Haircuts

Got a little trim yesterday at the wonderful place I go to get my hair cut. I'd tell you the name of it, but most of you don't live around here and wouldn't be able to take advantage of my free advertising, so I'll just say it's the Place that Rocks!

However, the search for the Place that Rocks did not rock. I have lived in Rome for ... almost nine years now. Wow, that's a long time. Of course, four of those years were spent at Shorter where the world around that little spot on The Hill doesn't really seem to exist. Anyhoo, while in college, my hair was not really a priority. I mean, it was long and manageable, so I didn't have to really go anywhere to get anything done to it. Plus, my aunt showed me once how to cut layers into your own hair, so while I was in college and for a while after that, I cut my own hair. Yeah, it wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but it was easier when it was long. Plus, much to my husband's delight, it was free.

Then I felt compelled to follow the lead of a friend who regularly donates her hair to Locks of Love, an organization that takes hair donations for cancer patients (for wigs). I made the drive to Kennesaw to some kids' hair shop and had them chop off the minimum 10 inches to give to Locks of Love..... then I got in my car and called Chris almost crying because my hair was up to my chin! Looking back at pictures, it didn't look so bad. But at the time, I thought I looked like Darth Vador or Lord Helmet. My hair being thick did not look its best in a triangle shape atop my head. But, it was for a good cause...

Once it grew out to just below my shoulders, I was on the search for a hair place. I'm not sure I can recollect the many places I went. I know one was a place that a college friend recommended. I went there asking for a few layers and some bangs. I left with a trim and no bangs... Later I decided to go CRAZY and follow the lead of two coworkers who went to a dreamy-looking guy who had his own shop and charged $50 for a haircut. Now, obviously, this is the most I had EVER spent on my hair, but I was told it would look fabulous. After squeezing me in, JJ (as I will call him) began running his fingers through my hair, asking what I want. Again, "I want a few layers and some bangs." OK! As he starts cutting, the words "wow, you have a lot of hair!" slip from his mouth about a half-dozen times. I wanted to say, "Yes, are you scared of it? Cause if you are, step away from the chair..."

I got my bangs this time and a few layers. JJ said, "Hey, you were made for bangs! You should have had them a long time ago........." Yeah...... I tried........ The cut was good, but, eh, not so much worth $50.

Then one day on a whim, I meandered into the Place that Rocks. I ended up getting the daughter of the person who owned the place and who had been in the hair business for about 10 years. This time, I wasn't going safe. I wanted it short, layered and more like a professional adult. (I was on some kick. Who knows?!) I told her what I wanted, possibly even took in a photo and she worked her magic. Not only does Carrie rock, but this place uses Aveda products. They are expensive but are made from all natural ingredients and are better for the environment. Plus, they smell better than anything I have ever smelled in my life! Ask Chris!

Since the finding of the Place that Rocks, I have returned time and time again. I spend a little more than I would like on a hair cut, but I only get it cut every four months or so (I have pretty good hair, thanks to my mom. Great dead skin cells run in my family.) I have also convinced about four other women to go into this place. They love it too! Although, one of my friends went in a few weeks ago and Carrie was double-booked so she had to have someone else cut it. It apparently turned out AWFUL, so she had to go somewhere else to get it fixed. End result: her long hair that she wanted to her shoulders was chopped off to her ears!!!! Yep, not even to her chin!!!!! My advice: don't EVER go to anyone else but Carrie again. And since this friend didn't say anything to them, I mentioned it to Carrie during my trim yesterday. I figure they don't want anyone who does a bad job working in their place. I wasn't mean about it (I promise Mickey and Jacob), just felt like she would want to know. I didn't even know the name of the person but somehow she knew exactly who it was???

Another thing about a great "hair person": they are like bartenders. For some reason, Carrie is someone I can talk to really well. But she asks about my life and remembers what's going on. I kind of serve as the same for her, too. But I'm sure that's a girl thing. I'm sure guys don't tell their barbers all the ins and outs of their lives. Of course, Chris does because I am his barber. Either way, maybe it's all the smells of the shampoo, conditioner and styling products that produces the same effects as the alcohol.

So, I probably just bored the guys to tears, but the important lesson learned: not every place that is in the business of cutting hair should be in the business of cutting hair. Apparently finding a great cosmetologist is like finding a great man. It takes a lot of patience, a couple of test runs and some great products (ha! just kidding on that last part!).