You would think by now I would give up on fairy tales and happy endings but being the eternal optimist I keep searching for that special stylist who can magically transform my hair from frumpy to fierce.
Granted they don't have much to work with. My hair is fine and stick straight so I'm not expecting miracles but just once I'd like to walk out of a salon without thinking, "Oh God, what have I done?"
Unfortunately yesterday was one of those days. I had taken in pictures of styles that I like and even some I didn't so there would be no misunderstanding. After donning a smock and settling into the chair I proceeded to show her my carefully selected photos. She took one quick glance and said, "Sure, no problem, we can get that look,"and she proceeded to go to town.
As she razor cut my strands my hopes grew. Then came my favorite part, the hair washing/head massage with heavenly smelling shampoo. That done we move back to the chair and she whips out her blow dryer faster than I whip out my credit card at Bloomingdales. And that's where the dream died. The pictures I had brought were all of textured dos, piecy and flipped back away from the face and she was using a round brush smoothing my hair forward.
"Oh," she cooed, "So pretty, this looks so good on you." "But," I sputtered, "this isn't what I want at all," pointing at the picture I brought. By now she is getting the idea I'm not happy so she goops a punch of pommade on her hand and starts scrunching. "See," she says, "you just have to work with it." Now I'm in a catch-22. Dig a deeper hole by asking her to try again or cut my losses (literally) and get the hell out of dodge. I chose the later. And then I went home, washed my hair and styled it myself. But I refuse to accept defeat, next time I know I'll find The One
I can relate. I went in with a photo explaining what I wanted and she ended up doing the exact same thing...round brush drying...ugh seriously!Plus she cut it too short. There's two things I believe you shouldn't screw up with a paying customer and that's their hair and their money.
ReplyDeleteFortunately hair grows !
Amen to that:)
DeleteIt is rare to find a stylist who really listens to you, try making them sit down in the waiting area and "talk" about what you want done, then they aren't thinking about how fast they can be done so they can refill that chair. I also make them repeat what I've said just like a kid, to make sure they heard what I actually said.
ReplyDeleteThanks, that is a good idea which I'll definitely try on my next go around.
ReplyDeleteOne of the advantages of being bald is that there's only so much damage they can do to me. :-)
ReplyDeleteI was totally bald after chemo treatments a few years ago and truthfully it was better than a bad haircut:)
DeleteI'm with you; I still haven't found a hair stylist who could give me a style that I liked! You know what I did in the end: I found a youtube tutorial video and cut my hair myself! :D
ReplyDeleteMy kids use to run when they saw my approaching with sissors in hand, even trimming their bangs was a debacle. I might get desperate enough to try it though.
DeleteI love my stylist. I'd follow him anywhere. If he moved I would find him. Kinda like my gray hair:)
ReplyDeleteI wish you lived in my town!
DeleteOh no! Hair is so precious after you've lost it once! I'm sure you look beautiful no matter what. x
ReplyDeleteThank you Jodie, that is so sweet:)
ReplyDeleteI believe that there are hairdressers out there who don't listen to what you are telling them and go off and make their own creations. Yesterday I got my hair cut, mine too is straight (I used to perm it and have to sit through two doses as it refused to take), I also have a cows's lick in the front and a double crown lick at the back. The assistant actually listened to me, and did exactly what I wanted, a bob that is straight all around, and to my chin (the second chin that is). They are hard to find, and precious when you do. Best of luck the next time.
ReplyDeleteYou have given me new hope that I will find my own Jose Eber (famous for Farrah Fawcett's do):)
ReplyDelete