Just back from a lengthy bleaching session at the hairdressers. Have I mentioned how much I love my hairdresser (or stylist, whatever the most appropriate name is)? Oh, I do. I sit, he clips, I practise my French and he doesn't laugh. I leave feeling happy and refreshed. Hair-cuts just have that effect on me.I've always been a bit obsessed with hair. I used to cut my dolls' hair and as soon as I was old enough, I was perming, frying, colouring and extending my own locks. Hair is an important transforming feature, as far as I'm concerned.
It made me laugh, then, when I got my second MS back from a professional reader. Your main character seems obsessed with her hair, the reader wrote. At one point, she's so engrossed she says she's entranced by her new hair-cut.
Well, who wouldn't be entranced by a killer cut revealing beautiful cheekbones and sparkling eyes, I thought (yes, it was just that bad of a novel).
So maybe I used a bit (a lot) of overkill in that scene, but I still think a character's physical changes can certainly be used to reflect internal changes.
What about you? Do you use changes externally to reflect characters' internal change?
I do have to say, in my current ms, my mc keeps noticing how dirty her hair is, or how it got wet by melting snow, or whatever, whenever she's having a particularly hard time with the fact that she's falling for a criminal. ;-)
ReplyDeleteShe's also, ironically, got hair a lot like that picture you've posted! It's chin length and light blonde and straight. I totally saved that photo in my book pictures folder.
hmmm i never thought about it in those terms, but in my novel, after the two MCs have a fight and harsh words are exchanged one of the MCs cuts her hair.
ReplyDeleteI definitely do, and love using it as a tool paralleling what's going on inside. Or my character might be sending a message with the external change, announcing her new way of thinking, or attitude, or decision.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteGolly, I think so! I have this character - a boy who gets in with the "wrong crowd" and gradually emulates the crowd leader fashion and style wise. Abit too obvious maybe with showing his rebellion and growing up! But there definitely is a point in tying a character's external changes with internal ones.
I guess the best example for me for this taken to an extreme will be Fay Weldon's "Life and Times of the She-Devil"!
Glad you had a great time at the hairdresser's! I hate going. I don't like that I have to make conversation because if you don't the silence becomes defeaning! LOL!
Take care
x
There is very little that I enjoy as much as a fresh cut, color and blow out. The rest of the day I feel like I'm walking on clouds. I have long, thick hair and blowing it out properly myself takes forever, so I often half-ass it. I completely relate. What girl doesn't?
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I've ever written in any real depth about my characters hair styling, though.
I'm between hairstylists right now. Mine moved back to NYC. :(
I don't know, was this professional reader a man. After all if the hair's not right, nothing is right!
ReplyDeleteAnn - It was a woman! A woman with no appreciation for hair, clearly.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you all understand the importance of hair. Good hair just makes you feel... good! :)
And Lola, losing your hairdresser just plain sucks.
All I can say is that it bugs me when I don't know anything about the characters' hair in a novel. I like to know color, style, is it messy or well groomed? Straight or curly? I mean obviously we can't hear about hair every page, but please-- give us SOME hair!
ReplyDeleteI use things like how the characters stands, what she does with her arms, her eyes, and things like that. I also use things like how her hair is; up, down, tight braid. And I also almost always give some despcrition of cut and color and how full it is. I guess I am into hair. :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. In real life, when someone undergoes an internal change, it's sometimes obvious in her appearance. Maybe she's smiling more or standing up straighter or maybe she even got a HAIR CUT to reflect that change. (Example: When I went through a pretty traumatic break up and was finally able to let the whole thing go [kind of], I got my booty to Holiday Hair and chopped my locks off up to my chin! Symbolism, where would I be without you?) If we do it in real life, why can't we do it in fiction, too? :o)
ReplyDeleteHaha I love it! I don't actually share a lot about my character's appearance not because I don't want to I suppose I just leave it open to interpretation on what you feel she looks like. I give you basics but nothing more. I love that she was entranced by her hair though that's funny!
ReplyDeleteThanks guys! I agree, Jen - too much detail about physical appearance isn't good. I went waaaaay overboard with that scene!
