Women and their hair. No small matter. When our hair looks good much is right with the world. The trick is finding the hairstylist who makes it happen. I have been thinking about the man who does indeed make it happen. A man who deserves a word of appreciation. Another kind of love letter...
When I first moved to DC in the mid '80's I heard about him making magic in his upscale salon in Georgetown. So what if I was out of my league? I walked in anyway. Vanity propelled me forward.
My long hair was blown dry straight as a stick. He could make my hair smooth, straight and shiny in the middle of August in DC. I was hooked. It became a ritual that went on for years.
Robert did my hair the day of a big date with my husband to be. He worked his hair magic the day I got married. Long and straight and just the way I wanted it.
When I became pregnant my vanity was no different. But I was way too nauseated to sit for an hour while my long locks were straightened within an inch of their life. "How about just letting it go natural?" he suggested.
I walked out with neck length hair that waved and curled and didn't need a blow dryer. Armed with a tube of mousse and a whole new look to go with my expanding waistline. I kept this look until after my baby was born. When I started to look like someone's mom I knew it was time to see Robert.
Back I went to sleek and straight. Until one day I walked in and said, "Let's cut it short." I should mention that Robert operates without unnecessary emotion. He is not one of those stylists who gossips, fawns over you or wants to talk you into something new. He is quiet, steady, and dependable. If you say "short", he gets to work. No drama.
I walked out that day feeling naked without my hair. Yet strangely sassy. Powerful. And maybe French. I felt stylish. Robert had worked his quiet magic on me again.
Robert has been the man I have depended on for over 20 years. I still walk into his salon in Georgetown and know I'm out of my league. But he knows how to make me look good. He's seen me through all the important milestones in my life, changing my hair to match each one.
Last week I was in there for my regular color and cut. I told him I was thinking of growing my hair long again. He said, "Why would you do that? You look so young with it short."
Ah, Robert. I'll never leave you.
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Seer
Jacqueline Allain
Erica K
jlsathre
Frosty Funk
Pensive Person
Salon.com
Comments
Add this to the love letter project...xox
Darn
Cute!
R
My Robert is Tina. We've grown together over the last 25 years.
R
Kathy, a free cut would be terrific. I'm out of my league price wise too.
Scarlett, "Hair is half." I never heard that before, but most will agree, there is a lot wrapped up in our hair.
Sparking, yes, long straight hair reminds me of being young. One part hippie, one part flirty.
Tex, he is talking about moving to New York. Can't even process the thought.
Robin, he really is worthy of a love letter.
Outside Myself, thank you for reading!
Lunchlady2, I'm glad you have a Roberta!
Donna, ain't it the truth?
FusunA, 25 years? Wow, you really do understand.
No, I take that back.
trilogy, thanks, and I hear you. Sometimes I literally say to myself "You belong here, Joan" when I think I am out of my league anywhere.
Ann, thinking I look "French" is the highest compliment I can give myself.
full time daughter, there is something undeniably magical about the power of a good hair day.
Scanner, he does, indeed. And you will never look at yourself the same way again...
Amanda, thank you. Yes, this post would have been much better with some pictures to go with it. I just have no idea how to do it. I need a computer class.
Nice post. :)
Rated.
R
What an awesome love letter.
There are also infinitely different types of love, and love between two people is never the same.
I often wonder what would cause a woman to feel better about herself in the morning; waking up with good hair, or waking up after having experienced an orgasm before falling asleep?
Even when I had hair, all I would do is dye blond till it glowed neon, and cut it to be short and manageable.
I always had my hair professionally dyed, which would cost between $30 to $100, but keeping my hair short and manageable never cost more than $10 a cut.
In the morning I would leave the house without touching my hair, thinking the more fucked-up it looked, the better. My hair never affected my mood, until I started losing it, and when that happened I just started shaving it (which my wife does, and it cost me nothing).
But knowing I had helped bring a woman to orgasm the night before; now that has always brightened my day.
Loved this! I hope you show it to Robert. He will be thrilled...quietly, of course.
mypsyche, I know! Exactly why I wrote a love letter.
Kyle, I completely understand. Yay Shellie!
Lisa, I wish you would go back if you want to.
Lea, indulge.
Stellaa, the"hair whisperer" is just perfect.
Unbreakable, thank you. It is a universal love, don't you think?
junk1, it is such a small thing, but somehow means a great deal.
tai, thanks. You are right. He is a talented man.
Owl, I know for a fact that love takes many shapes and forms.
...next please, you know that there is nothing wrong with actually looking like someone's mom. I was just post baby frump!
M.McKenzie, you are like me. I've been with Robert longer than my husband. Thanks for stopping by.
Good story...and you seem to have a treasure in Robert.
Bless the women and the torture they put their hair through on a daily basis. Men are getting off easy! =)
Amen to that.
So true!
I had a guy, Micheal (yes, e before a), in Buffalo whom I used to travel to see in the 80's. But alas I had children and a life and moved on. I'd love to reconnect...
And, then I see the other comment by mimetalker and now it's "When I crap... my husband says..." And, I'm still out loud non stop laughing.
My guy is "Dan" and this story rings soooooooooo true. My husband's favorite line when I crap happens is... "Well, at least your hair looks good!"
Mimetalker
January 21, 2010 06:04 PMgood grief...it was late last night when I wrote my comment...not sure where that "I" came from... of course I do crap, but that wasn't what I was saying here...I'll just shut up now.
Mimetalker
January 22, 2010 04:17 PMMimetalker, please don't shut up. That's the first time I've laughed all day.
Joan H.
January 22, 2010 04:21 PM
r. for a great post!
I saw what they did. Have not cut my hair since..:)
You are so lucky.
HUGGGGGG
somehow i missed it the first time. skimping ($$ or time or distance whatever) on the person who does one's hair is always always a terrible idea. so glad you found robert and glad i found this.
What a lovely ode to someone very deserving! I have someone like Robert too. These stylists really are artists. Hold on to Robert. He's a keeper.
@Candace, I had an appointment with Robert this morning. I had been making faces at myself in the mirror all week, just waiting for this day. The day I would be transformed into "presentable" again. I put it on FB which is how people saw it... :)
short and sassy maybe suits you
good read, good friend here all.