Confused.

[Fractalsofhair]

For an English project, we have to give up three hair styling products and makeup for a week if female, and if male, we have to give up shaving. If female, not shaving is also an option, but, I don't shave as it is and she highly discouraged it as "Not shaving is disgusting and your boyfriend won't like it, but if you really want to..."(She actually said that in front of the class when a girl asked if she could be like me and not shave.)

However, those 3 things have to be things we normally do.

Our teacher told us that not using conditioner doesn't count, and not using shampoo isn't allowed, nor is not showering.

Here's where I'm stuck! She basically just said to stop using a flat iron, or to stop using a blowdrier and appeared utterly shocked and disgusted when I told her I didn't, and actually called guidance about it, and I had to talk to guidance to check for mental problems. Luckily, my guidance adviser knows I'm not crazy, but still, it was very awkward.

I can easily give up makeup for a week, that's no problem, but the thing is... I don't use 3 products on my hair per day if we're not counting cleansing and conditioning products. I already don't shave, so that's not an option.

Any ideas as to what "vanity" things I could give up in regards to hair? We need to have 3 hair ones and one other one if female. (For the record, the men have to not shave their faces or body, write a few poems, and walk outdoors for 30 minutes each day and observe the environment around them, and they also have the option of not wearing deodorant(Which is something I also don't always use...).)

What I normally do is I brush my hair in the morning, after washing it the night before and letting it air dry(Combing while wet), and put it in a headband or minibun. Sometimes I oil it. I then rinse my face with water, and put on sunscreen(I can't not give up sunscreen as I burn very easily and it would be dangerous to my cancer risk to get a few more burns.), and some days I put on makeup, but I'm iffy as to if it would count or not since I don't wear it EVERY day, and then I put on my glasses and go to school. I was planning on giving up washing my hair and self for a week, but that's not allowed since apparently hair smells if you don't wash it 2x a day! (Thank goodness I didn't tell her I wash it once a day, and that many people don't wash it more than once a week, or ever!) I have tried to talk to my teacher and explain that I honestly just brush my hair in the morning and that I don't blowdry it or straighten it, but as I've said before, she sent me to the office for a mental evaluation because she was shocked.

She's also asked my other teachers many times as to if I'm crazy(which my other teachers told me about, as they found it to be funny) because I don't shave. My teachers find that highly amusing since I don't generally talk about it much, and the teachers she asked(my physics teacher, my robotics teacher, my math teacher, my chemistry teacher, and my history teacher) are all friends and know me somewhat well for a student, and my not shaving is probably the least shocking thing to complain about if we're discussing how I impact a class. Needless to say, we have slightly different ideas of vanity and what is needed for a week of "deprivation". And this is coming from a chick who often dresses gothy and strangly, and thus can do her outfits in an elaborate style if she wants to.... XD

Let's not let this get into a flame war over how crazy my teacher is, she's heavily pregnant(Not that that's an excuse, but clearly more pressing concerns on her mind, and a little bit of a sensitive sense of smell.) and this is one of my final real grades in her class, so I do need to do well on it, and I need to think of some vanity things in regards to hair that I can give up, given that I already do so little and the things I could give are disapproved by her. It's a very silly assignment but it counts for about 1/2 of my grade.

I'm thinking not combing and wearing my hair down as opposed to with a headband might be the easiest options, but I really can't think of anything else and I need 3 for my hair. The downside is, I can't lie and write about the horrors of giving up a blowdrier since I already told her that I don't when I was asking her for suggestions.

(Mods, I'm not sure if this is the ideal forum, but since it is asking for haircare advice, I decided to post it here)

[nowxisxforever]

i would not give up combing as that could have disastrous effects if your hair is anything like mine... um... give up your makeup, oil, and hairtoys, and any jewelry you might wear.

i think it's wrong that your teacher is so shocked and offended by the concept that someone can be low-maintenance enough to not have to spend an hour in the bathroom every morning lacquering themselves into place.

edit: i'd talk to the principal if i were you. it's bad that she would single you out so badly and send you for a *MENTAL EVALUATION* over something so fricking trivial. she needs to be spoken with.

