I’m getting my haircut today
Feb 18, 2008 The Story of My Life
A new expensive cut and color.
Allow me to be shallow for a moment.
I have a lot of grey. A LOT. Like Bride of Frankenstein at my temples — almost pure white. And I’m sick of coloring it because the color doesn’t hold and I like gray hair — especially white gray hair — but growing it out would be a nightmare what with the color on the rest of my hair, roots, etc. So I’m going to see if she can lighten me up enough to grow the gray hair out and just be somewhat blond-ish so that the gray is working for me rather than against me. I don’t know how it’ll go. Usually the hair people talk me out of this and force me into something dark with red undertones. I’m a pinky girl, ready to blush, so sometimes finding color that doesn’t clash with my face when laughing is a challenge. My mom has always liked me blond but the children have a horror of me looking any different than how they found me. (Brett would rather I skip the hair dye altogether, which reminds me that I should tell you all his feelings about women’s shoes sometime so you will know how perfectly matched we are.)
Have I mentioned that I hate getting my hair done? It’s the introvert thing again — chatting with a stranger while they mess with me. Yikes. Also why I don’t like massages, doctor’s appointments or even having someone help me with shoes. I like the results of these things — better looking hair, relaxation, clean bill of health and shoes that fit — but the dread is enough to make me a tad avoidant.
Really I ought to be a hermit. Somewhere where people don’t need haircuts, obviously.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Bring a book, not a magazine, and actually dive in once you’ve discussed what you’re hoping to accomplish. If the stylist is particularly chatty, you can close your eyes during the color or bang-cutting, or whatnot–it’s harder to connect with someone when you can’t see their eyes–it usually cuts down the chatter tremendously.
Have fun, I may need to find a reason to drive by so I can see the new ‘do.’
February 18th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Dawn, I keep wanting to comment on these introvert posts because I am so there with you. But I love having my hair cut, I must say, because I love having someone take care of me. I agree w/Doris Day, though–usually a book will quiet down the chattiest hairdresser. I also find that often my hairdressers are no chattier than I am–once they realize I don’t need to talk, they keep quiet, too, and we are all happy.
Good luck with the cut/color. I’ve recently given in to my gray and I’m pretty happy about it.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I’m with you on all the touchy stuff. Hate massages, doctors, etc. Hairdressers I can handle because I used to be one. If you really don’t want to make small talk, it’s often a relief for a hairdresser. Close your eyes. That works nearly every time. The hairdresser will get the hint that you don’t want to talk and assume you are using this time to rest.
I can’t see myself every going gray. My complexion is all wrong for it. It looks good on my mom, but not my dad and I favor my dad. I’ve been coloring my hair since I was 13. I suspect I will be until I die.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I have that same weird gray temples thing! Right in front of my ears. And I always feels trapped in the chair; I last maybe 10 minutes and then I’m exhausted by the cheerful chat.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Is it done yet? I got mine done on Saturday and was happy to hear you were coming in today.
February 18th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
How did it go? Did you get the lighter color? I’m not really an introvert, although maybe I am a bit with strangers, but I don’t like getting haircuts either. It’s mostly because I never know what I want and I cannot be assertive and tell them what I think of the cut… I hope things went well for you today.
February 19th, 2008 at 12:25 am
I’m curious…is your natural hair color dark w/ gray? I’m just wondering as it’s growing out how the dark will mix w/ the gray AND the lighter color….reason I’m asking is because I’m considering doing the same thing but since my natural hair color (what’s left of it!LOL) is dark brown I’m not picturing how it will grow out w/ the the gray in it …won’t there be a line of demarcation…humm…wondering minds…maybe you can post a picture for the visual conception imparied people like me!LOL
I tried letting my grow out but I’m still at the salt-pepper stage (lots more salt than pepper though) and it bothered EVERYONE else except me. I realize it didn’t look right for me (I’m too pale to carry it well) but I’d figure I’d live w/ it….man…I had strangers telling me how I should run to the salon and get my hair dyed!LOL It wasn’t until I saw a picture and saw my gray glowing in the sunlight that I went back to coloring…I HATE it but they were right… I’m going to wait about 5 yrs before I attempt to let it grow out….still…if I can lighten it like you are and not have to color it as often it would definitely be an improvement…..would love to see the results!
February 19th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Angela - I also have dark brown hair with lots of gray, and I’ve found that highlighting (I do foil highlighting) with a light color allows me to extend the time in between visits to the salon. I actually don’t usually color my hair anymore - I just get highlights and lowlights (essentially a dark-colored highlight to keep my hair from becoming all blonde over time because of the highlighting). Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t live in such a youth-obsessed culture and could just embrace our wrinkles and gray hair?
February 19th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Gloria, this is what she ended up doing to me! Foil highlights but also all-over dye to even out my color (I had a couple different colors on there). Long term plan is to ease into less dye.
February 19th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Gray hair is beautiful! Here is a blog that inspires-
http://www.goinggray.wordpress.com