I went back to my hairdresser last week.
I’d been seeing him for quite a while, I like J and J knows what I like.
However there have been times when I’d wanted something different.
Earlier in the year an acquaintance said, ‘Try mine, she’s really good’.
I loved the coffee I was offered, the chair that massaged your back while you get your hair washed, the head massage, the huge mirrors on the wall and looking at hairstyles on her iPad. So very up to date.
Trouble was she charged like a wounded bull and didn’t listen to a word I said.
Not the end of the world I told myself, it’ll grow.
Weeks later when it was time for a trim (and I was too chicken to go back to my ‘man’) I heard someone at the pool raving on about a girl in another place.
She ‘rents’ a chair in one of those walk in shops, full service but no appointment needed.
Well, as I just said, I certainly couldn’t go back to my ‘man’ looking the way I did, so I gave her a try.
Explained I wanted my fringe trimmed and could she remove some of the straggly layers at the back so I could then start the growing one length process again.
Clip, clip, clip, not a word was spoken until I heard, ‘Oh that’s looking much better’ as the cape was whisked off, the chair was swivelled round and there she was asking how I wanted to pay.
No wonder she was cheap, 10 minutes top, I felt like I’d been on a conveyor belt lol
July came and off to Queensland we go where I just pinned back or tied up or the locks to keep them out of my way.
So last week (when the hair was almost down to my shoulders) I was driving past a familiar place and took a punt, opened the shop door hoping he had a spare appointment without having to wait too long.
Only one client there….’Cathy, how are you? Come on in, you’re lucky I just had a cancellation. Give me five minutes’
No questions asked, just accepted me as I was.
J often says there are many ways to cut and style a bob – he just has to find the one to suit you and your hair and stick with it.
And yes, I heard more stories about J’s Italian grandfather and the men’s barber’s chairs that line one side of J’s shop but best of all I look and feel a lot better
I think the same thing happens with blogging – we know what we like and enjoy, yet often feel there is more out there just waiting to be explored.
Trouble is we take time away from what we enjoy and end up in mess.
Lets just say that some of the blogs I ‘found’ during my recent wanders didn’t really keep me engrossed that much after all.
So I will be visiting many of my previous ‘favourites’ on a much more regular basis, acknowledging my visitors and finding a way to overcome the ‘too hard to comment’ problem on some platforms.
Still Waters 
Some the bloggers I regularly followed, I’ve either dropped or I read and just “like” mainly because they too have stopped coming to mine.
But on hair matters, I’ve found a new place, no appointment needed, although if someone comes who has booked appt, then you all fall back. Some of the men are very nice but at least one is narky, makes jokes that have a bias. I don’t care for him…
I’m thinking if looking for another place…my cuts are simple.
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Sometimes it’s a little like a revolving door- keep in touch then others will do the same. I must get back in the habit of making a comment
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Haircuts are such a personal thing! Twenty five years ago I got my hair cut by a fellow name Michael. It was wonderful, I loved the cut. Michael moved about a bit, but I always found him to make an appointment! Then we moved to the country house, far, far away, and I have not had a decent haircut since. I’ve tried, at the no appointment cheap cuts places, at the pay a small fortune and be disappointed places, and at a place that charged a fortune AND was rude and almost abusive because I did not leave a tip (the charge for the cut was astronomical!). So I decided many years ago to just let my hair grow. It isn’t exactly how I would like it, but Attila manages to trim it for me from time to time so it doesn’t get completely out of hand. There was only one Michael!
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We all seem to miss out in our fluid society don’t we. We go, they lose our custom – they go we lose our provider. Sometimes that connection is made again but most times not.
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Oh the haircut dilemma! F has had some real doozies, and all she wants is SHORT. Her hairsnipper in Greece was cheap but not a great sylist. Her old salon here was trendy and generally very good but has a high turnover of stylists – they all cost an arm and a leg and even when she does find a good one they don’t stay. She tried a less trendy looking place and got a real disaster… so back to pot luck at an arm and a leg.
