Help! My Hair Is Stuck in a Time Warp

Because she's a lawyer, Alicia Crowe, 46, likes to keep her style conservative (pearls) and practical (cardigans). For ten years, her hair reflected that traditional aesthetic: Every weekend she had it washed, blow-dried, then curled at the ends. During the week she used hot rollers to maintain the style. "I've always had really thick hair that's hard to tame," she says. In her early 30s, she'd used relaxers; when they began damaging her hair, the wash-and-set routine was born. It didn't require much thought and got the job done. "I have to look polished and presentable, especially when I go to court," she says.