“It’s so depressing,” said my sister N in her email to me.  “I was depressed too,” said two other friends as I spoke to them on the phone this weekend. “I’m depressed too,” I said to myself out loud as I looked out the window at the peaks of snow that were almost as high as my second floor window and as I looked in the mirror at the flat head of hair that was sitting on top of my head.  “What can I do to get some spring in my step and some poof back in my lackluster hair?”

I got on my stationary bicycle and pedaled away.  While I was thinking about strategies to manage through the peaks and lack of poofs in my life, I was getting some exercise to help work off the extra pounds I had gained the past two days during my snowy hibernation.

I opened my February issue of Vogue and perused the pages.  And there was the answer.  “Christina Mueller reports on the nationwide obsession with perfect hair – from the truth about keratin treatments to a fishy miracle pill from Finland.” 

I had to read more.  Go on Christina, tell me all I need to know…

“Living Proof has come out with an entire volumizing collection that, for once, doesn’t  terrorize the poor cuticles by stripping them of their protective garb; instead, the MIT whiz kids behind the company have invented an ester that creates tiny “thickening points” on each strand.”

Tell me more Christina. Did you try this miracle cure?

“After shampooing and conditioning with Living Proof,” said Christina, “I scrunch in the mousse, give it a quick blast with the hair dryer and my hair suddenly feels like…not like my hair.  It’s satiny, with curves and bends it never had before, and a satisfying, weighty thickness that lasts all day long.”

I put the magazine down.  I opened my computer. The hunt was on.  I had to find Living Proof and get some as soon as possible.  I had to, I had to, I had to.  I quickly googled the name, found the website and discovered that the product is sold exclusively at Sephora.

Can I battle the snowy peaks and make it to the mall?  Yes, I can.  Yes, I can.  Yes, I can.  For poofy hair, I can do anything.

So off I went. (Mind you, it is sold online on the Living Proof website and on amazon.com, but I could not wait seven to 10 days for delivery.  By that time, depression would be deep rooted and I would have to hibernate with my flat hair for another two weeks (until my scheduled highlights.)

Whew!  I made it.  I drove around and around through the maze of snowy mountains.  I found a parking space at the back of the mall.  I waited on the long line at Sephora and walked out with my Living Proof Full Kit (a $35 value for only $25, cheaper than a therapy session and definitely cheaper than a haircut or highlights) and Living Proof Full Thickening Mousse (Should I buy the mousse too,” I asked the Sephora sales lady, “Of course, she replied, “it’s worth a try and it’s only $14 extra.)

I called my fashionista friend R, who I found out had known about this new product from its preview on QVC.  “Only use half an egg worth of mousse and turn your head upside down.  It will make your hair really poofy.”

I did as she said.  First, I washed my hair with both the shampoo and conditioner.  Then I put on a tiny bit of mousse.  Then I turned my head upside down and dried my hair with the hairdryer.

Wow-o-wow.  My poof is back.  My hair is as high as the snowy peaks outside my window.  But, what about tomorrow? Will my hair still be poofy tomorrow?

I went to yoga class on Sunday morning.  I picked out my yoga card at the beginning of class to determine my intention for my practice.  “The Present” it said on the card.  “Live in the moment.  There is no past and there is no future if you live in the moment.  There is only the present.” And as I did my downward facing dog asana, my hair stood up straight and tall. (I was looking down but my hair was standing straight up.)

Who cares if more snow is on the way this week.  Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow. I have poofy hair.

Judi