Beauty Shop

Around 2 weeks before Christmas I had made an appointment to have my hair touched up and cut.

One minor hitch. My Hairdresser is on disability.

She was taking one her world trips to Vietnam and Cambodia. She fell getting into the tub in her hotel the FIRST night and broke her leg. She had to have surgery in Ho Chi Min City ( or whatever it's called now) and she was sent home to the US within a week.

However she was unable to work because she was unable to stand. So from September until January she was out.

Now I know EVERYONE in this place. I have been going there for 10 years. My Hairdresser and the receptionist/manager I have known since the age of 12 and I attended HS with the Owner who also holds a chair. My stepdad gets his hairs cut there by the owner, I get my nails, toes, waxing, eyelash tinting and curling, facials and of course the requisite hair, done at this salon.

I am as well known to them as they are to me. I celebrate a birthday with one of the Shampoo girls and we always get a cake that says "Itch" because that means B"itch" without the B.

So we are all close.

Erin is new there. Comparatively. But Erin is related to Olga who is also a patron of this shop. She also was married to my stepdad's best friend who passed away about 5 years ago.

Erin has a stellar reputation. I have never seen anything that she has done come to badly. So she was my final consultation and she got the temp gig till Marianne comes back.

My hair is highlighted. She did a GORGEOUS job with it. I wanted a touch up but she did a Full head of foils. The price difference of 40 dollars vs 150. I couldn't complain - it was stunning.

Then she did the cut. It was the first time in my adult life that I did not have to haggle for length. Ever.

I kind of missed it.

Normally when Marianne knows I have an appointment, she stops by the nail station where I get my nails done and "inspects" my hair.

"6 inches." She announces Regally.
"1 inch" I counter
"5 Inches" clucking under her breath
"1 inch?" I beg
"4 final offer" She states
"We'll see when we get to the appointment" I say, buying more time to either make my piece with the 6 inches she's taking whether I like it or not or justification for why I can't have it that short.

This conversation will continue along this vein until the actual appointment.

I should mention that her version of an inch is different from the average persons. I agree to 6 inches, I might as well shave my head. Hence the repetitive conversation.

So, when Erin cut my hair without argument or complaint - it was a little bit unnerving at first.

I loved it though - my hair looked good. It didn't have that special flourish that Mar gives it, but she did a nice job.

And We all swore a solemn oath that Marianne was to NEVER hear of that day.

And she hasn't noticed either....yet

But I have another appointment next week....