BLOG: The History of My Hair
Last Updated (Thursday, 16 July 2009 02:27)
My mother tells me that when I was little I refused to let her brush my hair so she had no choice but to cut it very short. With a bowl cut and lots of brown clothing I was often mistaken for a round-faced boy. I wonder if she tried hard enough and I wonder if she could have at least added more pink to my wardrobe to offset the "he's so cute" comments.
As I grew older my stick straight hair began to irritate me. With no one available to teach me about styling I demanded a perm...and I got one. I must have been no more than 10 but I got my curls and I loved them...until a friend got one too and then I hated my perm. I did everything I could to straighten my hair until her perm was gone and then I asked for another one. This time we went to a different hairdresser, a male, who spoke very loudly (or so I thought). When he yelled out "I will NOT give her a perm until she reaches puberty!" I thought I would die, and my mother knew. She pleaded with him on my behalf and although it didn't work but I was forever grateful for her efforts. So there was nothing left to do but wish for an early menstruation. If only I could warn that little frizzed out wannabe permed girl that wishing for that was a terrible idea.
So I settled for my straight hair and entered the early 90's with big bangs and lots of hairspray. We all worked hard on the perfect bangs with just the right volume; we should have been commended for that. It was a challenging look to achieve. 
Hair Tragedy Strikes
If it wasn't bad enough being 13, tall, gawky, awkward with a pimpled chin and a squirmy boyfriend that had just dumped me for reasons stated aboved...my mother and I strolled into a salon one Saturday afternoon. There was indeed a hairdresser accepting walk-ins. Great, we thought, grocery shopping followed by a hair cut, kill two birds with one stone and all in the same plaza. She seemed nervous as she cut my hair and I became concerned. She wasn't letting me look at myself so I became more concerned. She finished up and boy was she proud. She was gleaming in fact and from the look on her face I remember thinking that this must be an extraordinary hair cut. When I looked in the mirror and saw the short version of an uneven mullet I began to laugh- it was nervous laughter. She was offended immediately and began to cry. From pride to tears all within seconds! All I could think was "why are YOU crying?" I felt bad for the poor girl so I told her I loved it and ran out of there. I had to wear a short pony tail with lots of barrettes for a long time. It was tragic and horrible timing. I would never be the same.
Time to Make a Change
After my mullett I learned to take charge of my hair and worry less about pleasing my hairdressers. I was a very polite young lady so there was no reason why I couldn't figure out how to stand up for myself. I searched for the perfect hairdresser and I found her! I stayed with her through high school and she was perfect for me. She was so nice, so complimentary and pretty...all great qualities of a hairdresser right? Well, not really. She did give me my first highlights and an up-do for my junior prom so she will always be remembered. She served a great purpose by making me feel confident but my hair was another story.
Time for a Change: Again
I was attending college right outside of New York City and enter a roomate that was a fashion and beauty expert so it was time to re-examine my hair. I found a new hairdresser and she was...perfect. A master colorist that for 10 years took my hair to multiple shades and rotating colors- it was a good time for my hair. Cuts that complimented the frame of my face- this was all new to me. She was honest, in the nicest way possible and talented. On the personal side she took me through college to the workforce, marriage, pregnancy and childbirth...well she wasn't there in the delivery room, but my golden locks certainly were. Something magical happened during those years. My hair developed a natural wave. I couldn't believe my stick straight hair was waving at me! I could wear my hair straight, wavy or slightly curly- depending on product and styling. There was a point that I became addicted to the curls and asked my hairdresser for a perm...actually, I'm pretty sure I showed her a picture of Beyonce. Her response? She spun my chair around and insisted that I look at myself and tell her with a straight face that I believe I could look like Beyonce. I guess she was right. She also was the first one who explained to me that when you bring in a picture of a celebrity from a magazine their hair is styled and continously touched up. She also said there was a good chance that the cut she gave you wasn't going to turn you into that magazine cover model unless you had a hair stylist follow you around all day. This chick was honest! We eventually parted ways, but it was a great 10 year relationship based on honesty and mostly blonde hair.
Time for a change...another one?
That brings me to present day. My current hairdresser is an old friend. Hesitant to mix business and friendship at first, I gave it a shot. Taking everything I learned in my past hair experiences, we now have a great relationship and have lots of fun doing crazy things to my hair. Unfortunately, I am not an easy client. Here's why:
•I frequently want a drastic change and I want it immediately
•After months of working to achieve a color, I decide that I want a new color
•I complain about being too hot at the salon and make faces when I have to go under the dryer
•I expect to be fit in last minute when I have a last minute event or appearance
•I think I know more than I actually do because I study the professional beauty industry (can you imagine how annoying that is?)
Well, I could be worse, right?
So from the little girl who looked like a boy, the permed pre-teen, the 13 mullet headed pimple face, the highlighted ignorant "beauty queen", all the way to the pain in the butt multi-colored red-headed Editor of a Pro Beauty site that I am today...I thank you all for reading my hair story. I've come a long way.
Written by: Sandie Torres (Editor, YourBeautyIndustry.com)
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