The curtain of opportunity

If you talk to most young people with long hair between the ages of 7-17, most of them will say they wear their hair down 95% of the time. And when you share with them, that wearing your hair up is the best way to reduce your chances of picking up lice from your friends and your peer group, they give you a withering look. Such a conversation was the impetus for these photos, post lice treatment. They exhibit what I like to call, the curtain of opportunity. It is really impossible to know how far away from your body your hair is and how far into your neighbor's personal space it goes when it is down. Think about circle time in 5th grade, knee to knee, perfect for laying your head on your friend's shoulder to bemoan the teacher's incredibly long instructions on hallway etiquette. Consider the holiday movie time before winter break with 20 kids piled up together in the floor watching movies for 3 hours. Or riding the bus. You are facing forward, but the girl behind you has turned around to talk to her friends behind her-all of a sudden your hair has comingled over the seat.

Sometimes, we feel like a broken record, but we want you to know: Hair up is the recommended hairstyle for lice prevention. Close that curtain. And do your weekly headcheck. :-)