When the hair was wet, it hung down well over the shoulders, reaching beyond the pectoral area toward the bellybutton.  Down the back it reached the waist. It was curly and wavy, and in the later years finally began to show the odd tint of silver, particularly above the brow.

It was often rubbed with argan oil, which had the effect of making it soft and lustrous. The argan is a small Moroccan fruit, and the oil come from its kernels.  Goats climb the argan tree and poop out the seeds, thus making the kernel easier to access.

Sometime the hair is rubbed with extra virgin olive oil instead.  Maybe any oil would work was the idea behind this.  So it was tried, and it was deemed  a success.  Yesterday it was olive oil, today it was argan oil.

The hair is often tied up into a ponytail.  One reason for this is that the ponytail helped to create a look that is more professional.  Well, as professional as could be with a ponytail. In the summer, the ponytail is cooler as the ties up hair does not entrap heat.   From time to time, a small bun appears at the back of the head.  This could be to keep the hair from blowing, which has its uses during cooking and some physical activities.  The bun also comes in handy when there isn’t enough time to comb the hair out.  This bun is worn at the base of the occipital bone, counter to the fashion of the day -atop the cranium.

If neglected, the hair  quickly becomes matted and is prone to forming dreadlocks.  When this happens, these have to be removed by cutting with scissors.  Other than that, scissors rarely touch it.

Left unwashed in warm weather, the hair becomes oily quickly and this oils irritates the scalp.  Washing with high quality shampoos  is  the remedy, although any soap will do in a pinch.  It has been washed in rivers and northern lakes, in salt water and in tap water and with rain water.   It has been washed in showers and with buckets,hoses, tubs, and sinks.

It has been stroked, fondled, touched, gripped, and pulled.

It has never had a bird shit on it, yet it has had arachnids, insects, burrs, paint, blood, and vomit in it.

It has been adorned with floppy toques, stocking toques, baseball caps, train conductor caps,  berets, buffs, sunhats, American flags, dewrags, wigs, strawhats, masks, and diapers, to name a few.

When it comes down,

the party is on!