My favorite genre of books as always been adventure books--
biographies about mountain climbers, stories of survival in the woods, memoirs
of globetrotters. Currently on my night stand is a book about a gal who
walked across Asia from Siberia to Thailand and then onto Australia over the
course of 3 years. I just started another about a guy who was trekking
throughout the Himalaya range. Oh the tales of adventure. But
adventure comes in all shapes and sizes.
My big adventure this week was getting my hair cut. I
have never liked taking the time to get my hair cut and since moving away from
home I haven't found someone "permanent" to cut my hair. Since
graduating from high school 10 years ago I have had my hair cut professionally
twice. Once when a friend and I were informed by a roommate that we
needed to step out of our comfort zones and get our hair styled. The
other time was for a trim before my wedding.
My mother, jack of all trades, has been talked into cutting my hair most
of the time and does a great job. Since
getting married 3 years ago I really haven’t gotten my hair cut other than Mom
doing a trim here or there. The result
has been hair that is longer than I have ever had it before. Most people at work rave about it but over
the past few months it has gotten long enough and enough of a hassle in the
heat that something had to change.
Another piece of this story is that I have always been
interested in donating my hair to make wigs for cancer patients. This has been a type of a bucket list item. This time my hair was finally long enough and
it would have been a shame to let all this long, thick hair go to waste so I
should share the hair that I am tried of with someone who desperately needs
hair. Pantene has a program called
Beautiful Lengths which takes donated hair and funds to create wigs free of
charge for women dealing with cancer.
For about 2 months I have been talking about scheduling an
appointment and had the phone number sitting on my desk but I kept putting it
off. Adventure is defined as a
bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous
action of uncertain outcome. This is exactly how I was feeling about haircut. I finally called and they could get me in the
next day so I wouldn’t get cold feet. I
also decided I needed to do some “Pinterest research” to know what I wanted so
I didn’t get talked into some crazy style in the heat of the moment with rash
decision making.
The salon was next
door to a tattoo parlor and I would guess that the stylists are fairly frequent
visitors next door with several tattoos a piece. The salon was decorated with vintage pinups,
bright lime green paint, and leopard print accents. Very different from the hair salons I had
frequented in rural Kansas that were usually in an older church lady’s
basement. The stylist I have an
appointment with is working with a client who is having an intricate design
shaved on the back of her head. My
stylist is sporting jet black hair with purple, pink, and blue highlights that
is shaved fairly short on one side. It
is a style that looks fairly low maintenance which is what I want but I am
hoping for something a little less edgy.
While I am waiting my heartbeat returns for normal and I realize that I
won’t bolt out the door. I settle in and
start to enjoy the back and forth banter of the salon.
It’s finally my turn and
my stylist welcomes me over to the chair.
We discuss that I would like to donate my hair and I show her the
picture of the very subdued bob style that I am hoping for as the end
result. She starts braiding my hair and
then chops off the two braids that will be donated—10 inches in length. Instantly my hair feels lighter and I like
it. Then she comments, “Oh my goodness,
you have the perfect neck for this cut.
This will be awesome.” I’m not sure what qualities about my neck are so
great but the compliment puts me at ease.
We talk about her kids, my work, and then I ask her what she likes best
about being a stylist. “My favorite
thing is when people come in and want to try something crazy—a new color, cool
designs, or- like you- getting it all chopped off.” I had no idea I would fall into the client
who wants to try something crazy category.
This is what I was trying to avoid but it’s kind of fun to step out on a
limb once in a while.
I love my new cut. It isn’t hot and sticky in the summer heat
when I work out. It dries quickly after
a swim. It may take all of 30 seconds do
my hair in the morning. I have gotten
rave reviews from co-workers and clients.
The only nay-sayer has been my three year old niece who told me that I have
to have long hair to be a princess. I’m
not sure she has seen the movie Tangled yet but Rapunzel isn’t less of a
princess after her haircut. And Rapunzel
and I are sporting basically the same cut now. And I already found my prince charming (Arthur). Omnia Vincit Amor.
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