photo via (c)iStockPhoto/kourafas5
My military life is pretty awesome – until we move and I have to find a house, a car, and schools for my kids. Those things do not stress me out like finding someone I can trust to cut my hair, color my grays and not charge me a million dollars. You all have done it: rocked out a cut that needs trimmed, tousled roots that make people wonder if they are on purpose – all because you don’t know who you can trust. I am there with you ladies. I also have another dilemma: every few months, I feel the need to change things up. Sometimes I rearrange furniture, often I buy an outfit. Then there is the itch that cannot be scratched by moving a couch or shopping. I need and am driven to change my hair, drastically.
I first started experimenting with hair cuts in middle school. I had a girl cut my mid back length hair in computer class into a “V” shape (see, I wasn’t always worried about finding a stylist!). My friends were so worried about what my mom was going to say. I remember going home and I think the next moment had a deep impact on me. My mother said she liked it and that she would take me in to get it shaped up. No yelling or crying; it was fine. I know that at that point I thought, “It’s just hair; it will grow back and you can change it for fun.”
I didn’t jump right into crazy styles (unless you count the whole sticking up bangs situation that I rocked in the 90′s). I kept my hair pretty boring and safe until I discovered home hair color. What a disastrous blast I had with those boxes! I have been all shades of blond since that is what it was naturally, then I moved into all kinds of colors. Auburn and browns, then they all layered on top of each other and my hair was almost black. Thankfully, a friend/colorist pulled me back from the brink. After a very, very long process that was neither nice nor easy like the box said, she cured me and I have stayed blond for the last four years.
Enter the itch. I am not sure if it is the stress of the holidays or the fact that I need a trim and my roots touched up badly, but you know when you just cannot handle your hair anymore? I am at that point.
I have been going shorter and shorter this last year, but now have let it grow out to my shoulders. I am ready for the big cut and color! I want something fun, funky, and that makes me look 10 years younger and 20 lbs lighter; and if the last two aren’t possible, then at least fun and funky. My more rational side says don’t do it, just stick with what you know. I would really listen to that side except that Pinterest keeps pulling me back in with such cute hair pictures. So I am doing it, I just decided at 10:00 p.m. while typing this. Everyone knows great decisions are made at night when you’re tired. If only I had a salon on speed dial! Since it is late at night and I do not know of a 24 hour salon, I have to begin the dating show of stylists to see if we have a connection. It’s been a while since I have looked for a committed stylist relationship and I’m not sure how to begin. I wish there was an e-harmony for military spouses looking for that hair connection. I could post pictures of haircuts I like, the stylists could post haircuts they have done and a master computer would magically put them together and make a match. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? Since none of you have invented that site yet, I have to do the more common practice. I am going to be safe and ask women I see out and about who have hair that I like who cuts their hair. Then I will go in for a consultation before letting them cut my hair. I recommend that to all of you. I never just walk in and let them go to town before showing pictures, talking about my expectations, and asking them what they think. A good stylist will have questions for you about how much time you want to spend styling and how your hair is naturally (you know, before you flat ironed it). I hope I meet the stylist of my dreams! I know it won’t be forever. I will have two to three years of great hair, then move and begin my search again, but is it to much to ask that I find one now? It is the part about moving that my husband just does not get. I have hope that I will find my hair stylist match, and if not, I will invest in lots of hats. Thank goodness I look good in hats.
How do you find a great stylist after a move? If you changed your hair drastically, what would your spouse say?
