The Mane Affair

Karren Brady on Learning to Treat Her Hair With More Respect

- Karen Brady

I have always liked my hair and considered it one of my best features. But, despite knowing this, I have never given it the attention, kindness or respect it deserves. I guess I’ve just taken it for granted!

I had my first perm when I was 13. I wanted to look like Brooke Shields from the film The Blue Lagoon, but ended up with a mop of tight curls! Not only did it look appalling, it had the texture of a dead sea sponge. And it took months before it forgave me and recovered!

By 14, my mother was regularly highlighting it for me with something resembling a swimming cap, which she would squeeze onto my head and then pull the hair through the rubber with what I always presumed was a crochet hook, and then slap on bleach. Who knows how I survived the pain, let alone the bleach!