The New "Do"

Today was the day for a color and a cut.  I don't think I am alone in being apprehensive about getting a color, cut and style from a new stylist, much less one in a foreign country.  But this is an adventure, after all, and I really have nothing to lose.  Those of you who know me know that I have often simply taken my sewing shears to my own hair, so really, how bad could this be?

This morning--before the rain

 I did walk in bedraggled.  It was pouring rain, and I really was a mess.  I figured they needed to see me at my worst, to know what they were up against.

We spent quite a bit of time poring over hair color swatches.  Finally, we made a choice, and my stylist went back to mix the colors.  In the meantime, she brought me un cafe noir....nice touch.  She spoke almost no English at all--"okay" was about it. Laurent speaks English well, so therefore he lacks the patience that non-English speakers have with me as I struggle to find the right words. But we managed to come to a meeting of the minds.  The little girl does the color and he does the cuts.  

I do believe everything stopped for a little lunch--my color was curing and the client in the chair--an older man who was simply in for a haircut read the paper while everyone disappeared. 

At first, I thought I might have purple hair, because as the color developed, my hair turned a great shade of aubergine....I wondered how I would react if that were the final color (some dreadful interaction between the old American dye and the new French dye).  I realized that I would be okay with that, too. It's not called an adventure for nothing.

The shampoo chairs are fabulous. Somehow they are freestanding, with an automatic recliner and footrest, and a built in massage feature.   As they are shampooing and rinsing, little magic fingers or ball bearings run up and down your back. Delicious. And the free-standing feature allows the shampooist to be directly behind you for better access to your head.  I loved it.

Great shampoo charis

Laurent was giving an interview or something, so I had to wait some more.  It was fine--I had plenty of time. Then he gave me the fastest haircut I have ever had.  I mean that man can move his scissors....lightning fast.  And wonder of wonders, I didn't have to keep telling him I wanted some body to my style, I didn't want it flat to my head.  He got it without my ever having to point it out to him.  

It wasn't cheap, but I am very pleased with what he did.

Not too matronly