1. The Situation
I wanted to change my hair style, I was new in town and I feared a Haircut From Hell ("Oh, It's really ok, honey - it will grow out again, anyway, right?") I dreaded going to someone "new" for my priceless hair. My style-less hair was proof of my fear and reluctance to allow anyone to experiment on my precious head.
2. .How I heard about "Marie V" at Gabby's Hair Salon
A stranger's hair caught my eye in Seaside - her hair was dark, shiny and rocked nice highlights that didn't scream, "Look at me! I'm a big fat old highlight right in your face!" The stranger had a neat asymmetrical cut (purposely different lengths) like I wanted, plus a subtle tiny green braid underneath. With all that going on, you'd think it would be hit-you-over-the-head butt-ugly, but no! The parts all fit together with no violence at all.
I took a chance and asked the stranger who did her hair. She enthusiastically referred me to Marie V, reassured me that Marie charges reasonably for great cuts and added that Marie has been her stylist for years.
So I took another chance - with trepidation I called Marie. All I wanted was a really good asymmetrical cut and keep it simple. Marie listened, then answered all my questions. She gave this hair wimp the courage to step into The Great Unknown and make an appointment.
The first time I sat in Marie's chair I was all, "Ack! I'm going to get my irreplaceable hair slashed by someone I've never even gone to before! Who am I entrusting with my sacred hair? I didn't even bring a photo to show her! What if she totally wrecks it? I just drove 15 miles to pay for uncertainty??? What am I thinking?"
3. Silly me.
Here's what happened: it worked! I learned that
a. Marie V listens to her clients' wants and "don't wants" before she touches their hair!
She's not a Rogue Remodeler like one I went to who thought he was so fabulous that he already knew what to do even without my input. Wrong! He was off and running with his shears all over my head and did not stop or allow me to look in the mirror until I looked like a baby bird fresh out of its shell. I was soooo intimidated and embarrassed that I decided to stay far away from him and his shop forever!
b. I did not know everything about what I wanted but Marie helped me define it. She was all about finding options that would work for me, what I wanted and what I wanted to avoid. She knew that if I liked her work, we would both succeed, and I' would go back to her - which I did and still do.
c. Marie V charges reasonably. We agreed beforehand on the $25 price for just a cut, without a shampoo because my hair was still wet from washing it myself. She welcomed feedback while she worked, because it helped her create what I wanted. I had feared the "I know, I know! Trust me! Just wait til I'm done, dear" treatment. That was not Marie's style! Once she'd completed the cut, styled iit further with the blow dryer. I had said earlier, "Go easy on the products, please!" so Marie added a very light mist of spray and I was one happy camper.
d. Marie has years of experience so I would feel comfortable asking her to do color, balayage, touch-ups, or anything else with my sacred hair. read more