As to hair––years ago my hair person told me to only wash my hair with shampoo once a week and to "wash" it with conditioner every two or three days. I have curly hair and have heeded his advice. My hair is no longer thick, but it also isn't thin so I figure his advice wasn't terrible in regard to hair loss or how it looks in public. A mermaid aside: about three years ago I was strolling on the beach on the East Coast and a little girl strolling in the opposite direction with her mom when she said in a perfect stage whisper to her mom, "She has mermaid hair!" As I said my hair is curly––it is also long and very white. That little girl gave me the best compliment I've ever recieved. Mermaid power! (also, I loved that little girl's vivid imagination because at age almost 70––at the time––I was/am no one's vision of a mermaid!)
I would like to send you an email with a dermatology related question. What is your email address? The one listed at the bottom of this post for such questions does not seem to be valid. Please let me know. Thanks!! Loving the newsletter.
I suppose that the mermaid is a wee bit related to me - we share a few genes. Do you have any other pictures from Hawaii you could share ? I asked Keith but he wasn’t sure he would take any.
So glad you enjoyed a blissful holiday vacay with your family in Oahu, which must have been heaven for your darling little mermaid M!
Another vacay story that ties into mermaids—and hair—is from a classic movie I loved as a child (still waiting for it to show up on TCM): “Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid.”
During a getaway to the Caribbean with his wife, proper Bostonian Mr. Peabody (William Powell) goes fishing. His catch of the day: a beautiful mermaid.
Not knowing what to do with her, he takes the mermaid back to his hotel room, where he tries to hide her in the bathtub. At some point he names her Lenore, falls in love with her, then tries to return her to the sea. But L outwits him, and on the way dives into the hotel’s deep fish pond.
Events transpire, Lenore is gone and after Mr. Peabody recounts his fish story to a psychiatrist, the good doctor tells him that the mermaid is a fantasy, nothing more than a midlife crisis. At home, Mr. Peabody tells his wife that the mermaid wasn’t real, just a hallucination. Then he gives his wife a gift. It’s the hair comb the mermaid left behind.
So it looks like combs rather than brushes are a mermaid’s go-to styling tool.
Haven’t aspired to mermaid hair since childhood, but some years back renowned trichologist Philip Kingsley (RIP) told me that fine, wavy/curly hair like mine should be combed with a wide tooth comb, rather than brushed, to help prevent breakage. Now that I have some thinning issues, I continue to take care to follow this advice.
One last word (well, words) about mermaids from the lavishly illustrated book, “Mermaids: Nymphs of the Sea”’by Theodore Gachot, who judged the 13th annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade:
“As symbols of fertility, [mermaids] are present in mythology worldwide, from the creation myths of Tibet, China, Korea and India to the classical myth of the birth of Venus in the West.” Looks like mermaids have more going for them than gorgeous tresses and impressive underwater skills!
Mermaidcore and Other Fishy Trends
As to hair––years ago my hair person told me to only wash my hair with shampoo once a week and to "wash" it with conditioner every two or three days. I have curly hair and have heeded his advice. My hair is no longer thick, but it also isn't thin so I figure his advice wasn't terrible in regard to hair loss or how it looks in public. A mermaid aside: about three years ago I was strolling on the beach on the East Coast and a little girl strolling in the opposite direction with her mom when she said in a perfect stage whisper to her mom, "She has mermaid hair!" As I said my hair is curly––it is also long and very white. That little girl gave me the best compliment I've ever recieved. Mermaid power! (also, I loved that little girl's vivid imagination because at age almost 70––at the time––I was/am no one's vision of a mermaid!)
I would like to send you an email with a dermatology related question. What is your email address? The one listed at the bottom of this post for such questions does not seem to be valid. Please let me know. Thanks!! Loving the newsletter.
I suppose that the mermaid is a wee bit related to me - we share a few genes. Do you have any other pictures from Hawaii you could share ? I asked Keith but he wasn’t sure he would take any.
So glad you enjoyed a blissful holiday vacay with your family in Oahu, which must have been heaven for your darling little mermaid M!
Another vacay story that ties into mermaids—and hair—is from a classic movie I loved as a child (still waiting for it to show up on TCM): “Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid.”
During a getaway to the Caribbean with his wife, proper Bostonian Mr. Peabody (William Powell) goes fishing. His catch of the day: a beautiful mermaid.
Not knowing what to do with her, he takes the mermaid back to his hotel room, where he tries to hide her in the bathtub. At some point he names her Lenore, falls in love with her, then tries to return her to the sea. But L outwits him, and on the way dives into the hotel’s deep fish pond.
Events transpire, Lenore is gone and after Mr. Peabody recounts his fish story to a psychiatrist, the good doctor tells him that the mermaid is a fantasy, nothing more than a midlife crisis. At home, Mr. Peabody tells his wife that the mermaid wasn’t real, just a hallucination. Then he gives his wife a gift. It’s the hair comb the mermaid left behind.
So it looks like combs rather than brushes are a mermaid’s go-to styling tool.
Haven’t aspired to mermaid hair since childhood, but some years back renowned trichologist Philip Kingsley (RIP) told me that fine, wavy/curly hair like mine should be combed with a wide tooth comb, rather than brushed, to help prevent breakage. Now that I have some thinning issues, I continue to take care to follow this advice.
One last word (well, words) about mermaids from the lavishly illustrated book, “Mermaids: Nymphs of the Sea”’by Theodore Gachot, who judged the 13th annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade:
“As symbols of fertility, [mermaids] are present in mythology worldwide, from the creation myths of Tibet, China, Korea and India to the classical myth of the birth of Venus in the West.” Looks like mermaids have more going for them than gorgeous tresses and impressive underwater skills!
Thanks for another excellent post, dear Val!
Your granddaughter is darling!! As a Pisces, I very much appreciate her look! :) Enjoy your family time!
I see you in that sweet little mermaid’s face.
So happy you had a great vacation with your family and adorable granddaughter! Priceless💕
The pic of M is enchanting. thanks for posting on your vacation! in paradise no less.
Lovely