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Maybe Mr B has skills he’s never let on about before. He’s handy fixing cupboard wonder what he’s like wielding a pair of hairdressing scissors?
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Sigh on the haircut front. I had found a salon (and a hairdresser) that suited me and my mop of hair. Sadly the salon was sold and my hairdresser moved to somewhere I couldn’t easily get to.
Having my hair cut recently (a poor substitute for both the salon and hairdresser) I was very, very sad to learn that Marie has had a stroke/heart attack (my informant wasn’t sure which) and is unlikely to return to the job she loved and knew so well.
And yes, I hear you on bloggers. And the current difficulties commenting.
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We just have to work around our difficulties- good bad and ugly as they might be. Here’s hoping life for your previous cutter returns soon to some semblance of normality
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It is sometimes good to have a change – it makes the going back so much better!
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I agree with those thought Viv….coming home (from anywhere) is so comforting.
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I learned the hard way not to go to a cheap, new hairdresser the day before your nephew’s wedding. I am waiting for it to get long enough to go somewhere – I just need to find that somewhere.
I am glad you posted this. I have been feeling the need to cull some of the newer blogs but felt guilty for some reason. It can take me up to two hours to read and comment which is a bit ridiculous and I only do a lot out of a sense of duty. (Not yours, obviously!)
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Oh I remember your post relating the anguish of that visit. I thought I’d learnt my lesson with the first bad move but went on to make another.
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Ah hairdressers, they are part and parcel of our life, aren’t they? I had a wonderful hairdresser for 11 years who decided when I retired, she too would retire and move away.
She handed me off, along with my color formula, to another hairdresser in the same salon who used the same brand of hair color. We had worked almost a year to get that formula right and she didn’t want just anyone to start over.
That hairdresser decided to retire and handed me off to the person I have now, going on 6 years. She is a great colorist but not the very best cutter.All of her clients, except me, have long hair, so my short hair is a challenge to her. But her work is good and I pay her very well to keep me looking good so she takes good care of me.
She has just changed careers, joining MAC cosmetics, but keeping a few of her favorite clients, which includes me! I will see her next Friday.
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Here’s to a relaxing trip to the hair salon..do you get coffee and scalp massages?
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I could have anything to drink that I want…my hairdresser has it all, including small bottles champagne. However, I rarely have anything as my appointments are early morning and I’ve already had my coffee before going. She has a massage table in her salon (which is in her home) and often offers that splurge but Ive never done that.
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lol a glass of bubbly would be a fun way for some to start the day….I’m thinking of some mum’s who’ve just done the school drop off and need to relax 😊
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I’m in trouble on all fronts.
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Right left and centre – the trick is to choose your corner and come out fighting Joanne😊
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All the blogs, except yours , which I was getting by email have disappeared. Probably not because the blogger stopped. I don’t miss most of them so thanks to whatever medium culled them for me.
You’d better not disappear though. I lost you once some months ago and was delighted to find it was just a glitch and you’re still up and writing.
As for hairdressers. Darn I dislike having my hair cut. My hairdresser has just gone, of all places, to San Francisco, to Greek relatives, for 6 months. Thank goodness it’s winter. I’ll let it grow for a while
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Sometimes I thin I’ve had enough and have a break….then come back all guns blazing. It’s the content I struggle with- finding things to talk about.
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I’ve gone back to very short all over as I really don’t like going to often.
Some blogs are too depressing to read – so I stopped reading, thank goodness there are still cheerful and interesting blogs around.
Sue in Suffolk
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For years when the children were small I had mine cut short – pixie cut they used to call it. Now I like a bit round my ears….covers the extra pair of ears I don’t like people to see. Yes vain I know
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I am so glad you posted this, I have one set to go on haircuts for FFF on Friday and was about to pull it thinking no one is intrested in hair cuts. Seems everyone is. now I don’t have to think of another Friday post. Glad The Man took you back with no fuss…
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They say‘great minds think alike’ Sandra- go ahead and post what you’ve prepared. I’m curious to see what responses you’ll get.
