A Visit to the Hairdressers

I have a complete love-hate relationship with the hairdressers.  The love is owing to the fact that it can be a magical place, with the ability to transform both your hair and your outlook.  The hate however is not so obvious.  It’s not so much about the potential for a bad haircut, which albeit can bring you down as much as the right haircut can lift your spirits; it’s the process.  I consider myself a fairly confident person, but there’s something about the strange world of the hairdressers which immediately deflates my spirits.  On a recent trip to the hairdressers I began to contemplate what exactly creates this unease and came to the conclusion there is no single thing but it’s due to a whole series of events that occur.

From the moment you enter, the bright lights engulf you, leaving you feeling slightly dazed before you haven even taken your coat off.  You sit down in the chair and have the ‘consultation’.  Now this is the pivotal moment, these instructions you are about to give will make or break your haircut.  You know you have to explain yourself clearly and precisely, yet within seconds you find yourself nodding enthusiastically to the suggestion of an orange Mohawk.  


You then proceed to the washing stage.  Now this can be quite relaxing, with a ‘head massage’ often offered, however woe betide you if you do not find a comfortable position for your neck in the sink, as you will soon be praying that a neck massage is also complimentary.


Ok, the haircut, so at this stage the instructions are set, now you can just relax, can’t you?  No, this is where the conversation begins.  You may be one of those lucky people that can chat freely with anyone and become best friends within the first 10 minutes.  However I guarantee that, if like me, you are not fortunate enough to be possessed with these conversational skills; you will undoubtedly be sat beside someone who is.  Whilst your hairdresser asks you the polite conversational starters such as your plans for the day/week/next holiday, and you respond with one-word non committal answers, your fellow haircutee will be discussing the food preferences of her cocker spaniel or the division of assets in her friend’s divorce settlement. 

Whilst this awkward conversation continues, interrupted finally, by the hairdryer, you must face the mirror.  The hairdressing mirror is an amazing thing.  With most mirrors you see yourself, sometimes looking good, sometimes not, the combination of the hairdressing mirror along with your wet hair, means you find yourself looking far less like yourself and more like your uncle.  Then comes the moment when the haircut is finished and a mirror is held up to show you the back of your head whilst the hairdresser eagerly seeks your approval.  However you suddenly can’t concentrate as you become intrigued to realize ‘yes that is what the back of my head looks like’.  Eventually you snap back to reality, nod enthusiastically once again, stand up and retrieve your coat.  After paying for this strange experience you breathe a sigh of relief as you once more open the door back to real life.


However despite this seemingly traumatic experience I continue to return for love of the end result.  So what is the answer?  Well it’s simple, right away you must ensure you find yourself a best friend who is a hairdresser, and whilst you’re at it a doctor and a dentist would also be quite useful :)