Snuggle with Pam
Hair
Work sheet
A. Did you know?
Why do we have hair?
Scientists believe that the hair on our heads is there to protect the head from the sun and thus the brain from becoming overheated.
Why do we have eyebrows?
Scientists believe that the eyebrows are there to keep moisture, sweat and dirt away from the eyes. The arched shape helps to divert the sweat to the sides of the eyes, thus steering it away from the eyes. The most obvious reason for the existence of eyebrows is to help us see when we are sweating or out in the rain. People without eyebrows actually have more problems with rain and sweat than people with.
Why do we have body hair?
Scientists believe that the body hair helps us regulate heat and cold. If our body temperature increases just a few degrees, we eventually die from it. Sweat helps us to cool down as well as does our fine, short, body hair. Nowadays, we have clothes to keep us warm, so the real function for hair is really the cooling one.
Do you understand now why hair is so important?
B. Discuss
Read this article from BBC News and discuss it in class.
Bikini line waxing and shaving poses infection risk
Men and women seeking a well-groomed bikini line are at greater risk of infections, say researchers. Waxing and shaving causes micro trauma to the skin, leaving it vulnerable to pathogens like poxvirus, they told a British Medical Journal publication. The team studied 30 new patients with a poxvirus called molluscum contagiosum who had been treated in a private clinic in France. They say pubic hair removal is becoming increasingly popular among men too. Twenty-four of the 30 patients they examined were men. In all 30 cases, the lesions had appeared in the bikini line area that had been either shaved, waxed or trimmed. Molluscum contagiousum is highly contagious and easily spread through skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infected or by touching contaminated objects such as a flannel or towel. It usually clears up on its own and does not cause any symptoms other than raised red spots. Squeezing the spots that develop is not recommended because it can cause pain and bleeding and it is likely to leave scarring. It also increases the risk of spreading the infection The researchers say pubic hair removal could also be a risk factor for other 'minor' infections such as genital warts.
Source: BBC News Health, 19 March 2013.
Questions to discuss after reading the article:
1. Do you think that this true in Sweden as well? 2. Do you think that bikini line waxing or shaving is worth the risk of getting infections? 3. How can you prevent getting an infection when removing hair? 4. At what age do you think it is ok to wax the bikini line or shave one’s genitals? 5. Do you think that there is a difference between girls and boys when it comes to hair removal?
B1. Discuss
In small groups, discuss the following questions. Choose a couple of questions to discuss in class.
1. Is it common to shave your body hair? 2. What parts of the body are the most common parts to shave or wax? 3. Why do some people hate body hair? 4. Is removing body hair more common amongst girls than boys? 5. Is intimate shaving a common thing? Why? 6. Is there an upper age limit for when intimate shaving is no longer ok? 7. What problems are there with hair removal? 8. What are the advantages? 9. Who decides how hairy a person should be? 10. Do you think that attitudes about hair are different in different cultural environments? 11. Do you think that attitudes about hair change over time?
Frida Kahlo Amy Winehouse
C. Attitudes The history of eyebrows
Trends in eyebrows have varied throughout history. In Ancient Egypt, both men and women plucked or shaved their eyebrows and then dyed them with kohl to darken them. According to Greek historian Herodotus, when a cat died in a private home in Egypt, all the inhabitants would shave off their eyebrows.
Both Roman and Greek culture preferred a unibrow and would dye the eyebrow(s) accordingly. Greek women would even wear brow wigs made out of goat hair and resin.
Both the Byzantine empire and the Qajar dynasty in Iran also favoured the unibrow, as well as famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
During the Heian period in Japan (794-1185), women were supposed to shave their eyebrows off. This eyebrow-less face was also the trend of Medieval Europe and it lasted all the way into the 1600’s. People even used to rub the eyebrows of children in walnut oil to inhibit the growth.
In 18th century Europe, eyebrows became popular once again. This time, women would make eyebrow wigs out of mouse skin and place them a bit higher on the forehead for a more surprised and younger look.
In 1919, T.L. Williams invented a product that would dye his sister Mabel’s eyebrow with Vaseline and coal dust. This product became the Maybelline.
During the 1950’s, the Hollywood trend was strong, emphasized eyebrows, while the 60’s varied from woman to woman. In the 70’s, again, thin eyebrows were in fashion, while the 80’s brought bushy eyebrows back. Today again, trends vary, but in the west, unibrows and faces without eyebrows are not as popular as two eyebrows.