ReplyDeleteBut Karen, yes! Give me hair! Some detail, any detail!
Oh. My. Heck. I think we're twins. There's nothing I like more than getting my hair colored and cut. And yup! You guessed it. My characters have a hair obsession. So much in fact, that my agent asked me to take some of the references out. Like, "We get it ALREADY!!! DUH!!!"
ReplyDeleteCan't stop laughing!!!
Lol :)
ReplyDeleteOne of my characters is homeless for a bit - when she finally gets a chance to really get clean, she starts talking and trusting more. Good insights Talli :)
I know I do. In fact even a change in the color of my mc skin reflects tons of information about her. The outside changing tells the story of the inside changing. I think that even goes for real life also. I know when I want to die my hair black things aren't going to well. haha
ReplyDeleteNice post!
ReplyDeleteMy MC starts off as meek and as she matures and becomes more confident I reflect that in her appearance.
Oh my giddy aunt.
ReplyDeleteHAIR is SOOOOOOOO important. My main character is hair conscious. Many of the other characters are described in a hair-y way. I couldn't do it any other way.
Hair is so damn important to me and the way I write, I wouldn't do it any other way.
Or perhaps I 'couldn't' do it any other way...?
I like it.
No matter what.
I hadn't really thought about it until now. I hate going to the hairdressers and my main character has an issue with her hair and also hates the hairdressers. Wonder if I need to look more closely at my characterisation.
ReplyDeleteIs that photo of you? It looks fantastic!
It didn't even dawn on me that I've said something about every one of my character's hair. Hmm. I do love a good hairdresser - makes me feel like a new (younger) person!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, that hair cut picture you posted is killer. I love it! I wish I could pull something like that off.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I love that you love hair. I do too. I love cutting my hair, coloring it, fixing it, etc. You name it. I love it!!
what's wrong with having a character obsessed with hair? LOL ;)
I've never really thought about that. I may have to consider this.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love hair too. :D When I was a teenager, my mother's Dr. kept asking her what color my hair was this week? hehe!
Absolutely! Anything outward from the character's physical looks, to the weather in the setting, to the way that old barn door makes the character feel suddenly sad can be used to mirror (or contradict) how the character is changing internally.
ReplyDeleteI love getting my hair cut too. A good cut and color is like getting a mini face life, isn't it?
It's funny how much of you as a writer comes accross in your writing sometimes! I always find music working its way into my writing because that's what I do for my day job.
ReplyDeleteThat does look like an awesome haircut in the picture. Does yours look like that?
Oooh I LOVE getting my hair done, it's the best! Good for you, and so clever to tie this topic to writing. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI love getting my hair done. Yeah external reflects internal. Internal can also reflect external.
ReplyDeleteOHHHHH I was about to get a cut and hilight yesterday and I didn't get to! I was disappointed ALL DAY!
ReplyDeleteBTW... there is an award for you on my blog :)
My charries' appearances don't change much.
ReplyDeleteI don't either. My hair has been ebony, platinum, and Elmo red for almost three years. :-)
I think your character being obsessed with her hair is an important character trait - certainly people in real life can be obsessed with their hair, so why not a character? And using external changes to reflect internal changes? By all means!
ReplyDeleteThese sort of things show a character to a reader rather than standing there and telling us what's going on. So I like stuff like that... and yes, there is a very small paragraph that reveals an internal turmoil with an external paragraph.
ReplyDeleteI am always searching for a great hairdresser though. I like having my hair washed and dried for me, but dislike all the small talk that goes with it. Sometimes I close my eyes, and say that having my hair done relaxes me... it does, but only if I don't have to make conversation!
I meant above: 'and yes, there is a very small paragraph that reveals internal turmoil with external appearance'.
ReplyDeleteMy excuse is I am thinking of lunch! Sorry... am here, but also am hungry. :)
Oh, how I wish this was my hair! My hair is super short and platinum. That's why it needs so much beach! Still, I think it's pretty cool... :)
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! Your post made me think of Vince Noir of the Mighty Boosh. Love that show! Vince is obsessed with his hair... it's hilarious!
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I don't know if there's much more of a confidence-booster than a brand new rockin' haircut.