u/anxioustofu

When I first started dabbling with balloon twisting Qualatex was standard (rip) but I'm getting back into it again and people said Sempertex is the go to now. But like the title says, I find working with Sempertex difficult :/ their quality is awesome! They feel very sturdy, but maybe too sturdy? I find them pretty hard to twist. I feel like I'm fighting agaisnt the balloon.

Is there any tips for making them easier to work with? I tried stretching them before inflating, much more than I usually do, I always burp them, I massage them as I work which seems to help for a few seconds then they feel tough again! Im not sure if there's anything else I can do to make them feel softer.

If theres no other tricks I can try does anyone have another balloon brand they recommend? One nearly as sturdy an Sempertex but a little more soft and flexible? I'm doing balloons at my nephew's party in a few weeks so I need to order more balloons soon!

This feels embarrassing to make but I was too chicken to say anything so here I am. You're an employee at Leeds Walmart and the past few months you've been complimenting me and my friends outfits when we go shopping. You have really great dark hair thats always nicely styled and you recently started growing a mustache which I complimented you on once. You also typically wear shorts, like cargo shorts if I'm remembering correctly.

Unfortunately I'm leaving the Leeds area and I wanted to maybe get your contact info to keep in touch and keep showing you my cool outfits if you want lol. Maybe thats weird idk, you just seem like a really cool and chill person and I hate that I'm so anxious and awkward and didnt ask. I currently have short brown curly hair and if you saw me today I was wearing a black chuck e cheese shirt and a yellow clown hat.

Even if you dont wanna reach out and you see this I just wanna say thanks for acknowledging my funky fits and making me excited to get dressed up for Walmart! Lol

So I made the decision to shave my head. My mental health has gotten bad and brushing and caring for my long, thick, curly hair is so overstimulating and overwhelming. I avoid showering because it's too much for me to handle most days. Plus with my mental health being bad my scalp picking has gotten really really bad, and I've also developed psoriasis so picking at my skin causes even more problems. My head is like a snow globe. Idk if shaving will help with my head picking but hopefully I'll shower more and use my medicated shampoo more and have less flakes.

I'm a little scared because as an AFAB person my hair feels very... Important. I know plenty of afabs shave their head and rock it but subconsciously my brain is like "nooo you'll be so ugly you need your hair, youre a "girl"" (I identify as nonbinary). I know I could probably just get a pixie cut and have the same benefits but I can't really afford to go to a nice salon and get a good haircut. My friend is gonna shave my head for free. It's also kind of a "yolo" moment, I only have one life might as well see what I look like with a shaved head lol.

But yeah I'm pretty sure the relief I'll feel from not having to deal with hair will be worth it even if I think I'm so ugly after. I feel really sad that I'm unable to care for my hair, I love my curls. But they'll grow back! Lol, I keep reminding myself that. And I'll get to see what my hair looks like at every length! Kinda neat. Plus I'm gonna donate my hair to environmental clean up! I feel good about that. I'm excited but also nervous lol. If I hate it at least I have an excuse to wear my favorite circus hat everywhere I go lol

Anyways I just wanted to share about this and ask if anyone else has ever had to shave their head because they could no longer keep up with it. Did you regret it? Was it freeing? Want to be buzz cut buddies? Lol

Update: First of all thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words! As of right now, my head is not completely shaved but its like a pixie cut with an undercut type thing lol. I got cold feet about completely shaving it but this is still way more manageable and less stressful. I might still shave it all if I get the courage lol. I think its going to help with picking a lot because the short hairs make it harder to actually feel my scalp, also I love rubbing the short hairs so I might replace scratching with rubbing. So yayyyy.

And, in case anyone is interested in this part, its very gender lol. Ive always been pretty femme presenting but my face is kind of androgynous and very round so now I kinda look like a teenage boy lolllll. Im 26 for reference. Its just very interesting experimenting with my gender expression in this way. Change is really scary and weird for me so it'll take some time to process and figure out if I like it or not.

But it does feel very freeing. No more foot long thick hair to brush!!! Its amazing. And omg not having a sopping wet mop on top of my head when I get out of the shower, priceless.