In which I decide to let my hair go curly-ish

I want to preface this by saying I realize it's not a terribly interesting subject to anyone but me. Read at your own risk (and if you're bored by this, David and David, you've been warned).

So, I've been straightening my hair to some degree or other for just about 30 years. The advent of flat irons has made this task considerably easier, but I've been a slave to blow dryers and round brushes at least, if not straightening serums and gels and heat protectants, on a day-in/day-out basis for basically my entire adult life.

The problem is that my hair's not quite curly enough to be worn curly, per se, but certainly too curly for nearly any "straight" hairstyle. I was lucky that through high school in the early '80s in Texas, big wavy hair was in (when the humidity didn't wreck it or turn it frizzy). But more often than not, the styles I've chosen in the years since have leaned to sleek side.

This was made all the worse when, two springs ago, I opted for an inverted bob -- longer in front than the back and worn straight all over. Every morning, there I was with the flat iron, trying to smooth my unruly hair into a shape that was cute, but completely contrary to my hair's natural texture and wont.

Well, I'm done. Officially. I have put away the Chi and Kerastase Oleo-Relax serum and decided to just let my hair do its thing. And I feel positively liberated. Every morning is a new adventure -- I'm never sure just what my hair's going to look like or do that day, since curl is dependant upon so many factors (moisture, amount of time I spend drying it, if I have the sunroof open while I drive in to work, the phase of the moon, if it's a night game played on artificial turf, etc.). And most days I do need to do a little something to make the curl, um, more uniform or otherwise help it along in places, so I'm not completely appliance- and product-free -- at least not yet.

But having hair that is more or less doing its own thing? Versus literally ironing it into an artificial texture and style every morning? Good times.