"So what are we having done today?" I'm sat in the hairdressers chair, and she asks me the dreaded question - Ive calculated that since my mum stopped cutting my hair when I was 20, if Ive had my hair cut on average every 8 weeks, I have been asked this question at least 195 times! and the answer is always the same - " I don't know, what do you think? " I sit in the chair - hating every minute - forced to stare at a baggy old saggy face that doesn't reflect the "girl" that I still am. I feel like an idiot - I never know whether the gown goes on like a coat, or the other way round. She snips away, to be fair, she cuts it very well, but then blow dries it so I look like Audrey Roberts!!. It looks a bit different each time she cuts it, but then I get home and wash and dry it, and it looks exactly the same as it did before I went - only shorter.
Its Friday night. My hairdresser and I are the same age, and we reminisce that this time 30 years ago we would have been getting ready for a night on the town. I tell her my routine. I would play Alexander O'Neil or Luther Vandross whilst quaffing a glass of Lambrusco - drying my hair upside down for maximum volume. We laugh at all the nightclubs we frequented - The Hoffbrau house (best night out ever - dancing on the tables to the Ooompah Band and drinking Steins !) Josephines (always the hen night destination), Roof Top Gardens in Wakefield (always on a minibus ), The Wappentake (dead rough - my hairdresser was a biker chick), The Amsterdam Bar in Huddersfield (featured in "Rita, Sue and Bob too!!!) none of them still in existence. We discuss how it never entered your head that someone might be carrying a knife, and that we didn't need "drugs" - a Cherry B or Pony (the little drink with the big kick - tasted like Benolyn!) were strong enough. You never saw people sprawled out on the pavement like you do these days - your mates saw you home if you were ill! We conclude that they were the "best days" and that our kids don't have it as "fun" as we did. I get home and "The Best of Sade" courtesy of Play.com has landed on my door mat. I run a bath, pour a nice glass of red, and dance around the bedroom to "Smooth Operator" singing in front of the mirror - into my hairbrush - as you do! I might not be donning my glad rags for a night painting the town red, but I am still very much in touch with my "inner girl".
22 comments:
Diane!!! Never ask to your hairdresser "What do you think?"...that's why I've changed so many hairdressers in my life!
xxxxxxx
You and me both, my children look at me very strangely at times when i'm singing into my hairbrush but then they realise what fun i'm having and join in 'hehe'.
Not been to Disneyland yet, hoping to go in a few years time when little man is old enough to remember and lets be fair, Jess will never be too old. Will remember what you said about the camping, thanks.
Watched Marie A again and i'll be blowed, how did I miss the converses first time round, thanks for pointing it out.
((hugs)()
Beki xxx
Thats good to read, I hope you always manage to find time to dance with your inner girl!
Julia x x x
I love that post, its all so true and very poignant. I've been putting off going to the hairdresser for over 2 months now, I always come away spikey with wax and next day my hair is sticking up in all the wrong places. Still we know how we are on the inside, young and beautiful, and that's what counts.
Am due @ the hairdressers next week as am getting yeti like again.
I guess I'll have the same as usual *rolls eyes*
Classic stuff. I used to spend hours with my head upside trying deperately to get some volume into my hair, then I even had some root perms - dear oh dear! Love Sade - now that is classic stuff, not your rubbish they play on the radio nowadays. And now I'm starting to sound like my Mum, how worrying is that?
I probably saw you in Rooftop Gardens, I was the drunk one with the HUGE curly hair and leopardskin print mini dress - thank goodness there is no photographic evidence.
Twiggy x
Loved that post! I can just picture it all. Cherry B sounds promising, was it any good? I love cheapo cherry alcopops... or tart fuel as I call it ;)
Oh and I hate going to the hairdresses, I think I've been about five times in the last 10 years!!!
Mel xxx
huh, no photos of you dancing and singing then?! Great post Diane xx x
Great post - (except you have rather brought back memories of my huge perms!)
Another perm girl here....... year after year I had my hair permed to give it "body".......
When I think back to that era I just get misty, naughty eyes...........:O))))))))))
Such a great post! ?I know that feeling of dreading the hairdressers, too.
Loved reading this and oh, Cherry B and Pony, I'd forgotten those. Now I'm in reminiscence mode, too! As for hairdressers, mine's a bloke, about 30 years younger than me. But we both like cats so that's alright.
and another post that leaves me in no doubt diane that we were separated at birth.....i hate going to the hairdresser so much for all those reasons that i'm mulling over cutting my own hair using one of the youtube clips as instruction.............how sad am i!
Oh, Diane -I'm exactly the same with hairdressers - I used to dread going eversince I was a child - I'd rather go to the dentist! Lately though I just sidle into 'supercuts' and tell them what I want and - hurray they do it. A quick, dry trim and I can sort it out when I get home. I loved reading your 'night on the town' memories:)
Oh I love that song!!!
I have exactly the same thing happening to me when i go to the hairdressers - never know what I want and always ask them what they think I should be having done!
I totally agree, weren't they wonderful times when you relied on your friends. We were never left in a heap or ever became agressive as such these days. Why oh why is it like that now. First time I have commented on your blog. From Diane to Diane I thoroughly enjoy your blog. Keep it up.
Simply loved this post - could visualise it all. The joys of going out - just like you with the hairdryer and the hair brush dancing around the bedroom... ah! Happy memories! It is always great getting ready for a big night out! xxx
the only bit I like at the hairdressers is having someone wash my hair - if they are good I can almost fall asleep !
I come home with straight neat hair & it takes about an hour before it's scrufy looking again !
I dance around my kitchen table & if I'm lucky my son joins in
I think I go to the hair dresser, maybe 2x a year? I just never enjoy the process, too fearful! lol
Those days are over for me. My sister is training to be a hairdresser!
Love the image of you bopping around and singing into your hairbrush!
Thanks for the message about Melvin. He had a check this morning and he needs another during the week. Fingers crossed!
Enjoy your weekend.
Lisa x
Oh how marvellous it all was! the Hofbrau, what a fantastic place that was, such a shame its derelict these days, do you remember those huge barrels outside? And how did those girls in there manage to hold several steins in one hand, took me all my time to lift one!
My mum used to work at the Fiesta, that was a pretty good gig for me, as we used to get comps for everybody.
Rosie x
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