D. Express yourself with Old Nick
Welcome to Old Nick’s language school. When it comes to talking about hair, it’s good to know the correct lingo, otherwise it’s easy to get confused. Here you will learn different words and expressions I’m sure you didn’t know beforehand.
Here are different words and expressions for hair:
Cockney slang:
Barnet fair (hair) Fred Astaire (hair) Tony Blair (hair)
Yogi Bear (hair) Alf Garnet (barnet)
Expressions for keep your hair on:
Cockney slang:
Elvis (Aaron)
Words for haircut:
Cockney slang:
Chicker
In the US:
Hairdo håruppsättning Ponytail hästsvans Dreads dreadlocks
Afro stort krulligt hår Mullet hockeyfrilla Mohawk punkfrisyr (mohikan)
Braids flätor Pigtails tofsar Perm permanentat hår
Weave hårförlängning Bun knut Bangs lugg Side-burns polisonger
British:
Plaits flätor Fringe lugg
Words for hairy:
Cockney slang:
Bloody Mary (hairy)
Words for gardener:
Cockney slang:
Percy Thrower (mower)
Words for to shave:
Cockney slang:
Mexican Wave (shave) Ocean Wave (shave) Rant an Rave (shave)
Dig in the Grave (shave) Chas and Dave (shave) All night Rave (shave)
Words for wig:
Cockney slang:
Syrup of Figs (wig) Oil Rig (wig) Farmer’s Pig (wig)
Irish Jig (wig)
In the US:
Hair piece Toupee tupé Merkin (pubic wig)
Hair hat
______
Words for pubic hair:
In the US:
Rug Carpet Bush Landing strip Brazilian vaxad E. Crossword
F. Who are you? What type are you? Choose the best answer to the question below.
What do you think about body hair?
a) I’d remove it! Mow it off with the lawnmower if nothing else is available!
b) Let it grow and don’t wash it! That will just take away the beautiful smell!
c) It’s up to everyone to decide for themselves whether they want to remove their hair or not!
You are: a) Un-Virgin Mary would say this and you sound just like her. This is not a very good idea though, as you could get molluscum contagiousum. Besides, it is hard work to pull the lawnmower up and down your legs. And can you imagine the razor burns in the bikini area?
b) Old Nick is a smelly guy, but you don’t have to be! You can keep your hair and also wash it. No need to go all in!
c) This is the most intelligent and moderate answer to the question. Of course everyone should choose what’s best for them! Trends come and go and you don’t have to follow all of them just because your friends do. It’s totally up to you whether you want to keep your hair or shave it off! Of course, that’s easy to say but hard to live up to. Who knows when mouse hair eyebrow wigs will become the latest fashion again! Would you buy one then?
G. Lyrics
Look at the lyrics below. What is this song about really? How can you tell? Are there any key phrases? Were there words or phrases you didn’t know since before? Can you find metaphors or similes in it?
“Hair” from the musical “Hair”
She asks me why I'm just a hairy guy I'm hairy noon and night Hair that's a fright I'm hairy high and low Don't ask me why Don't know It's not for lack of bread Like the Grateful Dead Darling
Gimme head with hair Long beautiful hair Shining, gleaming, Streaming, flaxen, waxen
Give me down to there hair Shoulder length or longer Here baby, there mama Everywhere daddy daddy
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair Flow it, show it Long as God can grow it My hair
Let it fly in the breeze And get caught in the trees Give a home to the fleas in my hair A home for fleas A hive for bees A nest for birds There ain't no words For the beauty, the splendour, the wonder Of my...
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair Flow it, show it Long as God can grow it My hair
I want it long, straight, curly, fuzzy Snaggy, shaggy, ratty, matty Oily, greasy, fleecy Shining, gleaming, streaming Flaxen, waxen Knotted, polka-dotted Twisted, beaded, braided Powdered, flowered, and confettied Bangled, tangled, spangled, and spaghettied!
Oh say can you see My eyes if you can Then my hair's too short
Down to here Down to there Down to where It stops by itself
They'll be ga ga at the go go When they see me in my toga My toga made of blond Brilliantined Biblical hair
My hair like Jesus wore it Hallelujah I adore it Hallelujah Mary loved her son Why don't my mother love me?
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair Flow it, show it Long as God can grow it My hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair Flow it, show it, Long as God can grow it My hair