The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FATAL HAIRDO TALE

WHEN I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN NASHVILLE (1963-66)
THERE WERE A RASH OF FATAL HAIRDO STORIES CIRCULATING
AMONG THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS. EVERYONE WHO TOLD THE
STORIES VOWED THAT THEIR VERSION WAS THE T R U E
VERSION. I CAN REMEMBER THAT THE GIRL
WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN A STUDENT AT STRATFORD HIGH
SCHOOL IN NASHVILLE, AND AT DONELSON HIGH SCHOOL
IN DONELSON, TENNESSEE WHICH IS A SUBURB OF NASHVILLE.
THE STORY BASICALLY WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
THERE WAS THIS GIRL WHO HAD HER HAIR FIXED IN A
SPECIAL, ELABORATE WAY FOR A PROM OR SOME OTHER EVENT.
AFTER THE GIRL HAD HER HAIR DONE, FOR DAYS, AND EVEN
WEEKS AFTERWARDS, SHE ROLLED IT WITH TOILET PAPER EACH
NIGHT TO HOLD THE STYLE'S SHAPE AND NEVER BRUSHED IT OUT
BECAUSE SHE LIKED THE HAIRDO SO WELL. ONE DAY THIS GIRL
WAS SITTING IN CLASS AND BLOOD STARTED RUNNING DOWN
HER FACE. SHE FAINTED AND WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
AT THE HOSPITAL, HER HAIRDO WAS DISMANTLED AND A NEST
OF ROACHES WAS FOUND IN HER HAIR. THEY HAD BURROWED
AND EATEN THEIR WAY INTO HER HEAD AND INTO HER BRAIN
AND KILLED HER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): ALSO SEE SAME BASIC STORY WITH A SPIDER IN IT.

Date learned: 08-13-1968

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