The Impact of My Vintage Heat Styler on Beauty Innovation and Personal Relationships

Welcome to Blasts From My Beauty Past

I recently gifted my goddaughter crimping irons for her 11th birthday, a surprising choice in today’s beauty trends. It reminded me of my first pair back in 1994 – a clunky Babyliss model in pink and white that tested my patience.

The process involved a 20-minute wait for the device to heat up, sometimes with added tricks like using an elastic band to speed it up. Unlike modern tools, there were no lights or sounds to indicate readiness, just interchangeable plates for various styles.

These plates allowed for thick waves, classic crimps, or smooth straight hair without the convenience of digital controls or notifications.

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Changing your mind halfway through styling your hair can be a tricky situation, especially with heavy and hot styling tools. Waiting for them to cool down before handling them can be a hassle. However, modern styling tools are now lighter, quicker, and safer, making the styling process easier and more convenient. Despite the advancements in technology, there is still a nostalgic longing for older styling tools like crimpers, which can evoke memories of simpler times.

Transitioning from crimping to straightening hair was a common phase for many, including the writer. Embracing the use of straighteners with smooth plates marked a shift in styling preferences, with straight hair becoming a popular choice. While the writer was an early adopter of straightening tools, the evolution of styling tools has made hair styling more efficient and versatile over time.

Transforming My Frizzy Hair

When I was 16, I used to straighten my hair every night. Having naturally frizzy hair with flyaways, it was a significant moment for me to show up at school one Monday with sleek and glossy locks instead of my usual feral hair.

Acknowledging Beauty in All Hair Types

While all hair types are beautiful in their own way, my frizzy hair has always been a part of my identity. I have even passed down this characteristic to my daughter, and I wouldn’t want her any other way.

Struggles with My Hair Type

During my teenage years, I struggled with accepting my hair type. Unlike my friends with straight hair that behaved, my hair always seemed to sit awkwardly and never cooperated. Constantly adjusting my hair in class only made it greasy, leading to a losing battle with my own locks.

A New Look

That particular Monday, I walked into the classroom with straightened hair, causing even my ‘best friend’, a tall and admired teen model, to do a double take. While she had a plethora of admirers, the only person who adored me was my dad.

Reaction to New Look

Upon seeing my transformation, a friend exclaimed, “Oh my god, your hair! You look so different!” This change was partly due to a developing tan from a sunny weekend, approaching her signature ‘sun-kissed, leggy blonde’ appearance. Despite not fully embodying her look due to shorter legs and acne, her reaction was unexpected.

Jealousy Strikes

The friend’s envy was a game-changer, making me feel like I had achieved the pinnacle of success. Education seemed obsolete as her admiration marked a new chapter. Being the subject of envy from a 6ft tall blonde beauty was beyond belief.

Impact of Envy

This fleeting moment shifted the dynamic, granting a sense of acceptance, validation, and empowerment. Though short-lived, it left a lasting impression, prompting her friend to mimic the look with newfound enthusiasm.

It was a pivotal moment, sparking a newfound confidence and drive to explore more possibilities in the world of beauty and style.

Reclaiming Confidence Through Personal Style

Although I never resembled a teen pageant queen, a particular day sparked a small boost in my self-assurance. However, this transformation came with a cost. By establishing my own fashion sense, experimenting with makeup, and adopting a supposedly more socially acceptable hairstyle, I inadvertently diminished my friend’s authority over me.

Despite making notable blunders along the way, I gradually grew bolder. Some boys started to take notice of me (albeit not many), and I developed a discerning eye for fashion. The previous version of me, who was somewhat of a doormat and entirely subject to my friend’s control, apparently carried more appeal to her than the evolving version. I no longer served a purpose in her eyes.

Subsequently, my stunning friend’s inner ugliness was exposed as she and a few others resorted to bullying me right in the midst of our GCSE exams. The emotional trauma lingered so heavily that I am still astonished I managed to pass the exams.

Regrettably, the narrative of our deteriorating friendship does not conclude with a realization that I should have distanced myself from someone who failed to recognize my value and uplift me. Instead, it laments the wish that I had been sufficient for her in the initial stages, followed by years of insecurity and daily concerns about my appearance.

Perhaps, in a convoluted manner, these experiences paved the way for my eventual career as a beauty editor. However, my former acquaintance does not deserve credit for this outcome. The role of writing about beauty professionally is rooted in assisting, advising, and connecting with others—not abandoning them at the first hint of confidence. Take that.

Reflections on Teenage Beauty

No harm intended though – teens will be teens, we’ve all grown up and I’ve moved on (ish) – but it’s interesting, looking back. And kind of heartbreaking too.

Beauty Stereotypes in Teenage Years

As adolescents, we often categorize ourselves as things like ‘the pretty one’ or ‘the ugly one’. My friend was the pretty one, I was the ugly one, blah blah blah. As sad as it is, it’s only natural for young girls to adopt this mindset.

Exploring Beauty Products

Whether they use makeup and hair products to enhance their ‘pretty’ girl persona or use them to improve what they think is ugly about themselves, everyone finds their way in the beauty world, eventually. I just never thought finding my way would start with a clunky Babyliss straightening iron.