Trip to India: December 14 Post 1

Posted by Laurie English on December 15th, 2009 filed in SpaNomad Adventures!

Post 1 of 4

Evening in Pushkar

I keep coming to the rueful conclusion that Indian Head Massage was not meant for long black hair in its natural state done by anyone who is not familiar with that natural state.

What I’m really saying is, as much as I love Indian Head Massage, my long African-American inspired hair does not.

Why I’ve come to this conclusion is based on an Indian Head Massage I got in Pushkar that involved THE SPRITZER BOTTLE.  As soon as he approached me with the water spritzer I suddenly felt like a vampire near garlic. 

“Nooooooo!” My mind screached.  Not water.

I’d purposefully blown dry my hair for this India trip so that I could enjoy getting my head massaged without looking like Diana Ross met Thriller.  Black hair that is not chemically treated and is naturally afrocentric, when heated to straightness, does not mix with water.  Put succinctly, straightened black hair and water don’t mix. It “fros,” as in afro.

So, this barber convinces me that “Oh, no.  I can’t possibly do your head massage without water.  It’s not indian head massage without water.” 

I’d never heard that one before.  Maybe he knows something special I don’t know.

Three short techniques later and several spritzers into it, he ceases from the head massage and focuses more on my neck and shoulders and arms.

Fine, but I came in for a head massage.

Please remind me to never let an Indian man with a spray bottle of water near my head again. Indian hair is straight.  It hangs long and thick.  It’s a lot of things that my hair is not. 

So, here I am now, the top part of my hair has reverted to a thick natural curl.  The bottom un-sprayed part is still straight.  Absolutely impossible to get a comb through this without pain of torture.

I think I’ll just put a scrunchie on it and go to sleep.

Lord help me,

–Laurie