I experimented as a teen, and had some hellish hairstyles - way

When h Bowman, the voice of radio and chronicler of music, declared, “I experimented as a teen, and had some hellish hairstyles—way too many perms and cheap hairspray!”, she was not merely confessing a fashion misstep, but unveiling a universal truth about the fire of youth. Her words, cloaked in humor, carry wisdom: that adolescence is a season of experimentation, of mistakes worn openly, of choices bold and brash that later become memories both painful and precious. What she speaks of hair is, in truth, a parable for the shaping of identity itself.

The meaning of her words lies in the courage to try and fail. The perm that burned, the hairspray that stiffened, the styles that now seem absurd—all were symbols of a deeper search: the longing to discover the self. Every teen, in one way or another, dares to stretch beyond the known, to adorn themselves with strange colors, odd garments, or reckless styles. Though the results often make us laugh in later years, in that laughter we must not forget their value: they were steps on the path toward authenticity.

History gives us many mirrors of this truth. Think of the young Vincent van Gogh, who in his early years experimented with many crafts—preacher, bookseller, teacher—before he ever became a painter. Each failed experiment was, like Bowman’s hairstyles, awkward and uncomfortable, yet each taught him something about himself, until at last he discovered his true calling. What looks foolish in the moment often ripens into wisdom with time. The hellish hairstyles of youth, like the failed pursuits of the great, are not wasted—they are the raw materials of becoming.

Bowman’s tone of levity is itself part of the lesson. To look back on one’s youthful missteps with shame is to remain imprisoned by them. To look back with humor, however, is to show growth, freedom, and acceptance. By laughing at her cheap hairspray and wild perms, she reminds us that mistakes need not haunt us—they can become the very stories that define us, the evidence that we dared to live. What once felt humiliating can become a source of connection, as others recall their own awkward experiments.

Her words also speak to the importance of freedom in youth. Better to experiment with hairstyles, clothes, and harmless choices than to live a life of rigid fear. For experimentation breeds resilience; it teaches adaptability, creativity, and humility. A person who never dares to look foolish never learns the courage to stand apart. The hairstyles of youth may fade, but the boldness they represent remains as a strength for life’s greater challenges.

O seekers of wisdom, let this be your guide: embrace your youthful experiments, and do not despise the awkwardness of your past. Each mistake you made in search of self is part of your story. Each style, however outlandish, was a declaration: I am willing to try, I am willing to change, I am willing to grow. This willingness is the true crown of youth, far more valuable than any perfect appearance.

Therefore, remember Bowman’s words: “I experimented as a teen, and had some hellish hairstyles.” Take them as a lesson for your own life. Do not fear to try new things, even now. Accept the foolishness of beginnings, and wear your mistakes with laughter, not regret. For the experiments of today may look strange tomorrow, but they are the forge in which your truest self is formed. And when you look back, may you laugh, as she laughed, and say: It was worth it, every wild attempt, for it made me who I am.