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Any Haircut Is Better With a Smile
By DSBriggs
My hair is what? Old, graying and instead of wiry, fine. Since I have been retired my hair style is whatever takes no work and usually in need of a trim or cut.
Haircuts, however, are so darned expensive that to save money I used cut-rate clip-joints. I decided to let my hair grow out. It eventually came down to my shoulders. I tried to wear it back with a French braid or bun or even a pony tail. This dream came crashing down when I no longer had the hand strength or coordination to use rubber bands designed for fine hair. Too klutzy to use hair accessories like combs or claws or barrettes, I resorted to clips. My friends were too kind to tell me that really wasn’t working either.
So, I decided to splurge. Go to a real salon that shampoos and styles.
I met the hairdresser. She seemed really nice. When she offered me coffee or tea. I thought, why not? Part of the splurge. She sat me in front of a full-length mirror and left.
Off she went to get my coffee. She was gone so long I thought maybe she had gone to Starbucks. But she re-emerged with a cup. I apologized to her for the hassle of having to brew a fresh pot. (What else could take so long?) She said that the coffee was already made but she had been so busy she hadn’t had time to pee. I could understand that scenario perfectly. She also admitted that her mom had called with an update about her sister who was hospitalized the night before.
We finally settled in for the haircut. We looked at pictures of haircuts because she wanted to make sure we were on the same page. I wanted a long pixie with feathered bangs and some height on top. Several of the styles we looked at were what I had in mind. The only style I did not like was an angular, very short cut with long bangs swept to the side. I specifically said I did not want that type of cut. Hair in my face drives me nuts. She said that she understood and went to work.
I noticed my hair kept getting shorter and shorter as she talked about her sister. Since it was in the back I wasn’t too concerned as inches came off and hair piled up around the chair.
It wasn’t until the sides started disappearing that I commented that it was a bit short. After the fact was a stupid time to point that out. I was still hopeful my bangs would be okay. No. She cut my hair exactly like the picture I did not like. Heavy glop of hair over one eye.
The dastardly deed was done. I paid and over-tipped because while I was disappointed, I didn’t want to make her feel worse since her family was in melt-down.
As I write, I’m wondering if my lack of communication with the hairdresser and my doctor the day before was my fault? I used to pride myself on explaining so clearly that people understood. When had I lost that ability? Have I lost it or is the world so crazy now that people do not listen carefully? I certainly can’t listen to the news at all. If I listened carefully, I would just want to get on an iceberg and float away.
So while I sort of have forgiven the hair cutter, I have not forgiven myself for allowing her to ignore my wishes.
Ironically, I have received many compliments. I have also been reminded that:
Hair grows back and any haircut is better with a smile.
DSBriggs and her hair live in Northern California. She has been writing with timed prompts for over ten years. Her writing has been published in Marlene Cullen’s The Write Spot Anthologies. The books are available through Amazon and your local bookseller.
When not writing, Donna enjoys reading, thinking about quilting, and walks with Moose, her 12 and a half year old hound. She also enjoys travel and time with good friends.
