Give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair. Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen. Give me down to there hair, shoulder length or longer, hair; Here baby there momma, everywhere daddy, daddy… --  From the musical Hair, performed in 1968 by Zen.

Not much has changed since the ’60s. The latest hairstyle is a topic women of all ages discuss. My own family will tell you I’ve had it long, short, straight and sometimes naturally curly. The old saying “we always hate what we have” seems to fit after a few weeks with one “do” -- especially when there is a new top style on the front of every magazine.

The ’70s’ Dorothy Hamill and the iconic early ’80s’ “Farrah” hair is something we girls remember as most of us tried to have “the look.” Won’t speak for what the guys remember.

I didn’t grow up in the South, however I can tell you that we Pittsburgh girls had some big hair back in the ’80s. Brentwood resident Kathleen Young, who also grew up in the Burgh, shared, “I had the Farrah thing going on.” Friend Lisa Cole shared, “I think my hair is bigger now than in the ’80s! Darn Southern humidity!”
Kim Elmore said she had ’80s’ BIG and TALL hair with a perm.

Oh, friend I was so with you, five hours rolling a spiral perm and why? I have naturally curly hair???

If you Google “Big Hair,” here is an excerpt of the Wikipedia definition:
“The fashion persisted with certain regional subcultures in the Southern US and association with female country music.” The photo next to the definition is of part time Brentwood resident Dolly Parton. (Always a Brentwood connection)

The TV show Friends introduced ladies to the “Rachel.” Jennifer Aniston’s hair has made news ever since. Says Buffy Bundshuh from Fifth Third Bank: “Had the Dorothy and loved the Rachel; still do to this day.”

Pam Ford says she can beat that.  “I had them ALL,” she confessed.

This spring Stephen Tyler wore feathers in his hair during American Idol,. Some say Ke$ha, a former Brentwood resident, was the “real” person who started the feather trend.

Feathers are the rage here in our bubble and hair salons cannot keep them in stock -- and not just for your daughters either. Moms are joining in the craze too. Pam Ford has six and I think she is a pretty cool Mom.

I spoke with Patty Brown, owner of Hair Expressions, then saw firsthand the choices being offered. It is something I would definitely encourage my girls to do. In fact recently mom Nicki Steen brought her daughter Taylor into the salon and they both got feathers on a mother/daughter day out.

Of course, I have to share this from the male perspective posted on Facebook:  “Your cheap hair fad is costing the fly-fishing men an arm and a leg! Feathers cost them $60-100 for a bag of six! It’s pure shame,” posted Buddy Yelton, Nashville Sounds entertainment manager/mascot coordinator.

If you decide to feather, here are the basics, courtesy of stylist Liz Wilson:

“The feathers are attached using a metal bead called a lock. Your stylist will weave a few strands of your hair through the bead then insert the feathers into the same bead. Using a small pair of pliers, the bead will by flattened to provide a secure connection. The feathers should last about six to eight weeks before needed to be moved up.”

Cost varies from salon to salon.

Dana Bailey, stylist at Hair Expressions, is actually selling clip-on feathers and I actually like that as an option.

Speaking of looks, let me close with the beauty of the brother-sister love thing. Once, while sitting at a funeral no less, my brother looked over at me and said, “What’s with the hair?”

Oh, watch out big brother or a new column will soon be “Man product.”

Jodi Rall is a special events coordinator and publicist who lives with her husband, four children, two dogs and various other pets in Brentwood. She has been known to play tennis. Contact her at jodi@brentwoodhomepage.com. Follow her "Jodi in the Bubble" blog by Clicking here.