Importance of hair

Patty’s hair is a bone of contention between her and her mother. Mrs. Bergen’s hair is dark and always perfectly coiffed. She spends money on a hairdresser outside of town so that she can look her best. She complains about Patty’s hair, which is often messy and unkempt. She sends Patty to get a permanent at a local hairdresser’s, who does an inferior job, prompting Ruth to cut off the scorched ends. Patty’s sister, Sharon, has dark curls like her mother, while Patty’s hair is auburn, which reminds her father of his mother, with whom he had a terrible relationship.