Hairdresser Theory

Yesterday, I had strange experience at the salon. My hair has not been cut it nearly half a year and it was getting a weird straw-like texture and the ends were being split left and right. I do take care of my hair I use Morrocan oil shampoo, and I use the purple conditioner exactly as it says on the bottle, then I put in some leave-in treatment from Happy Camper. It's just after a while because of the dry climate it gets so dry.

I decided it was time to get a trim, just to cut off the dead ends- a trim meaning I keep my length and don't have much of a change other than refreshed feeling hair. That's all I wanted, and I got a few red flags from this experience.

My usual hair stylist was not available, she was a "new talent" when I last went and then became an advanced new talent", some background on my regular stylist, she had always been interested in hair and took cosmetology in high school, she knew from childhood this is what she wanted to do. Hailey (not her real name) had a few piercings such as eyebrow, septum, medusa. Nothing too crazy, her hair was dyed black and had trendy bangs and had full arm tattoos, clearly, she was a very creative person. This was my regular hairstylist.

Now, back to yesterday I come into the salon, and I was told that Lucy (not real name) would be my hair stylist. Okay, that's fine. She had long hair with strands of blonde and wavy. Her make-up was done in a bit of a weird way she had black eyeliner all around her eyes, but it worked for her. I was given a black robe, and she said to tie it around, but I could not find the other side of the belt to tie it around my waist and instead of helping me find it or passing the other side of belt, she said "oh that's fine". Okay... then why was it given to me? If I don't have to worry about tying it. That was the first red flag. I sat down in the chair, she offered a scalp massage, and I said "sure," it was weird, she just focused on one spot on my head and after a minute it was done (last time with Hailey it was about 8 minutes of greatness). We went to the sink, and she washed my hair asked if the temperature was fine, I said yes because it was warm and just how I like it.

Lucy asked, "how much you want to cut off?" I showed her on my hair.

"About two inches" I said and that was taken into account for any extra hair taken off. I just find that when I ask two inches, it's about usually two and half to three, which is where I like it.

She took me back to the mirror and then she asked me stand to cut my hair. Never in all my hair salon experiences have I been asked to stand to cut my hair.

"Is this a usual thing?" I asked her.

"Well, it's because of your length of hair," she replied.

Really weird because every time I've had long hair at the salon almost every time I have gone. Not once was, I asked to stand for a haircut, but I cut her some slack because she was new.

"How long have you been doing this?" I asked.

"About a year," she replied.

"Did you always want to do this?" I asked her.

"No, my mom made me apply and here I am," she answered.

"Do you enjoy this?" I asked.

"I think it's fine for now," she replied.

This is where I got really nervous...most hair stylists I have met, have passion and drive to be hairdressers. Sure, when I got my hair dyed last, I had a "new talent" who quit his political science degree, but he found out he loved doing it and had so much passion for hair and he took his time. Jordan (not real name) was one of the best hair dyes I have ever had.

Lucy showed me again of where my hair was, I nodded in approval and she began cutting it, asked me to look left and then right, which I was also never asked to do...they usually just go on one side and then the other while I sit. After she was done, she showed me the length and there it was... four and a half inches gone!

"Well, what do you think?" I wanted to cry (it's a good thing hair grows back) and instead I said, "it feels a lot lighter". Not a compliment, but not causing a scene. She had to show her supervisor, and she asked me how I like it while lucy stood there. "It feels really fresh" I said careful once again to not give a real compliment. I left and it was the worst tip I had ever left at any salon. Lucy followed me to the front and gave me her card to follow her on Instagram and I said "I think I will stick with my current stylist, but I will keep you in mind" once again not a full compliment. I wanted her to style my hair in waves much like hers and she just curled it tightly. I sat in my car, and I looked in the mirror. I frowned and told myself to not cry, I held back tears as I drove home.

So, back to the theory I have. When entering the salon, you want the people with tattoos and piercings and hair dyed a crazy or fun color, because those are the people that have a burning passion for their job, for their creativity and take a lot of pride in their work, want to show off and stand out. Those are the people that have tried risky things with their hair. They see their everyday job as hair stylists as artists, not someone who was told by their parents "to go do this". That is the hair stylist you want in your corner. Trust me the more tattoos and piercings and the more creative their hair is, the more likely you will smile and want to come back. I will be asking for Hailey every single time and if she is not available, I will book her on a week that she is.

Do you dear reader agree with this? or do you disagree? Let me know your thoughts.