As the Republican vice-presidential nominee was being introduced on national TV, I was thinking of all of you who are
considering enrolling at
beauty school. What’s the connection? If you join this wonderful industry and become a
professional cosmetologist, you’ll quickly become aware that politicians’ hair is fair game. I predict that John McCain’s running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, will serve as a prime example in the weeks to come.
Within a couple of hours of the announcement, a Google search of “Sarah Palin hair” already was turning up blog comments about the unusual ponytail-and-bangs look that this candidate for high political office seems to be sporting in every recent photo. When Hillary Clinton was first lady, entire websites were devoted to her eight years of ever-changing hairstyles. It’s not only women: John Edwards was chided for his $400 hair cut, while Ronald Reagan’s denial that he colored his hair didn’t stop the question from being asked over and over.
So people will speculate as to whether that bouncy ponytail is real or clip-on and discuss the style’s appropriateness for a 44-year-old governor. There’s even a chance that the look will catch on, with women across the country asking their hairdressers to fashion bangs and a high pony. But if the style receives wide criticism, look for Ms. Palin to do a makeover because, as you’ll find out at
beauty school, hair is something that people really judge you by, even if you’re a candidate for U.S. vice-president.