With ancestors named Dora Eugenia, Betty Jo, Betty Gene, Bama, Delta, Mary Sue and not one but two  great aunts named Trix, even a cousin we called Daw Daw-what would I be but southern- all the way out to the ends of my hair! *And if you will hang in there with me until the end…you’ll see!

Kinfolk, Farrah Fawcett, Dolly Parton, Sister Vestal Goodman and Jackie Kennedy  probably instilled my love for big hair-

Dolly’s Hair Quotes are famous! I’ll tell you this and you can mark it down- Give a Southern Woman a can of Aqua Net, a rat tail comb, a jar of Dippity Do, brush rollers, permanent wave solution and a hair pick- and she can go to town with a hairdo.

Carrie Underwood said- ‘I’m Southern, I like big hair and eyeliner.’ Others just like big hair- like the great gospel singer- Vestal (pronounced- Ves-chal) Goodman-

The Happy Goodmans’ Sister Vestal- on the left when she was younger and her trademark looks on the right- Vestal Goodman was famous for her big voice and hair-it seems to have rubbed off on the men in her life- Look at her singin’ Rock of Ages! Can I get an amen for Sister Vestal??

Farrah Fawcett inspired generations of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ fans and hair stylists. I wonder how many hairdressers heard this- ‘Can you cut my hair like Farrah Fawcett?’ We wanted her face too, but failing that- we’d take her hair! Southern Men are not immune to the love of big hair-

Elvis Presley, Porter Waggoner (whose wife shot him though maybe not because of his big hair) and Merle Haggard are just a few… Then there’s  James Brown- isn’t this the truth? Same goes for women! Hair and teeth…

In the South we ask ourselves this everyday, ‘Is it humid today? It feels humid to me.’

I’d love to have a nickel for every time I’ve heard this- ‘Well honey, it’s the humidity- either your hair’s frizzy or your arthritis kicks up!’ Nothing you do will keep the humidity from creaking bones. Humidity wreaks havoc on hair- limp and frizzy hair is just a way of life.  It’s true- thus, the need for hairspray and Dippity Do. So, if you can get that mess of hair tacked and sprayed- the humidity might not affect your hair quite so much. It is affected, but will hold it’s shape better.  I know from experience, that on humid days, big hair is like a big wad of cotton candy – bugs will stick to it! A swarm of locusts stuck to mine one time- well that’s another story…

Of course our role model on the bouffant hairdo was our late great First Lady Jackie Kennedy- who pulled it off with so much class:

My beautiful mother-in-law, my mother and my grandmother wore big hair. A friend and mentor also wears big hair. She swears she can barely walk past a piano without wanting to drape herself across it and sing.  Her husband is a retired, high ranking Navy man-  she says he impersonated Elvis and entertained the sailors and their families many times. (I have no proof of this. But he does have naturally good hair.)

I also have a darling friend whose hair is normal– yet every now and then- she cannot resist donning a big blond wig and performs with her be-wigged and spangled friends- to delighted laughing audiences-

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 21: TV personality Lady Bunny arrives at the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by Ketel One and Wells Fargo held at Westin Bonaventure Hotel on April 21, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for GLAAD)

Beauty queens, brides, bathing beauties and performers know that big hair can make all the difference-

Big Hair is good for the economy– whole businesses are devoted to hair care. One business made quite a stir in our area, it was called- Glamour Shots. The whole idea was- you got up your nerve, enlisted a friend, made an appointment, showed up- they fixed your hair, then rigged you up in several glamorous outfits – I fell for it…big hair, big teeth and all…take it away James Brown..

It took weeks for the proofs to come back-all encased in a leatherette portfolio, and to get that hair settled down! However, I’m with Dolly Parton…if anyone tells me my hair’s too big, I will get rid of them- I certainly don’t need that kind of negativity in my life.  Oh, lordie- to be that young again! Hope you’re laughing your sides off! And please don’t leave me hanging out here alone! Share your big hair moments!

Love y’all, Camellia

p.s. I can’t resist one more…even our statuary has big hair!

*Most Celebrity Photographs are from AOL images- some celebrities were photographed from old album covers and all others are private photographs.