My regular hair stylist moved to a new salon, and I didn't want to make the drive, so I just let my hair go for awhile. I followed your advice, bought small scissors and trimmed my own bangs. You were right -- it's not that hard. The bangs were looking good, but I was in need of an overall trim. I asked Stylish Young Co-worker where she was going these days, and she gave me the name of a salon close to my house.
I didn't ask for anyone by name because I just wanted the ends snipped. I figured anybody at a decent salon could do that. Don't panic. She did a really good job, but I'm not sure I'll go back. I guess it's my ego, but I thought for $38 and 10 minutes of work, she could have at least said something nice about my hair.
Is that too much to expect? Seriously, am I being childish? I started off by telling her I was growing my hair and just needed a trim. Just the ends. I said she could shape the bangs a bit, too. I asked that she please never use texturizing scissors on me, and she agreed they would be bad for my hair. Texturizing scissors are the little dudes that look like they're cutting off a huge chunk of hair but in reality they're just doing -- oh, I don't know. Something. Anyway, on me, those scissors spell frizz.
As she was cutting, I said I wanted my hair to grow a few more inches. She said nothing. I said this was the longest my hair has been since college, and she said, "Really?" in a way that expressed anything but interest. I said yes, I mostly wore my hair short, but when I decided to embrace my gray, I eventually concluded long would be fun to try. She said nothing.
I noticed two other women with short gray hair. One was just leaving as I arrived, and one was getting cut while I was in the chair. They were both attended to by an older man with white hair. I just got the feeling he was the guy for old ladies, and she was somehow cheated by getting me. She never commented on the color, which I thought was at least deserving of a modest amount of praise.
My hair is on the fine side, but I have a lot of it and plenty of body. Still, one of my former stylists was against long because she said I didn't have thick enough hair. I think I've proved her wrong. Fine hair has its own beauty. Thick is not the benchmark. I thought maybe this new stylist hated hair with my texture worn long or maybe she hated my hair gray and long.
Aside from agreeing with me about the scissors, she said I did a good job on my bangs. Thank you for pushing me to try. She also agreed with me that I don't need product. I don't know. I'm starting to like her now that I think about it. Still, it's hard to put my finger on it, but I didn't feel welcome. Perhaps I am making this all about me, and as it turns out, she just isn't a talker. Or she was having a bad day. I can be a little neurotic, but I mean, it's a hair salon, right? We talk about hair?
I wonder if there are "young" salons or just salons that aren't into the undyed. Sometimes it seems like most salons and stylists are in the business of making you feel inadequate without fresh color. What I need is a gray-friendly salon, if there is such a thing. What has been your experience?
