I have new hair. My long flowing locks (really a straggly outgrown bob) have been shorn, and I am sporting an up to the minute short cut. It was a proud moment.
The path to a successful hairdo has not been a smooth one for me. First of all, I do not have good hair… Now, I know everyone says this, but in my case, it really is true. My hair is extremely fine, it gets greasy 30 seconds after it is washed and it refuses to do anything other than drop straight down, not a kink, not a curl. In my teenage years I tried to combat this excessive straightness by getting a perm. It fell out. I got another perm. My hair fell out. So, effectively, my hair would rather commit hara-kiri than curl. Fact. To add insult to injury, I can’t even cut in a funky sharp fringe. There is a very stubborn cow’s lick right on my forehead, meaning that when I have a fringe, 20% of it stands straight up, like it has received an electric shock. Not a good look.
The second difficulty has been hairdressers. Greenwich is a wonderful place, as we all know, but my experience with local hairdressing establishments, until now, has been mixed. Prior to the ‘do’, I visited a well known one nearby, and was treated to an exercise in humiliation. The owner himself condescended to do my hair (and I mean condescended in an absolute literal sense). When he had finished disparaging my hair, and belittling my suggestions as to how I wanted it, he proceeded to cut it, crookedly. I walked out of the hairdressers a sad, broken woman, with crooked hair. My life has been littered with similar awful hairdresser experiences, too many to list here. But the sun came out when I went to the latest place. Once again, the owner did my hair, but there the similarities ended. He listened, he sympathised, he dispensed useful advice. When the scissors came out, I was nervous but also confident. And Ta-da… Fabulous hair, hair with a style, hair with a shape – a miracle indeed.
I have been enjoying my new hair loads, basking in compliments (“Thanks! I know, should have got it done ages ago!”) but there have been a few, ahem, teething problems. Mainly, the time and product required to maintain the do. Let me run rough the process with you – I wash hair, I towel dry hair – special shampoo needed, but so far so normal. Then I spray Product number one, and dry hair upside down. This is followed up with Product number two, and a further blowdry using my new magic brush. Finally, we apply Product number 3 and spend a few minutes taming any stray bits. Eh Voila! While the end result is lovely, the time and energy required are sometimes a bit excessive, especially when all I am doing for the day are the school runs and ironing. The other drawback is my inability to remember that I have high maintenance hair. When I talk, I tend to wave, gesticulate, and yes, run my hands through my hair. So, effectively, in one sweep I ruin the effort made with the dryer and the products, and end up looking like Jedward. Deep sigh.
But, teething problems aside, it is good to have good hair. My commitment to the upside down drying, and teasing and tweaking sometimes wanes, so I am regularly to be seen around Greenwich sporting a hat. Also, I can’t see myself stopping waving and sweeping my hands through my hair when I get enthused, so I have to accept that I will spend a (larger than usual) proportion of time looking like an idiot. But on a Saturday night, or at any occasion whatsoever, I can be proud that I finally have a proper ‘do’.
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Diary of is a regular blog written by a regular Greenwich mum. Sharing her experiences as a local parent (and member of this website) she’ll be writing about everything and anything. And being completely anonymous – you never know – you could have stood next to her in the Post Office or behind her in Cafe W…
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