A Nearly Bad Haircut

It was a record-breaking 101 degree day in Los Angeles, the kind where your allergies kick up, your eyes itch, and your throat is horse from coughing-- And it's only April. So much for spring!

The heat was sweltering and since we don't have air conditioning it felt even worse at my house-- in my attic office, where the heat rises and hugs my desk.  My husband is "saving the planet for his grandchildren".  You know, the grandchildren that are sitting at their home, in the air conditioning, all nice and cool.  But hubby dear-- who works in an air-conditioned office all day-- likes to think he's doing his part to save them and the planet.  I, on the other hand, am not a happy camper, but that's a whole other rant.

Anyway, like I said, it was nasty HOT and my long hair was sticking to my neck.  I hate that and I'd had it!  I'd been trying to figure out what to do with my 50-something hair for a long time to no avail.  I know it's time to lose the ponytail but what to replace it with was a mystery.  Until this really hot day!

I should have stepped away from the telephone and not called my fave hair dresser, Louis, but dial I did, and an hour later I was sitting in his chair, draped in his fancy kimono, telling him it was time to cut-- it-- O F F.

I love Louis.  He's been doing my hair since I moved to Los Angeles 20 years ago which is about the same time he started trying to get me to cut my hair short.  

Over the years, my hair has been half way down my back, shoulder length, permed, straightened, poofed, curled, cropped, chopped, cut, and on special occasion, I've even had him "bring his hair" aka a ponytail hairpiece that matches my color perfectly, to add to my skimpy locks when I wanted a great up-do.  Yes, we've been through thick and thin (hair), literally.

So today, as I begged him to cut all my hair off, he calmly brought me an ice tea and waited until the heat exhaustion slide off my face.... along with most of my mascara.  Louis knows me well enough to know that I'm not a "drastic measures" kind of girl. 

I've fought him long and hard over the years about keeping the length on my hair but 101 degree temps pushed me over the edge.  I wanted a Victoria Beckham pixie cut and I wanted it NOW! He protested, I pushed. He reasoned, I cried.  He sang me the theme song from Hair, I pleaded.  We took a vote in the salon and a pixie cut won hands down! But would he take this hollow victory to our long running battle and snip away while the snipping was good?

Ohhhh nooooo, he wanted to cut my hair short "fair and square" and that did not involve a hysterical "mercy cut". No matter how hard I tried to convince him I really was ready to take it off, Louis simply would not budge.

Instead, I got an inch cut off and a fast blow dry.  Nothing drastic, nothing life changing, nothing special whatsoever-- just a plain old trim and he called it a day.

Thank gawd!

A few hours later, as I fastened my hair back into a ponytail, sitting at my very hot desk with the fan blowing my my skirt, I was so relieved.  I'd come to my senses and knew beyond a doubt that I was definitely not ready for a pixie cut-- ever-- in my lifetime.  Yes, I still need to find a "new do" but it will have to wait another day.  

I sent Louis a big box of designer cupcakes and thanked him for his loyal friendship and support because, I know, a great hair stylist is hard to find--  One that won't let you lose your head is priceless.

What's your hair like?

Welcome to TheFiftyFactor  -  Joanna