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[anon]

Layer and flat-iron.  Works for fine hair too.

[anon102]

Whatever you do, don't get your hair cut into lots of short, messy, hard-to-handle layers that take FOREVER to grow out.  A little bit of color that is similar to your own can add shine and highlights and won't be so obvious - people will ask you about it but will just think you've changed shampoos or something like that.

[BioGrrl]

I think it depends on what and where you teach. I'm a field biologist, and frankly am lucky if I take off my muddy wellies after a morning in the field to teach my 10:30 class. I also admired my bio profs (both male and female) who looked like they had just stepped in the building from some sort of jungle excursion. That said, if you're teaching art history or philosophy or particle physics, it might influence your hairstyle in a different way . . .
As to all the comments against short hair - cut it short if you can keep it looking well maintained, and if butchy fits your personality. If you can't afford the $ or time to get it "done" every month, grow it long, so you have the option of a pony tail or up-do.

[anon]

Before you cut your hair, see of you can get a sample of a product by Redkin called Smooth Down.  It's a very light product that works beautifully on fine hair.  Solves the static problem, stops the frizzies, and adds a very nice shine to your hair.

After years of fighting static and frizzies and throwing out bottle after bottle of stuff that made my hair limp and lifeless, I couldn't believe how well the Smooth Down works.  Give it a try!

[Prytania]

Before I was depressed and manic and messed up, but I looked good. Now that I cut my hair, I don't even have that.

[tulsa]

Ahh, but you can put "successful daytrader" on your c.v., which shows that you have more ovaries than most of us do!  I wish I dared to trade.

[Prytania]

It's a pleasant day on the market today.

[frizzy]

You can also just wipe a fabric softener over your hairbrush before brushing--that does quite a bit to calm down winter flyaway hair.

[you're kidding?]

Fabric softener? Really? Sure that's not toxic?

[frizzy]

When I said "fabric softener," I meant one of those dryer sheets--just give a quick wipe over your brush (as opposed to soaking in Downey, which is what my previous post sounded like I meant).  Is it toxic?  Well...probably not any more full of chemicals than your typical hair product.  And it is cheaper.   And made to control static cling.  And sunshine fresh! as well.

[anon99]

I second Redken's conditioners (use All Soft on my wiry, course hair), also, if you have a lot of curl or wave, the absolute best (and super pricey) is Bumble and Bumble Curl Creme.  Gives you that perfect, no frizz curl. The packaging is pretty cool, too.

[Curly-locks]

What about those seeking to go "straight"?  My lovely, wavy hair is great...but I've had it for 35+ years...I wanna have straight hair, or at least style it that way?  Any tips/products?  Aside from investing in a straightening iron--or is that the absolute best way to go???

Thanks!

[Straight Hair]

A friend of mine with crazy curls got her hair professionally straightened at a salon. It cost her a bucketload of cash, but her hair looks great. It doesn't look over-processed and it saves her the trouble of daily straightening with a flat-iron.

[hair matters]

May I say that this is the first time, despite reading several fora a little obsessively, that I have been moved to take notes? And also that this is a wonderfully practical thread because it 1) addresses something we may in fact be able to control in this season of the big uncontrollable--the job search and 2) because hair products are productive of happiness. mostly, they smell good and are fun.

Thank you, thank you...don't know whether I'll smooth down or curl up (and not die), but I feel better.