My Shopping List: Shoes, Dress, and a Hairdresser

Change is a funny thing. When seasons change, so docan give you a complimentary makeover consultation."
people and their way of thinking. For some of us it canShe laughed and we said goodbye.
be scary and for others a welcomed challenge. A fewAs she walked away, I had to laugh to myself
of us will throw out clothes we have not worn inbecause I had also experienced a bad hairstylist. I was
years. Others will throw away old shoes, handbags,an unsuspecting consumer who drifted into the
jewelry, hats and belts only to refill their closets with aBunches of Hair beauty salon in midtown. (I changed
shopping trip. Shopping is the ultimate change for athe salon name to protect the innocent.) This place will
shopaholic. However, there are some of us who willdefinitely have you drifting in by the fabulous hair
shop for the ultimate change... a haircut. Whether it is aphotos covering the wide framed window. The stylists
two-inch cut or a 10-inch cut, you better be sure toare dressed to impress in pink and purple. Everyone's
shop for a person who knows exactly what he/she ishair was whipped to perfection. "Come on in, sit in the
doing. I never thought that one must also shop for achair and would you like a cup of tea?" said the stylist
hairstylist in the same way that we shop for thein the pink and purple smock. "Oooh girl, I am
perfect dress or pair of shoes. After I saw myimpressed." I thought to myself as I told the stylist that I
neighbor's hair, I have changed my thought process.would like finger waves. She said, "Yes ma'am." I
My neighbor went to her hairdresser to get all of herwalked over to the sink where not only did I get my
hair cut off.. Onlookers gasped at the thought ofhair washed, but my blouse and legs got a soaking too.
cutting it all off. You could hear sighs of pain fromWater was everywhere. She scrubbed my scalp so
other clients as the clipped hair fell to the floor. Thehard that I got a headache. I guess she thought she
hairstylist cut, snipped and dismissed her from the chair.was giving me a good head massage. She almost
AAHHHH! I thought to myself. Is she going to shape itbroke my neck. Back in the chair, she proceeded to
up or comb it or something? Immediately I started todump almost an entire jar of gel on my head that
think of the scene from the movie, Waiting to Exhaleresembled orange bees wax. Carefully, she sculptured
when Angela Bassetts' character was depressed andeach row to resemble a sea of beautiful water
upset about the breakup of her marriage. She sat inwaves. As she finished, I glanced in the mirror only to
front of the mirror and just started cutting away at herspot clumps of orange goop. Three hours later... (That's
hair. The way she cut it, you would not believe she hadanother story) my masterpiece was finished. She
a mirror. I saw my neighbor walking towards me and Islowly unwrapped the net from my head. The moment
could not believe she did it. She looked like aof truth has arrived. Ahahhh. Ahahhhhh Ahhhahh. I
depressed, tired old maid. (Translation... Someone whocouldn't stop screaming. I spent all day at the salon and
does not have anyone to love and/or is not happyall I have to show for it is a matted mess. Now the
with her life.) Her earrings were small, simple and plain.orange goop had got deep in color and hardened into
The dark circles under her eyes complimented by hera wax sculpture around my hair. "I am not going
uneven skin tone made her look like she never ownedoutside like this!" I said. LOOK AT MY HAIR! LOOK AT
a mirror. A hairstylist is supposed to make you feel likeIT! By the way, I do not like unisex salons. There were
a new woman. The same way a new dress or pair ofsome nice looking men getting a haircut and they
shoes makes you feel. She looked horrible. Somethingwitnessed the entire episode. How embarrassing. The
in my mind kept saying, "Don't you say anything to hurtstylist apologized a thousand times and marched me
her feelings; be quiet." Now you know I could not beback over to the sink where she used a hammer to
quiet, however, I did choose my words wisely. I began,chisel the orange sculpture from my hair. Well, it was
"Wow, you cut off all your hair! You have a goodnot a hammer but that's how I felt. I ended walking out
shaped head for such a style. Now you need to go toof there with a pigtail. You heard me, a pigtail. It is a
the barber and let him give your style some shape. Istyle here you get just enough hair for the rubber band
know a place where you can get some fabulousto catch hold. I will never go in any salon without getting
earrings to accent your style too." She said, "I haveat least two referrals and a hair police report.
earrings, but the people on my job don't get all dressedThe next time you are shopping in the mall and pass
up." I said, "Forget the people on your job, what aboutthe local hair salon, just take a peak inside to see what
going to and coming back from work. You neveris going on. Ask the clients for a referral and keep it in
know who you will meet with your new look." Then Iyour shopping file just in case you should ever need it.
said, "It was meant for you to see me today so that I