso, brewed strong and smooth — and a book in hand, ready to devour every word till the sky inks black and the hearth’s glow lights up the house.

I write about what makes me smile… and what makes me toil.

 It’s a peek into my world — the chaos, the small wins, the big emotions… and the family that fuels it all.

 I am just rolling, flowing, roiling… through everyday life.

 If this made you smile or chuckle, come back on Tuesdays and Thursdays for more stories to sip with your chai latte… or coffee.

Molecularly yours,

Sanjana

Curiously Irrespressible

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