Mother's column – a chic hairstyle for moms

Before the Covid pandemic, many hairdressers would cut your hair for free if you would donate it to people who lost their hair after an illness.

But the association for people who want to donate their hair calls people not to use this option out of solidarity with the hairdressers, who lost a lot of money during the pandemic. Fortunately, I find a nice discount on Social Deal. Something with washing hair and heated towels. And with a haircut, of course, because that is what I am looking for after all.

Neline is married and the mother of five: Martha (9), Abel (7), Jolijn (5), Reinout (3) and Sifra (1).

"Hey", Melissa says when she goes through my wet hair with her fingers. "Actually, you have waves in your hair. Do you know about the curly girl movement? That is really fit for you!" I struggle to refrain from bursting out laughing. That would not be smart a smart thing to do with a mouth full of tea. Secretly, I feel honoured that she still sees something girly in me, despite the traces motherhood has left on me, including the broken nights of the past years.

But now I really need to pay attention, because Melissa is already explaining how you should fixate your curls after showering with the help of several mousses, waxes and conditioners. You don't even need a brush or comb because you only need a hairdryer and your hands. Once the curls are fixated, they'll stay in place for a week, she assures me.

Fixating is the right word. When I walk to my car, I feel like a LEGO figure. When I turn my head, all my hair moves around too, without one lock getting out of place.

My new curly hairstyle is nice for one day. But after my next shower, I am back to my ordinary self: a mom with a modest ponytail, not super hip, and not remarkably old-fashioned.

Until the day my brush is not in its usual spot in the drawer. This time, the spare exemplar is gone too. When I brush my wet hair with my fingers, the curls suddenly show up again. Melissa was right after all: the curly girl movement is really fit for distracted moms who lose their brushes everywhere.