Teenagers. Where do I even start? While some people apparently did not get the memo that it's just a phase and supposedly ends after high school, most of us have gone through the joys, tears, sebaceous glands and cheesy hair accessories of our teenage years and moved on with our lives. And I don't know about you, but it has got to be one of the most confusing times of my life.
It's that proverbial fork on the road where you're not a kid anymore, but you're not an adult yet either. On the inside, you go through a whole range of emotions that are completely alien to you. On the outside, as your hormones go on hyperdrive, acne decides to make your body its personal oyster and man oh man, do you stink. It's understandable that most teenagers obsess about their image and how their peers perceive them!
Looking back now and knowing what I know, I would have told my teenage self "Girl, like seriously, CHILL." Being a teenager doesn't have to be a pain in the neck. It can be an exciting new adventure in the process of "finding" yourself. You may want to talk to someone else about dealing with the "inside" stuff, but I will try to help you deal with the "outside" stuff: body image.
LET'S GET PHYSICAL
Studies have shown that girls tend to struggle with body image far more than boys. For a lot of teenagers, how they feel about their physical appearance can be closely linked to their self-esteem. Self-esteem is how much you value yourself and it is important because it affects and influences how you act.
The first thing to do is to realize that in the end, your body is your own—no matter what shape, size, or color. If there are things about yourself that you can realistically change, make goals for yourself to make the change. For example, if you want a fitter body, make a plan to exercise daily and eat healthy. But ultimately, you will have to learn to be happy with yourself.
Since I do not intend to hog the interwebs with self-help 101, I'll zero in on one of the things that cause major self-hate drama: hair.
HAIR, THERE, EVERYWHERE!
Any teenage girl in her right mind knows that her hair is her crowning glory. And as such, it must be treated with utmost care. You have about 100,000 hairs on your head, so you've got your work pretty much cut out for you. Here are some tips to keep your hair healthy, shiny and the total envy of every other teenage girl (or boy).
But first, the basics. Each hair shaft has three layers: two inner layers and one outside layer called the cuticle, which protects the other two. If your hair is shiny, it means it's healthy. This is because the layers of cuticle are lying flat and reflecting light. When the scales of the cuticle lie flat, they overlap tightly, protecting the inner layers of the hair from heat, chlorine, dirt and other hazards in the environment. But if the hair is damaged, the scales may separate and your hair can become dry. When this happens, the scales cannot protect the inner layers, resulting to hair breakage or dullness.
HAIR CARE BASICS
Caring for your hair depends on your type of hair, your way of styling it and your lifestyle. But in general, whether it's dry and curly or straight and fine, hair needs to be treated gently especially when it's wet. Wet hair is more vulnerable to breakage of cuticle damage. Using a hot blow-dryer or any styling products that use heat on very wet hair can damage it.
Now, a lot of teens have to deal with overly active oil glands so, yes, you are normal. If your hair is oily, it's okay to wash it once a day. Same thing: frequent washing won't harm it if it's treated gently when it's wet. Although, it may be better to use a mild shampoo or one designed for oily hair.
On the other hand, if it's dry, it's a good idea to wash it less frequently. Look for shampoos specifically made for dry hair. Hair conditioners may also help.
Plus, did you know that getting a haircut regularly is actually one of the best ways to keep your hair healthy? A haircut can help protect the ends of your hair from splitting and damage.
LOVE YOUR LOCKS
No matter what your hair type is, it always looks flattering if you put a little effort in styling your hair. There are so many styles you can try, especially if you have very long hair. Your only limit is your imagination (and maybe funding from your parents).
Women have been styling their hair for ages and in fact, hair accessories like the hairpin even dates all the way back to early Greek, Roman and Egyptian times! Some anthropologists even believe that early cave dwellers used sticks, thorns, or bones on their hair as sort of "crude" hair clips.
If you're feeling flashy and creative, you can use hair accessories to jazz things up. There is a whole range that you can choose from—all different kinds, different styles, different colors for whatever suits your hair and your personality best.
Nothing adds more flair to ho-hum locks than fun and unique hair clips . Who said only kiddos can wear ‘em? A dainty hair clip not only makes for an interesting accessory, it also helps keep your hair away from your face. This then helps keep acne away from your face too.
If you want to join the bandwagon and style your hair with curling or straightening irons, just remember to be careful when using them. Over-usage will dry out your hair and damage it. Don't even think you can get lazy and use iron over wet hair! Also, give your hair "vacations" from styling every now and then. Allow it to breathe for maybe a day or two and just "let your hair down."
Or why not hit the jackpot and combine the two? Iron your hair as you please and then finish off with lovely hair accessories. Just have fun with it and enjoy expressing yourself. Be careful not to overdo it, though!
There are plenty of ways to deal with all the crazy changes in your teenage body. Just remember that in the end, if you want others to accept you for who you are, you must accept yourself for who you are first. And you're only young once, come on. Eat more chocolate, dance like a madman, wear some polka dots, talk to the neighbor's cat! Don't waste your youth on too much drama, there's already enough waiting for you on the other side. Whoops.
