Yesterday, i went shopping with one of my really close friends, I did a fare amount of shopping, but i have to narrate to you my experience at Health and Glow-a beauty cum drug store.

So i go there with the intention of buying a conditioner for my hair, and deodorant, and some hair clips. Now, as soon as i enter, the salesgirl asks me if she could be of assistance, and she thus shows me to an entire shelf of conditioners! wow! My beautician had spoken of the 'leave-in' conditioner, but she didn't mention the brand name! Lo and behold, ahead of me, are some seven brands of shampoos, conditioners and other hair care products, each enticing me with their "oh so gorgeous" models showing off their "oh so gorgeous" lustrous locks, and as if that were not enough to sway the mind of a focussed buyer, each of those brands, had, a multitude of wholesome, nourishing, and exotic ingredients providing that extra something, to "give your hair the protection it deserves"!
So battling many thoughts, i draw out a certain 'leave-in' conditioner, apart from my regular conditioner(which i had already taken), only to notice the price! My middle-class self, argued within as to how useful would buying something so expensive be! and i resorted to taking the valuable advice of the salesgirl, who-i am sure-was trained to cough up praises on behalf of every product, regardless of what its effects were!
When asked which was more useful, the regular conditioner or the 'leave-in', she said the 'leave-in' was more for the party wear and the regular conditioner for everyday! At that instant, i felt a sort of communications of souls, two girls, roughly the same age, in this consumer war, in awe of all those beautiful faces on the covers of the hottest magazines, in an era, when hot or not totally counts! Standing flabbergasted, and in need of something to undo whatever was innately wrong with our features, and compensate them with either gloss, or sheen, or volume, or bounce!
Incidentally, all this hair-madness began when i went to a salon to get my long hair chopped and traded for a spunky, short, new look. Where, all my woes began, because i had to combat hair-loss, hair-repair, and the above mentioned deficiencies and defects of my natural tresses!
As of today, i have purchased the following in aid of my alopecia and associated hair-disorders!
Garnier Fructis : 'leave-in' conditioner for dry, rough, sensitized hair:oil repair Rs.65/-
Lo'real Paris: Coloured hair conditioner Rs.maybe hundred and something?
Lo'real Paris: Smoothing oil essence, oil balance level 1 Rs.600/-
Parachute Therapie: Hair loss solution, prevents hair loss in just 45 days ( * not for hereditary hair loss) Rs. 190/-
Parachute Hair oil: Rs.19/-
Roots Hair Brush: Flat:Rs165/-

Now, let us pray, that my hair, not only withstands these successive attacks, but also, survives and grows with renewed vigour!

Apart from just the hair care alone, the salesgirl was crying offers for various other cosmetics-lotions, foot creams, bleaches, wax, perfumes, face masks, gels, toners, astringent, nail polish, French manicure, Nail strengthener, cuticle care cream, etc etc etc
I felt like the world was crashing down on me, Satan had my wallet and was putting me through this consumer hell!
Everything on that shelf, was mine but for the money, i could visualize each of those products simply endowing me with fabulous looks and a glossy feel!
As i paid up at the cash register, i stared down at my favourite addiction:orbit chewing gum:'sugarless and for the calorie conscious'. I felt victorious at my onslaught, and miserable that i couldn't take the rest home with me!
Walking out, i recollect a time, when i would be and glowing from the home-made besan scrubs c/o my mother! and life was but running naked and being said "shame shame puppy shame to", when life was pimple free and scars not there to be forgotten, and i thought,
Was i beautiful??

6/09/07