[longhairedfairy]

I don't have any advice for the assignment, but I would seriously report her (with your parents, not alone). Her conduct was appalling, to say the least.

[Fractalsofhair]

Originally Posted by nowxisxforever

i would not give up combing as that could have disastrous effects if your hair is anything like mine... um... give up your makeup, oil, and hairtoys, and any jewelry you might wear.

i think it's wrong that your teacher is so shocked and offended by the concept that someone can be low-maintenance enough to not have to spend an hour in the bathroom every morning lacquering themselves into place.

edit: i'd talk to the principal if i were you. it's bad that she would single you out so badly and send you for a *MENTAL EVALUATION* over something so fricking trivial. she needs to be spoken with.

The jewelry might work actually, but she did specify for women, it has to be 3 hair related things and one other vanity thing. I don't wear much jewelry on a daily basis, just studs in my ears... But, it's still better than nothing. My hair is still short, so the only hair toy I could give up is my headbands! XD Or bobby pins. The oil could work, though I'm not sure if it would be viewed as a conditioner, which is not allowed.

Yeah, not combing would get tricky. It's supposed to be a "hardship", so I was thinking fingercombing wouldn't be a problem, since my hair doesn't tangle much.

And again, I don't disagree with your opinion of my teacher, but she is trying to do a creative assignment. The principal won't do crap as he's male and well, most women in my school do flat iron their hair several times daily, bleach 2x a month or more, and things like that. My teacher probably thought I was lying or "messing" with her because I said I didn't do any of those things and I don't look horrid. I'd rather like to avoid this topic from turning into a flame war about my teacher, as I already know her ... lifestyle... and thankfully she'll be going on maternity leave in about 2 months. She's fighting in her own way to show women that they aren't as ugly as they think they are without makeup and such, it's just... Some people are more self confidant than others. She just holds a grudge against me, and well, let's leave it at my college adviser basically started laughing his head off when I was sent down to the office for "improper hygiene" because well, he's been my adviser since Freshman year, and this is the first time a teacher has ever complained. So, let's keep the hate comments about my teacher to a minimum!

[TiaKitty]

I'd be likely to pick up three new Beauty Habits (?) if I were you, writing instead about how horrid they are for the planet/your self-esteem/animals. I'd probably also check it first with the principle and/or guidance counsellor, just to make sure not to get zero'd out for that score.

That teacher sure has a lot to learn!

[Dars]

Wow I'm appalled over your teachers behaviour, I'd highly recommended addressing the matter to someone in a higher position than her. I don't understand what any student, female or male, is meant to learn from this project (academically) let alone that it counts towards half your grade! What a joke.

[Fractalsofhair]

Originally Posted by longhairedfairy

I don't have any advice for the assignment, but I would seriously report her (with your parents, not alone). Her conduct was appalling, to say the least.

Again, she was trying to do a creative assignment. There are people out there who do not think it is possible to live without a flat iron and blowdrier, and that it will be a horrible hardship to go without them. Let's keep the hate comments about my teacher to a minimum. I already know she's a little off, but then again, so are a lot of people. It would be nice to report her, but a good number of women out there are exactly the same, and many men as well.

To clarify, the teachers that she's complained about me to are all male, with one female chemist teacher who is well, a tomboy, and not exactly vain, and only started wearing makeup after students complained to the principal about her disturbing appearance, and she decided it wasn't worth fighting over. None of the teacher she complained to are the sort to dress up for school, and thus there's a huge difference between a teacher who wears a pro science teeshirt to school and baggy jeans and the teacher who spends hours getting ready, even if both are female.

So, let's try to keep it on task of super simplying a hair routine if we can't eliminate washing!

[Kimberly]

I'm sorry, but your teacher -- and school -- have no excuse. Your parents need to step in and speak with the school principal, and if necessary the school district.

[Dars]

Originally Posted by Fractalsofhair

So, let's keep the hate comments about my teacher to a minimum!

It's not hate comments it's a serious concern and should not be occurring.

[Longlocks3]

Yea, maybe you can play into what she 'wants' this assignment to be, since it seems you already know what the point of it is. I'd just make it up. I've done it a lot when the writing assignment didn't apply to me.