Most of us get a haircut once in 6 months or so, 3 months if you really like experimenting. Every time I get a haircut, I have certain thoughts, fears, and apprehensions that keep running around in my head. Some are related to the styling, the shampoo, inability to say no, and more. Read on to see if you can relate!
Do I really want this?
We all have that moment of self-doubt just as we enter a salon. Weeks of deciding and confirming with friends just vanishes when you open that door and hairspray fills your nostrils. This thought is more persistent if you’re getting something drastic such as a mohawk, a bob, or just shaving one side of your head. What guides this sort of thinking is the aftermath, the post-haircut life that you will live. Anxieties formulate themselves into thoughts such as “What will people say”, “What will they think”, “What if it doesn’t turn out the way I want it to”, and more.
Do I need to shampoo?
I don’t know if many people have noticed, but when you enter a salon, the person who is assigned to cut your hair always glances at your head and gives a really strange expression, clearly indicating that you need to shampoo. Firstly, THAT’S HURTFUL. Secondly, they will give that expression every single time even if you’ve shampooed 30 minutes before entering their establishment. This is done because if you shampoo in their fancy sinks (which by the way cause so much neck strain), you pay extra. They’re all greedy meanies after all. However, there is one exception, if they say, “shampoo is included”, then go, run my friend, strain your neck but get your money’s worth.
What is he/she doing?
Before entering a salon, many of us have an image of what we want. This image lasts probably a minute or two until the hairstylist starts his/her work. They start chopping and styling with such speed that you wonder whether they’re late for some secret hairspray convention. If you tell them you want it a certain way, they say “it will look better like this”, and if you’re one of the many people who are afraid of hairstylists, you become passive and watch them destroy your hair. They’re very creative individuals and I respect them for that, but isn’t there a line that goes like “THE CLIENT IS ALWAYS RIGHT”?
How long till it grows back?
There are very few people who can pull off a new haircut with confidence. The rest of us? Well, we cower behind our friends, wear hats, and just pray every night to the hair Gods, asking them to hasten the growth. Often time is spent counting the days, weeks, and months till we can look decent again. For girls, clips, hairbands, and Youtube tutorials make for readily available coping mechanisms. However, despite these experiences, we make the very same mistake after 6 months. It’s a cycle you see, experimentation and self-loathing.
