My last hair cut was a cut/color combo. It didn't go horribly but the fact that it's only been two months and already my hair needs to be cut again tells me something. Usually I go six months. She also managed to get two different color dyes in my hair (not on purpose) one of which was too dark for my complexion and she ended with putting something in my hair (probably hair spray) that made it so sticky that I couldn't even run my hands through my hair to get rid of the part she put down the middle.
The last two weeks my hair has been refusing to cooperate in the slightest, so I knew I needed to do something about it. I didn't want to go to the last lady and I was really nervous about trying some one new (we all know how that goes). There's a lady about a half hour south of here that generally does a good job but I really didn't feel like making the drive, especially now that I've got a miserable cold and I'm trying to get packed for the big move.
So I chose going to someone new. But I had a plan. I would go in with specific instructions. Merely saying "the layers need to be freshened up" is not specific enough. I realize that most stylists like to express themselves and showcase their talents, but that would not be happening on my head, not today, no ma'am.
The stylist (we shall call her Michelle) noticed me looking through a book of hair styles that I had settled down with being as I was 15 minutes early. "Did you find a style you like?" Oh boy. "Oh, no. I was just browsing, I already know what I want".
So we went back, got all tucked into my cape and discussed what needed to be done. I told her I wasn't looking to go shorter and the big problem here is mostly with the layers. I need 1 to 1.5 inches taken off the overall length and the shortest layer should be no shorter than shoulder length. She clarified by pulling my hair to my upper arms and asked "You mean shoulders here, or shoulders here" and rested her hands on top of my shoulders. Right, see now we're communicating and being specific. I put my hands on top of my shoulders. "Shoulders here. Also, my hair is really curly in the back but totally straight on the sides. The curls relax as my hair dries and flatten out (I'm now seeing where this conversation took a wrong turn). Usually I wear it straight."
We got my hair washed and went to cutting the hair. I could already tell I was not in love with the way she was cutting my layers. I've noticed there are two types of layer-cutters. One will leave all your hair down and grab at sections, lifting them up above your head and cutting them at an angle. I suppose that's a perfectly acceptable way to go, but that's not how my hair looks best and I'm just now beginning to realize this. The other way to cut layers is to separate hair into how it falls off your head, cutting the longest layer first, releasing and cutting the next layer, then the next and so on. It layers beautifully and grows out well. The first technique layers ok but does not grow out well.
After cutting, she grabbed what looked like mousse and put it in my hair. Damn-it, she's going for the curls. This is another thing that my stylist in San Diego has never done to me. Why do some stylists do this? Did I go in with curly hair? No. Well then unless I specifically ask for it, then it probably means I do not want to leave with curly hair.
As I watched myself in the mirror and she fluffed my hair and dried it, I got a little irritated. Let it go, it's just style, you can wash it out when you get home. I thought about running home to shower before I went to the store, but decided to go ahead and see how I liked the unruly curly look (never mind the fact that the reason I went to cut my hair in the first place was because it had turned unruly). And just so you know, I sometimes like the unruly curly look. It can be cute and sexy. Sometimes I even like it on me, but mostly I like it on other people.
So here's what it looked like when I got home. Mind you, I am sick and don't look so fantastic at the moment, and the pictures are lacking in quality.
The only actual curling that she did to my hair was two chunks in the front that don't curl naturally. Now, I haven't seen the movie, but it reminds me of the girl in "Brave". Crazy curly red hair. Maybe after a day of surfing, not this day.
When I got home I washed and dried it. Usually I let it dry on it's own and comb it as it dries so that the curls will flatten out, but for the purpose of this blog I decided to actually do my hair.
So the two photos above are after just drying it. It doesn't look bad at all and if for whatever reason I dried my hair one day, I would just stop there. It's still a little poufy though and would need to be tied back.
Then I took a straightening iron to it which I normally reserve for special occasions. It doesn't change it much but takes the pouf out of it so I feel comfortable leaving it down. As I straighten it, I give it a slight curl at the end.
See that? Simple. Maybe that's the problem. I don't think stylists want their clients to leave with a "simple" do. But I am not incredibly concerned with how other people like my hair to look. I am however, very concerned with how I want my hair to look.
When I move to San Jose I'm either going to have to find a new stylist or only get my hair cut when I go to San Diego. I might just wait until I'm in San Diego. Looking at the layers that are in it now, I can forsee a haircut in the next few months. This one won't last 6 that's for sure.
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