Disney Princesses Started the Trend - Long Hair is Always In

Most little girls want to be a Disney princess when they are little. I was no exception. Born in the 60s, my indoctrination taught me to believe that beauty came in the form of women with long hair. Young female royalty always got the handsome prince and lived happily ever after. So, of course, I wanted to be just like them, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

I remember one Christmas I received a long, flowing nightgown that touched the ground and swept around my legs when I walked. I wore that every night the following year. Before bed I would sit in front of the mirror and brush my hair 100 times channeling the grace and confidence required of a princess.

Long, beautiful hair is the key to drawing in a prince. It also makes for a handy ladder when you need to escape. TheSalonBusiness.com

As I grew older, long hair still defined beauty; however, girls became more daring and independent. Wearing a jean jacket, with hair parted down the middle, I became a rebel that challenged my mother’s warnings about presenting myself as a sophisticated lady of elegance and class. Farrah Fawcett displayed the qualities I aspired to and just like any good angel (reference to Fawcett’s role in the TV show Charlie’s Angels), I wanted to kick butt.

The desired result of this fad placed me as the leading lady in control of my destiny and my man, just like the princesses I grew up with. Only later in life was I enlighten that my passions stemmed from long held believes install in females by men.

The story of Samson and Delilah, Judges 16:19, reinforces the power in long hair. Pictures of Jesus show him with long hair. Even iconic images of angels feature women with long hair. Phycologists’ research data shares that women with long hair are perceived as confident, intelligent, energetic, passionate, and adventurous. And every shampoo commercial portrays long hair cascading over the shoulders of beautiful women because it sells the product.

When I gave birth to baby girls, cutting their hair was never considered an option. As they grew, both followed the same patterns that I progressed through. When they were little, I had the power to dress them up in pretty dresses, style their hair in curls and play princess with my darlings. In their youth, they emulated Ariel, Belle and Jasmine.

When they matured to adolescents, I suddenly empathized with my mother from years earlier. They made decisions about personal styles and from somewhere emerged casual worn jackets and the curls disappeared. They moved from sweet innocence to young ladies who needed to express themselves, defy the norms, and express their individuality, which looked like every other teenager of the time. All I could do was shake my head as I opened the door to liberation.

Trends come, go, and then come again. Hair is cut into layers, shortened to a bob, and the pixie style reemerges. But eventually the long locks return, a fashion that will forever remain consistent from our past, during the present and into the future.

History repeated itself when the grandchildren arrived, all girls. The two oldest copied the style of all the beauties of the past but added Pocahontas and Rapunzel to the mix. They grew from princesses to progressive young women. As I observed, the power of hair styles became clear. A woman who controls her style, gains control of her future.

The moment a girl begins to make decisions about her hair, is the moment she matures and develops her identity. At first, her character is based on the influence of others but as she becomes more self-assured the characteristics emerge that define her personality.

Then along came Kinsley. At the age of one, before our granddaughter adorned long hair, she already loved watching Moana and listening to her sing. The picture below is from her first birthday party. It is inspiring to watch the evolution of Disney characters become more inclusive so she can see someone who resembles her on the big screen.

Recently, my thoughts were reaffirmed. Kinsley asked her mother to style her hair like Elsa. She is in the princess stage, of course. The moment I looked at the elegant plaited hair, a wave of knowledge washed over me. The color, the style, the length of hair is not what is important. What is important in fashion is the ability to fit in while remaining an individual. I realized long hair is always in style for someone, somewhere.

Fashion trends will be everchanging but ultimately, young girls will grow from little princesses to opinionated teens to the independent women who will rule the world.

Hair doesn't make the woman but good hair definitely helps. - Anonymous

Now at the age of 60, I find myself growing my hair out, maybe trying to relive my youth or looking for the princess in my soul. As it grows, I see a little bit of the relaxed, free spirit from long ago. Maybe that is what retirement is all about. Thank goodness long hair is a fad that will always be acceptable.