Decadence

This weekend Naheed cut my hair: a proper layering in her backyard. I’m nominating her for Peace Corps South Africa Stylist certification.

It was the first time I’d given much attention to my appearance in a while and it kinda inspired me to concoct a DIY spa treatment. (Well that – and homemade hair treatments have been the subject of the last two PC newsletters, a not-so-subtle indication that the PCSA office staff think we need to beef up our hygiene practices).

So I took a proper bath (no bucket), adding a large bowl of oatmeal and four cups of tea (or an infusion) of cinnamon, cloves, vanilla essence and peppermint from my garden. And what good soaking is complete without a cocktail?* I massaged a mixture of eggs, mayonnaise and vanilla essence into my hair, secured this mixture with a plastic bad and eased into the tub, with nothing but a pair of cucumber slices between me and the Soviet décor of my bathroom. When I’d had enough, I washed out my hair with a bottle of beer and a dollop of shampoo. The cucumber slices were not terribly cooperative about staying on my face; there was not enough hot water to fill the tub; and I got a healthy dose of oatmeal in my belly button. But now I have incredible volume and shine. Plus I smell like a cookie.



* Bacardi Razz (thank you, RoboTom) + Lemon Juice (thank you, neighbors down the street, a god-fearing people who lost some lemons from their backyard tree while attending church) + Spearmint (garden)