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I used to think that I wanted to change my hair style and then I thought, “Why? I’ve gone to the same stylist for years now and she sees me and knows exactly what I want.” My hair never looks better than after she’s had her hands in it and she’s very inexpensive. Why would I want to mess with that?” LOL so I don’t. And I cringe when people say how much they lay out for a haircut. Unreal. I mean, ‘it’ll just grow back, and then you’ll have to pay that horrific tab again!’ Not this child. LOL
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As you mentioned the cost of hair services has become outrageous in some salons Carol and of course the manufacturers of the products they use don’t help by pricing them so high either. If you’ve found one you’re happy with and it’s good for your pocket then stick to it!
Hope all is well with you and Robert.
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Some hairdressers are definitely better than others.
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You’re not wrong there gigi – same as some hairdressers charge more than others….and often the two don’t follow the same pattern.
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What you say about blogging is so true. Either people just stops blogging in the middle of a sentence almost, or I follow for a time, and the leave again. I hope blogging will get a rennaissance soon.
Hair … I never found anyone able to cut it like I wanted it, so I just let it grow, and cut my bangs myself with a pair of hairdresser’s scissors.
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Even though I did do it in my much younger (and poorer) days – these days I’m not game enough to pick up the scissors
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Well, isn’t funny how we come across one another – as bloggers, writers, parents, hairdressers… Thank you for your kind comments on mine about my dog – and thank you for reading the bike shed; I hope you enjoyed it. I shall try to add you to my reading list. My wife Jane has kept her hairdresser from three house moves now – she won’t trust anyone else. I don’t have this problem – or at least not anymore!
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Your wife is a lucky lady in that it was she that moved and not her hairdresser. Often it hard here to find out where your ‘favourite’ has moved to….fair means or foul often come into play when trying to find out.
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I know this will come as a bit of a surprise…probably more than a bit. I’ve not been to a hairdresser in 22 or so years. Sit down before you read further….I cut my own hair…and have done so since my last visit. Even if I do say it, I don’t do a bad job…it costs me nothing, and I don’t have to go out to get the job done! 🙂
For many, many years I had long hair…down below my waist. I wore my hair pulled back, into a thick plait. One day I decided to do a trim…and kept trimming…a bit like an out-of-control hedge trimmer! lol
It’s always a pleasure visiting your blog, Cathy. I hope you fell similar about visiting mine. Take good care. 🙂
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Thanks for your lovely comment Lee…of course I enjoy your blog. Yes I’ve been a bit lax visited recently but then I’ve been staying close to home and not visiting anyone.
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Oh hairdressers. The gal who cut my hair for years retired and it took me a few tries to find someone whose work I liked. It isn’t quite the same but then neither am I. We get older everyday. I just appreciate being able to pay for a pretty good haircut.
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It’s a bit of a so and so when our providers up and retire – we expect them to go on for ever. And as you say, our tastes (looks and hair texture) change as well. Stylists seem to be taught differently to those from years ago….not many would be able to do a razor cut once popular for those with short hair
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I don’t like change and since my hair style is basically long with a fringe I only go to a hairdresser about once a year. I cut my own fringe and having had a haircut a few weeks ago. I do a better job of it.
If your on a good thing. Stick to it I say
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Too right Angela – that’s the way to go
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I was so lucky, moved house when the world was locked down. When the local hairdresser , five minutes walk, was prepping to reopen I bowled in with my awful lockdown locks. First appointment when the salon reopened and brilliant cut, and in my price bracket. And yes there is now a massage chair to be enjoyed. Feeling grateful. I had a lot of problems recently with my computer, all fixed, magically by itself, I blame Windows and an update, but now back to reading my fav bloggers. I love your blog because your content varies a lot, and you make me laugh.
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What a lovely thing to say Cathy…..yes I’ve been known to ramble on about anything and everything at times😊.
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