You Get What You Pay For: Haircuts

As I’ve been moderating the comments for the Dooney & Bourke Giveaway, I’ve noticed a trend.  Over and over, one requests keeps popping up:  more hair posts.  I want y’all to know that I hear you loud a clear, and will commence immediately (well, okay, as soon as I can) to amass thorough selection of posts on hair styles, trends, colors, and anything else your pretty little hearts may desire.

I know that overall, “hair posts” are wildly outnumbered by articles on lip gloss, cute boots, and what the stars are wearing.  In great part, this is due to my relationship with MY hair.  My hair is short, I color it at home (generally disregarding the season’s “in” color for whatever suits my fancy), and generally spend five minutes or less styling it in the morning.  So, all-in-all, I don’t give my hair THAT my consideration.  Except…  For the past year or so, I’ve had terrible haircuts, one after another.  Changing stylists, changing salons, even changing STATES – and yet the hair nightmare has continued.

Today, I went to SuperCuts for the abso-freakin-lutely LAST time.  Normally, I wouldn’t call out a business like this…  But after the multitude of crappy “hairdressers” and even crappier haircuts, they deserve it.  I’m sure that in some places, somewhere, once in a while, they serve up a decent ‘do…  Sure.  But I’ve gone seven or eight times, with the same results.  And really, it’s reached a “shame on me” climax, because surely I should KNOW BETTER at this point.  But, no.  Sadly, I put my hair in their (incredibly incapable) hands once again.

I was thrilled to find time for a quick cut; I’m in the process of moving, just started a new job, am playing catch-up around here, and have classes starting in just a few days.  I’m so busy that adult diapers are starting to look like a plausible time saver.  Okay, maybe not, but you get the idea.  SO anyway, I went to freakin’ SuperCuts, regardless of the fact that RIGHT before BlogHer10 I got a hair cut there that left me self conscious the entire length of the convention.  I was slightly ashamed each time I introduced myself as a beauty blogger, and hoped that intense eye contact would keep anyone from looking at my bangs.

So, I brought a pictured this time – and no, not a totally implausible, completely radical, ridiculously UNrealistic photo.  In fact, I’ve basically had the hair cut before; I just wanted a photo to ensure that I communicated exactly what I wanted done.  The girl obviously had a poor attitude, right from the start.  I contemplated leaving before the cut even started, but I SO wanted a hair cut.  Bad move, damnit.

She barely glanced at the photo before she started snipping.  Then, she kept asking questions about how I wanted this area and that area…  Which seemed odd, since I kept holding up the photo and saying “I want EXACTLY this cut.”  Each time, she was highly dismissive, and kept cutting how she pleased.  After a while, I noticed that she was cutting it as if I would blowdry and style my hair towards the BACK of my head…  When based on the photo AND the style I had when I walked it, it was obvious I’d be doing the exact opposite.  Which meant she’d cut my bangs too short and “messed up the lines” (her words, not mine).

Each time I politely asked for a tweak (like, “could my bangs please be even?” or “could the sides please be shorter?”), she became bitchier – and ROUGHER.  By the end of the haircut, she was essentially whacking me in the head with the comb.  I was genuinely afraid she was going to “accidentally” nick me with the scissors, too.  This loveliness was accompanied by a stream of complaints and excuses for the poor job she was doing.

My hair is nothing like the picture.  I have no idea how I’m going to style the front, and am embarrassed to meet my new classmates (or even show up to work) with this “situation.”  I know, I know…  Not everyone is going to be judging me based on my bangs.  But it’s hard to feel super confident when something is so off.  I’m going to save up and get a “real” hair cut next time.

For $16, I didn’t expect a celebrity hair cut.  I didn’t expect the world’s greatest style, or most amazing look.  But it seems like there should be a base line of politeness, and ability to cut a straight line that all hair stylists should possess.  I’ve gotten the occasional nightmare style from an experienced stylist at a high end salon, too, but at least they f*cked up with finesse.

So now you now my shameful hair secret.  Hair is a topic I’d rather not contemplate, so I’ve avoided blogging about it.  But I’m sorry, and I’ll do better next time!  In fact, there are some very cute styles for fall that I’ll be discussing with you soon…

In the meantime, what was your worst salon (or at home) hair experience?  Share your story in the comments!