I'd rather have to find a new husband [Archive]

Florence

8-5-11, 10:23am

iris lily

8-5-11, 10:29am

I think I would rather have to find a new husband than a new hairdresser. It’s like going on a blind date in which if things go badly, you can’t just walk away—the bad date lingers on for months. Which is why even though we moved almost 8 years ago, I have been driving 60 miles round trip each month to the old salon. It was fairly reasonably when I was still working because I could stop by on my way in to work but now that I have retired, I really need to find a new haircutter. I can’t put it off any longer so next week I take the plunge. Ack!! :(

This is the single reason why I've not gone to age appropriate short hair. I just cannot see making hair cut appointments, keeping them, etc. So instead I hack on my own shoulder length hair and then wear it up in a clip most of the time. I am toying with the idea of getting one professional haircut that is layered and short, and then seeing if DH can maintain it.

ctg492

8-5-11, 10:33am

Oh I know.
I moved two years ago here. Biking by a place one I took a chance and pulled in, made an appointment and to my surprise best cut and style I have ever had.....now the bad part the young lady is 24 and no manners/grace ect. It was like being around a very young non stop taking kid. She even put deodorant on in front of me, she was Hot she said. I went a few times and loved the styles, but my guess is her parents set her up in the shop so they did not have to deal with her non stop babbling at home! I have now been through a few places, I may have to put up with the babbling. Or go back to trimming and highlighting my own again.

JaneV2.0

8-5-11, 11:29am

"So instead I hack on my own shoulder length hair and then wear it up in a clip most of the time."

I've long suspected we were separated at birth...

herbgeek

8-5-11, 11:44am

I "fired" my long time hairdresser last year and have yet to find a new "home", although I have my first appointment with my husband's haircutter this afternoon.

Loved my old hairdresser's personality, but when I told her I wanted to grow out my hair, she would shake her head and tell me it wouldn't look good on me. When I said, but that's what I want, she'd smile and nod but then hack off at least an inch so it would never grow out. Even when I brought in pictures of cuts I'd like, she's still give me the same pageboy style haircut. Plus, she kept telling me she didn't like the way I colored my hair, ostensibly so I'd have her do it, but I had seen a number of her clients and the end result was anything but subtle (ie jet black hair on a 90 year old man, or that fake platinum blonde on someone else). I finally had enough.

When I did start going other places, I felt sort of guilty like I was cheating somehow. LOL.

Florence

8-5-11, 11:50am

When I did start going other places, I felt sort of guilty like I was cheating somehow. LOL.

Yup. I feel like I am engaging in an adulterous affair.

goldensmom

8-5-11, 11:58am

When I did start going other places, I felt sort of guilty like I was cheating somehow. LOL.

I also feel like I'm cheating or being disloyal when I change hairdressers. I've even avoided an old hairdresser for fear of her asking why I 'left her'. I trim my hair between cuttings and used to get chastised by my hairdresser until I realized it's my hair to do with as I wish. I'd rather go to the dentist than get my haircut.

I try to think of it like this, hairdressing is a service, I can choose who I go to just like I can choose where I get my car serviced and I need not give a reason to anyone, it's MY hair.

freein05

8-5-11, 12:21pm

From the mans point of view. We got a real Barber in our town last year. He is semi-retired and only cuts men's hair. What a relief before he opened his shop I would have to go to a beauty shop for a hair cut and run into all of the things mentioned above.

He even has a red and white Barbers Poll in front of his shop. He has newspapers to read and hot coffee. Getting a hair cut is like is was 20 years ago for us old guys.

pinkytoe

8-5-11, 12:58pm

I am headed off to Super Cuts shortly to get a trim. For the past six months, I have gone to various stylists thinking that if I spent more money, I would get a superior cut. Not true at all...the Vietnamese lady at Supercuts does a fine job on my short layered hair - for $13. ne of my most recent mistakes was to get a recommendation from a neighbor whose hair I liked. I made an appt without checking the cost since I figured it couldn't be more than $45-50 and just about fell over when she said $70 - for a haircut?

Spartana

8-5-11, 1:41pm

This is the single reason why I've not gone to age appropriate short hair.

This is the single reason why I've gone to age-INappropiate long hair - never needs cutting! And when it does I can get sis to give it a trim or even cut it myself. I have never even been to a salon in my entire life! Hope that never changes :-)!

loosechickens

8-5-11, 2:22pm

This always seems SO funny to me, because in nineteen years of living as nomads, and having my hair cut, etc., in probably 40 states and a dozen countries, it just seems like SUCH a nonissue. Although I've met plenty of women who consider it so important that it interferes with their ability to travel.

Once you've experienced everything from getting a perm in a shop with no running water, a stylist who carries the water to wash your hair in a bucket from the well down the street, heats it up with a little immersion heater, and then scoops it onto your hair with a little bowl, or getting a perm from two giggling teenaged girls who speak no English and who need to read the directions and discuss the process before starting (boy, THAT time was a disaster), to getting your hair cut by a huge, tattooed (homemade prison type tattoos) Indian guy that turns out to be the best haircut you ever got in your life, and for several months all you have to do is shake your head and every hair falls into place........what can faze you in the hair department?

Hair disasters are temporary, no matter how bad they are.........the problem will take care of itself in weeks or at worst months. Now, a bad husband? THEY can take a lifetime to get over.

Mighty Frugal

8-5-11, 2:53pm

I'm a serial monogamist when it comes to hair salons. I am constantly searching for 'The One'. and have yet to find him/her. Occasionally I fall in love enough to stay for a year or two. Bragging to friends about how awesome he is...how wonderfully he cuts...how he knows everything about my hair...oh how we laughed!

