Scarred for Life

I hate my forehead.  Seriously, I have an extra-high hairline, as does my brother.  There's this broad expanse of skin above my eyebrows that I absolutely have to cover.  It's an obsessive need.  For instance, I've realized for the last 3 or 4 days that I really need a haircut.  My bangs are getting too long to hang nicely right around eyebrow level.  Today they decided to part in the middle, and nothing I did (hairspray, curling brush, or threats of violence) would convince them to cooperate with me.  I have forehead peeking out right in the middle, and it's distracting me.  I can feel it sitting there, bangs hanging on either side, taunting me.

When I was a kid, I never used to worry about it - I'd wear my hair however it fell...  Until one day in 5th grade.  I was at recess, playing with some friends, and one of the kids made some crack about how with my (relatively new at that point) eyeglasses and my hair swept back from my face, I bore a striking resemblance to Benjamin Franklin.

Wait, these jerks were my friends?  What was I thinking?

Ever since, I've worn bangs.  I wore them feathered in junior high, curled and teased a bit in high school and college, and as a flat fringe for the last several years.  I've struggled with each and every hairdresser I've used to help them understand the perfect length to trim them - they shrink up when dry, and my cowlicks send them springing in odd directions sometimes, so it's a bit of a tricky proposition.  I've cut my bangs myself in a pinch, but my current hairstyle involves blending my bangs into the sides of my hair, and that's just too tricky for my untrained self to do with a pair of Fiskars in the bathroom mirror.

I look at people who have normal hairlines, and I envy their ability to wear a versatile hairstyle.  I'd love to part my hair or pull it back in a clip sometimes, but there's that huge, glaring forehead of doom staring back at me in the mirror.  Mocking me.  Hey there, Ben.  How's that kite flying thing going?

Unfortunately, Hubby-head's hairline is relatively high as well, so our children are probably doomed to high-foreheaddom.  And when my ten-year-old daughter comes bawling brokenheartedly to me that some jerk in her class told her she looks like an 18th century inventor and politician, I'll pull my hair back from my giant forehead and commiserate for a while before I take her out to get her first haircut with bangs.

Man, kids are cruel.

Comments

[Mom]

I'm sorry! I didn't have anything to do with it! You didn't take it after me!! But, you have a good attitude about it - finally!! But, you did have beautiful naturally curly hair that was to die for in high school and college!! So, you got something wonderful in exchange. (You do look a lot like ole' Ben!! HA!)

[gasp!]

you're not alone!! i've always wore bangs too. without them, i'd prolly die lol.
so yeah, i have a high forehead too. and since my face is so thin [because i'm thin too. grr.], my face looks extra long! i'm so jealous of the people who have nice, full faces with a normal-sized forehead.
one time my cousin said i looked like a guy with my hair and bangs all pulled back. :(
i'm glad that my face matches my body though [both tall/long and thin]. what if i was really short? that'd look sorta weird.
and you SO do not look like benjamin franklin. i mean, you might have the same face shape sorta, but that doesn't mean you look like him. lol.

[Happily Married, but unhappy with self]

I'm sorry you feel that way, but I know EXACTLY what you mean ! You really do have a good attitude about it. I went through a similar experience. I was about 9 years old when my "closest friend" in school was "kind enough to point it out to me".. I never thought about it .. until that day I never had bangs.. and it's all I think about. I've obsessed about how perfect other people's foreheads are and they don't realize it !! It's taken for granted.. I hairspray my bangs to death because i'm afraid on a windy day i'll expose it and will be humilated. It's so frustrating even though i'm an adult now. I still care how people view me. My friends and family are so sweet and think i'm delusional but I can see it.. and i've been told since by a couple of other people ! I know i'm not crazy.. I have 20/20 vision. It's good to hear about someone who understands how I feel inside. Try to be positive.