"When Cher was young, her straight, coal-black hair nearly touched the back of her knees. One of her signature moves is the toss of her head that swooshes her dark mane back over her shoulder. She made sporting long hair look easy.

It isn't that easy, though.

My mother, who raised nine daughters, likes our hair cut short - away from our face and out of our eyes. She believes that hair in the eyes causes diseases and blindness.

She's right about one thing: Long hair can be hazardous."

Get the Story:
DORREEN YELLOW BIRD COLUMN: Don't chew gum on windy days, and other tips for tending long hair (The Grand Forks Herald 1/20)

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