Ode to a Hairdresser
I'd like to thank my new hairdresser, Damien. I like him. A lot. He makes me look good, and doesn't expect anything more than a tip afterwards.

He has a pretty salon that his partner decorates to look like a tropical paradise. The upstairs is a replica of the Bird Cage; the salon a tropical hair hideaway; outside overlooks the creek and water falls with three decks, a Greek statue garden and rainbow flag flying proud; downstairs a love shack full of Marilyn Monroe, water bed and jacuzzi tub that he rents out to desperate men in love.

He's bitchy; he calls me in early; tries to talk me out of getting a color because he wants to go shopping. But he calls me honey.

He makes me wait, he runs outside every five minutes to wave wildly at a friend, he has a trickle of interruptions coming and going; but he makes it known you're his when he's near.

His hands tremble; He's rough with the brush; but he cuts quick and easy from 25 years of hair lovin' and he makes me feel so good.

He doesn't worry about the piddly little things and new fangled perceptions. He doesn't care that most newbies want to be called hair designers... no, no, he's a good, old fashioned hair man. He loves his old ladies as much as his young, and they flock to him.

I can't do just what he does to my hair. He fries it with his dryer - I can feel my head burning - and I wonder the damage it inflicts. But I guess the frying is what makes it so bouncy.

I let him do things to my hair that I never let anyone else. But he's safe. Because he's Damien.

With quivering lip I told him to cut it off and go for the gold. My luster was gone, the bounce had long since left, and the color darkened with age.

I wanted to feel good again, so I told him to just do it. He proposed a color, I proposed another. Wash, cut, color, dry, style.. Voila!

It just looks so good! In fact, Saturday, when I walked out of there, it was enough for me that I felt great! But then to see the second glance from the twenty-something stud at the corner.. Well that was enough to justify a bigger tip next time.

Ode to Damien the hair guy, I love you.




- posted by Ginxy @ 7/06/2004 05:11:00 AM