Last fall, I was fortunate to win a free makeover at a salon in the smaller city I work in. This is a brief description of that experience and I hope you'll enjoy it.
Please know I do feel lucky that they were willing to work on my hair. It seemed like a fair trade off, before and after photos for their website, in exchange for them to do the cut and color they wanted on me. Any person who is interested in hair color should get the experience of a professional hair color at least once in their life.
However, some of what was said during the course of this seemed very strange and foreign to me. The hair stylist asked how I generally styled my hair. I explained that I usually let it air dry. When pressed, I did mention my reasons are for it to be better for my hair (as a couple of other hair stylists in the past have told me my hair was in great condition, because I air dry it), as well as better for the environment (using the electricity, etc.).
The stylist became very animated when she explained to me that using the hair dryer was very good for my hair, as long as I used a lot of "product." She further lectured that if I wanted to have my hair look different, that I had better change my ways and use a hair dryer.
Some before photos were taken, then the stylist took some time figuring out the tones for my hair color. She was very efficient in folding my hair into the foils and we chatted a bit about family. As I sat waiting for the color to take, I read a magazine while she cut another customer's hair.
When the color was done, she washed my hair and gave my scalp a vigorous scalp massage. I had a small break to sit up when she swept up hair off of the floor and she made the comment (like she thought she was reading my mind): "Why can't I have some of that hair?"
My hair rinsed and towel dried, she then waxed my brows. She plucked quite a few after waxing and I was starting to worry that I would look like my mom and her friends did in the 1970s, when they all plucked their eye brows out and drew on their eyebrows every day with pencil.
My hair was combed out and the color was very nice, with lowlights and some lighter blonde streaks. She put 2 or 3 'products' in my hair. The stylist cut my hair a small amount and layered it a bit. She then proceeded to instruct me on how I would have to use a medium (for a giant) round brush in a specific fashion with the hair dryer to get the correct Stepford wife look. While she was drying my hair, due to the heat of the hair dryer, her necklace started to burn her skin, so she had to move it a couple of times on her neck. She then ratted (wait, it's called "back-combing") my hair to give it volume with a $5 brush that everyone is so happy with when they buy.
When drying was complete, she sprayed 1 hair spray on and then applied a special 'product' that makes your hair look dirty without it actually being dirty. [I would rather have the fun in being dirty to get my hair looking that way, but that's another story for another time.]
Finally was the time for the makeup. She spent at least 20 minutes working on my eyes. She had several layers of colors – purple and brown (ok, purple did match my shirt and with my brown eyes, yes it is a good color), black pencil liner under, mascara. As she was performing this procedure, I glanced at the mirror occasionally, and was reminded of Ozzy Osborne's stage makeup. She layered some foundation on my face and blush on my cheeks. She did not apply anything on my lips (maybe that is a new "rule" for us over 40). When she was done, I looked like a drag queen (not that there is anything with how a drag queen look, it's just not the look I like for me).
The after photos were taken, we shook hands, and I thanked her for her work. Yes, I know she put a lot of time and thought into what she did. I am grateful for this experience. It made me realize some important things.
At the relatively young age of 42, I feel I know what does suit me, as a woman, office worker, etc. I understand that she is there to try to promote her work and her "products." I temporarily felt displeased that she uses such tone and attitude to a new potential customer. In a way, she took what should have been a fun experience and made it unpleasant. Fortunately, I tend to see the humor in these experiences soon afterwards.
More importantly, I have deep concern for her younger customers. Those young women would believe this 'professional' in that they are not beautiful unless they follow her narrowly defined rules of beauty. This type of attitude is part of what is wrong in our society. Women are made to feel less than, unless they fit into this narrowly defined sculptured look.
So, am I buying a round brush and finding my hair dryer? Umm, no.
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