But then after a year he'll forget my name...or tug at my hair as he combs it out....or leave me hanging as he gushes with an older client....for whatever reason I know it's over. I don't write him a 'Dear John' letter, I talk with him cheerfully, smile and nod all the while knowing I will not be back.

Then, single again, I'm on the prowl. Trolling storefronts looking for a salon's signage that speaks to me. Asking friends who does their hair....waiting for a coupon on 'Groupon'..any means possible to find my next true love.

I need to go again in September and after staying true for almost a year in a salon I am leaving her as well (parking is a pain, it's too squishy in there and they charge a tad too much)

I'm the Liz Taylor of hair salons

Mrs-M

8-6-11, 8:57pm

I can definitely relate. LMAO! When my oldest daughter was still at the crawling stage a neighbour of ours ran an out-of-home hairdressing/beauty salon/shop out of her home. She lived two blocks away and did an awesome job on my hair every single time! The best personal service one could ever ask for. No driving to town to have it done, just gather up kids, take a quick 5 minute walk, sit down, have my hair done, and back home again. Simplicity and frugality at it's best!

I was sooo bummed when she moved. I went to her for many years and with her having small kids of her own, it allowed for great playtime for the kids. But, I found another excellent hairdresser about 12 years ago who is super and although the salon is a bit out of the way and isn't fancy, she does a great job (every time).

pony mom

8-6-11, 9:57pm

Mighty Frugal, your post sounds a bit like a movie from the 70s.

As far as cheating on your stylist, I work with a bunch of them and they all say they don't mind, even if you go to someone else at the same place.

When I moved to another county I would still drive 50 miles to my old stylist, even though I can get my haircut for free at work. Finally the drive was too much and now I'm happy with my coworkers' work. There is one I prefer over the others, so for now I'm telling everyone that I'll try someone else when I try a new style.

Sissy

8-6-11, 11:44pm

every once in a while I go into the mode of letting my hair grow out and just wearing it up most of the time. Then I won't have to worry about a bad interpretation of the 'do that I really want. The problem is that long hair makes me look old (don't need any help, thank you!) So that in-between stage is a killer and my hair grows pretty slowly. I always cave and get it cut.

I do have a semi-regular hairdresser, but it is usually months in between cuts.

Hair cutting is traumatic for me, :|(

Florence

8-7-11, 12:51pm

Next Wednesday is D-Day. I have offered my libations to the gods and accepted my fate...:(

razz

8-7-11, 1:28pm

Well, I have had the same hair dresser for about 5-6 years at $15 which included the tip. My hair is fine and so straight and never seemed to fall right as some other stylists had been able to accomplish in earlier years.
Last week, I finally broke down and got a nice young woman who used to live near me before she became a hairstylist and she did a really nice job. Her cutting technique was quite unusual but my hair is following the curve of my head as I have wanted for years.
Cost was $40 including the tip so I will just go fewer times and keep her - until she has her baby in December, LOL. Figures!

Shari

8-9-11, 5:47am

I went to a new hairdresser this weekend - SO not a good idea. However, she also offers other costmetic services that I wish to continue to go to so it will be awkward.

jania

8-9-11, 11:49am

Thanks so much Florence, I always wondered if I was the only one. Years ago I traveled over 100 miles to go back to my old hair stylist and I did that for several years. I have been seeing the same stylist now for 10 years and really want to make a change as I am so hating the hip, loud and non-relaxing atmosphere of the salon he works at. I only get my hair cut twice a year anymore as I keep it simple, a little longer than shoulder length but I find a great hair cut is what keeps it looking good with so many months in-between (yes, I guess I am a hair-cut snob).

I would really like to find a salon that is quiet, serene, with lots of wood and plants and soft music, rather than loud, full of chrome and hectic feeling.

Good luck with the new person Florence....I'm sure I'll be calling my guy soon and just clenching my teeth about the atmosphere, but at least I know I'll like my cut.

Spartana

8-9-11, 12:42pm

After reading all the stories I think maybe I'm glad I never had my hair "done" even though I've been thinking of doing something to it. Still have the same "Stevie Nicks" hair (long, straight blonde with bangs) I probably had since I was 6 or so. Looks great and is super easy but it not exactly stylish. But then it looks great on her and she's at least 10 years older then me so maybe long hair and bangs are OK for us "older" women :-)!

shadowmoss

8-9-11, 3:15pm

Here in Honduras (where I live but don't speak Spanish) I have the option of the barbers on post who sort of speak English or going out on the economy. I have waist-length hair, and all I want is to have it trimmed to the same length all around, taking about 3-4" off each time (about every 6 months/once a year). I've seen what the barbers here do to the guys, and I haven't had the courage to even attempt that. I did go to a salon in the Capital in December, and one woman spoke English a bit. I thought I had what I needed done communicated, and the cut wasn't bad. However I have strange lengths now when I braid it. Oh, and my asking her to braid it afterwards (because it was wet, and that much wet hair is difficult to deal with out in public) I ended up with a detailed application of conditioner instead. Oh, well.

And, yes, long hair looks FABULOUS on us older women. :)

frugal-one

8-9-11, 6:04pm

I just went today and had my hair cut. It is "wash and wear" and I LOVE it! The gal I go to is the ONLY one I have found that cuts my hair properly. I get up in the morning and can just run my fingers through my hair and it looks great! As LC said ... all hairs just fall into place. Awesome!