Wash and Go Hair

This is my absolute favorite pronouncement!  I frequently find it difficult to address this with a straight face.  It happens to be very popular not with those who actually possess hair that might be even close to being able to achieve the "wash and go" look, for instance, those with a perfect spiral curl, which again, very very few of! No no my friends, this is requested from those with the most challenging, most often poker straight, fine, desperately in need of a myriad of styling tools, products and ample amounts of time.  Now, lest you think I am being judgmental, my own family members can be accused of living in this fantasy world.   When I was a young, naive stylist I would actually try to entertain these delusions with my own delusion that I could actually create this much the sought after coiff!  This rarely, ok, never happened and was usually brought to my attention at the next appointment where I would assure said client that this next one would be the magical style!  Not so much.  Now that I am a seasoned, ie. older and wiser stylist, I confront this dilemma immediately with the sage advice that this will never happen!  I don't care what kind of hair you have, even those with curly hair have to spend a certain amount of time arranging, applying product and gently coaxing those curls into place.  Super models don't wake up with "wash and go" hair!  Although being stunningly beautiful would definitely detract from the less than stellar locks! Perhaps this oft repeated phrase should be replaced with the more accurate "I would like to appear as if I do not own a hair dryer, styling products or have access to a mirror"!  There, I feel better.

Time Warp

Every hairstylist is familiar with the dreaded time warp.  This is a phenomenon wherein we are able to pinpoint  an individual's glory days simply by the hairstyle being currently (and most likely for the past 20 to 50 years) sported.  Let's face it, a year pop's into our heads as soon as we spot a client in the reception area more times than not!  This would not be such a perplexing issue if it were easily solved.  We all know that is not the case.  When trying to bring a new, or even a longtime client into the current decade we face dramatics that could win Oscar Awards many times over.  If you are lucky enough to bring a client out of the 70's or 80's or whichever decade they are stubbornly clinging to life for, you face the very likely reality of recidivism!  After hours of encouragement and your marvelous talent,  they emerge with an amazing, current update, armed with relevant products for which to style, styling lessons and encouragement and compliments galore which you have arranged from all present in the salon only to have them reappear in your chair 6 weeks later back in the time warp!  Why, why, why do we cling so desperately to the hairstyle we had in our prime?  I must admit, this is not an issue known only to women.  Men have a tendency to face male-pattern baldness head on by none other than comb-overs, horse-shoe ponytails, and my favorite proclamation of "I'm growing it out"! I don't think any of us are immune however, even as a hairstylist I will be the first to say that I have had some scary regressive urges myself!  I will not admit to which era I came of age in, let's just say that after having my tresses beautifully straightened with an iron by one of my younger co-workers, I have had the most bizarre urge to grab my teasing comb and go to town!  I guess we must all tread lightly into that very sensitive arena of aging.  I guess we never completely let go of that time in our lives when we were young, beautiful and with full heads of gorgeous hair.  It's a reminder of a time in our life when things were perhaps much more carefree and fun.  Before life was....well life!

What Is On My Mind Today! CEU's!

Like most of you,  I am looking for classes at the last minute to get my CEU hours before September!  Every two years I vow that I will take classes all throughout the two year time span.  I plan for all the fabulous,  different classes I will take enabling me to perform the most up to date and cutting edge cuts and colors and somehow my intentions don't match up with life.  Sometime around July I start my search for the perfect class, I get excited, show up and proceed to watch cuts and colors that require five assistants and hours of time to complete in their entirety! Why is this?  I don't have an assistant, I venture to guess that most small salons do not, nor do I have the hours of time to complete these herculean processes.  Is it just me?  I would love to show up and learn a fresh new take on an old classic or the latest low-maintenance style making the rounds.   Maybe this year will be different, I can hope right!  Well you all will be the first to hear how this round goes.  Your thoughts?            C

Intro

This blog is in existence for the purpose of creating a community of Main Street Hair Stylists.  For sharing thoughts, ideas, stories and general musings of life in not just a small salon,  but your every day salon in any average town scattered throughout the USA!  We are not high end East or West coast salons, we are however, the majority and we have many stories to tell.  I look forward to this journey and the meeting of many hilarious minds :)