a note on shaolin hair

many of you know me not to be a girlie gurl & by that i mean that i am probably the lowest maintenance woman you could ever know. i am the type of person who goes to bed with wet, newly washed hair & gets up to go walk the boyos without bothering to fix my hair looks. i also hardly ever brush my hair. it is an exercise i find dull & vain. when i do get my haircut a couple of times a year, the hairdressers are often amazed that i don't have more tangles.
so it should come as somewhat of a surprise that i am drolling on & on about hair. not just any hair but shaolin hair specifically! it has been an interesting journey learning how to manage my hair while training.
the typical pony tail or pigtails just won't do! with the training, i often whip my own face or eyes with my hair! i also cannot have hair that is touching my neck or shoulders because it's so bloody hot when training & sweat is pouring down making everything stick to me. i can see why monks would just shave off all their hair but the chances of me doing that are none to none.
my brothers have been along with me on this journey in that they see me trying out all sorts of 'dos at each class. one recommended these huge clips that hold hair in place but i found that (a) it really scratched my head up, (b) doesn't hold thick clumps of hair, (c) in order for it not to fall out, it had to be too tight of a bun. the last thing i need is a headache while training!
so i continue to try new things to see if i can keep the hair off of me, not whip or blind me or anyone else. perhaps my life would be easier had i straight hair instead! ah the grass is always greener.
when i studied zujitsu with sensei lutak & master zulu years ago, master zulu wanted to teach me how to fight with me hair by putting throwing stars in it. it was fun for a day but i came away with a wicked headache & some cuts on my neck & face that i did myself! those were good times a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
amituofo! more chi!