Shirley Temple curls

I've had occasion to wear pink sponge curlers many times during my life. Somehow, there was always an excuse to make my natural curl just a little curlier and more fancy, and the advantage of the sponge curlers in MY hair is that the curl doesn't fall out... actually, the jury's still out whether that's a blessing or a curse sometimes.

A five-year old on Christmas morning

A twelve-year old on Easter

A seventeen-year old getting ready for a performance (on the left).

A twenty-year old wench (on the right).

Failed attempt at 1940's hair, but at least my make-up and cohort look pretty!

After the above photo (I was thirty-one), I wondered if I was too old to wear the sponge curlers much longer. After all, SOME of the curlers I own are probably the originals from the 80's! It made me sad to think I'd grown out of this "little girl" method of styling. I'd worn those curlers to classes in elementary and high school. I'd slept in them a bajillion times (no, they are not comfortable -- the sponginess is totally negated by the hair and plastic fasteners). I had even worn them to work once or twice, when lucky enough to work places where they don't particularly care what I look like. I mourned the end of an era. And yet... I couldn't bring myself to throw them away.

Then along came The Masque of the Beauty and the Beast. I tried using pin curls to curl my hair, but the results were disappointing. So, I broke out the sponge curlers, just to see if I'd like the effect. The rest is history, as I've been sporting a pompadour-and-ringlets style for the play each weekend!

Last Friday, we had a performance in the morning for a couple of elementary school classes. I went back to work for the afternoon, where my hair looked like this:

I suppose I could have pulled it into a ponytail, but what's the
point when I'd just have to re-do it again for the performance
that night, and the folks at work didn't mind?

That night, I nonchalantly walked through the mall to grab some dinner before the show, pretending I didn't notice the people pretending not to stare at my uncommon hairstyle. The hipster kid who served me at Subway, however, was polite enough to actually ask about it. I told him about the play and the sponge curlers, and he said he thought it was cool. After I'd paid and he was about to move on to the next customer, he said, "Good luck, you bad-a**." It was a little under his breath, but the tone clearly indicated that he was complimenting me. I was surprised though; it was the first time I'd ever been called a "bad-a**", and it was all because of Shirley Temple hair! Haha! Or maybe he couldn't help but respect my casual attitude about looking so different in public. Either way, I was flattered.

Here's hoping that after this play closes I'll still have opportunities to break out the sponge curlers once in awhile. Sure, they're tough on my hair, but the effect sure is fun! I'll be sad when I do finally retire them. One can't be a little girl forever.

Only one more weekend/three more performances left to see me in The Masque of the Beauty and the Beast at the Children's Theatre! I hope that if you haven't been able to come yet, that you'll make it this weekend. I think you'll be surprised and delighted with what you find. I'm sure going to miss it when it's over!