... or Humiliated at the hairdresser!
I've written before about how I hate going to the French hairdresser. And in nearly eight years here, these traumatic experiences have not greatly improved.
When in London earlier this month, I had my hair cut at a trendy salon. It looked fine for a couple of days. But then I noticed the cut seemed a bit wonky and uneven. So today I went to my usual French hairdresser to reshape it. I figured this would require ten minutes and a few snips of the scissors. Was I ever wrong!
Not only was Madame (as always, impossibly stylish with a gamine cut with asymmetrical fringe) appalled at my London haircut, she called every hairdresser in the salon over to survey the horror. "Regard!" she exclaimed as she held up locks of my hair for all to examine with incredulity at "le coupe d'Anglais." I was mortified, while they all twittered in sympathy for me, the poor American who'd had the bad luck to encounter a Londoner with scissors. (Yes I know there are plenty of talented London hairdressers).
So Madame set about putting the cut to rights - a task she initially wasn't sure she could accomplish. "Je ne sais pas, je ne sais pas," she kept muttering, a look of annoyance on her face. But she was determined to triumph - perhaps she felt French honour was at stake.
Et voila! Now my hair is about four inches shorter than when I arrived at the salon. It hasn't been this short since 1993! The cut is very chic, very French, but I'm not sure it's really me. Madame informed me that I must channel my inner French girl, to carry it off. (Do I even have an inner French girl? Not sure about that.) And Madame reminded me the drastic cut was the only way she could salvage my hair, after the "horrible" damage done in London.
Oui, c'est vrai. Pointless to argue with a Parisienne, as my friend Olivier can attest.
P.S. If you're wondering where's the photo, I'll try to oblige within the next couple of days.
And here is something that you should make you smile.
oh good lord! i went and read the other story first but you had the comments turned off... too many of those french boys followed you home i guess eh? you made me laugh over an dover agin! so now i have to go back up to the top and read on.........
well you do tell a good hair story! you've had so much to write about in the political arena these days that it is good to see you after some french fashion and hair potions. i guess i don't really know what you were shopping for today... or maybe it's tomorrow there already and you're having dinner with some french boy who likes really, really short hair. i love these kind of posts from you... great sense of humor. it takes a lot of poise and self confidence to be able to laugh about your own hair.
XO
Posted by: robin bird | 27 September 2008 at 12:08
Oh, I love that...your inner French girl! Please do show us your trendy do.
x..x
Posted by: stephanie | 27 September 2008 at 05:40
I shouldn't chuckle at others' hair issues -- because I have plenty of my own -- so consider it chuckling WITH you, not AT you! I simply hate getting my hair cut -- and I actually don't mind my hairdresser! But it never is quite right just after the cutting -- it takes at least two washings and a couple of days before it starts to look remotely "me." So, I feel your pain, but the story is delightfully written!
Posted by: jeanie | 25 September 2008 at 16:38
The horrors of getting your hair cut in a foreign country! I know them only too well! At times in can be heaven and you come away feeling like a princess at other times it's hell. At least in Japan they don't even try to make me look Japanese! Anyway, I do think UK hairdressers can be a bit slapdash sometimes and don't always give the time and attention your hair really needs! Not unlike customer service generally in England, which always shocks me even though I know to expect it!
Posted by: Kamsin | 25 September 2008 at 12:27
i've had some major f"ç% ups with my hair visiting hairdressers here in switzerland. they were actually all french, commuting in for the better wages. one died my hair burgundy with white stripes, when i asked (with blondish brown hair) for something a little darker, and with natural highlights...
le sigh
Posted by: jessica | 25 September 2008 at 12:04
Have you read "Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl" by Debra Ollivier? I really enjoyed it, although I'm not sure I'm necessarily more "French" as a result of reading it! However what I DID learn is that it's mostly about attitude more than anything else.
Here's a link to it at Amazon.com: http://tinyurl.com/4dcyqh
PS I have the same traumas every time I got for a haircut here. I had good luck a few times in a row with the same coiffeuse but now I think she has left that salon so I have to start all over again with finding a good stylist. Oh la la.
Posted by: The Bold Soul | 25 September 2008 at 11:08
The best come-uppance for a hairdresser who says "who made such a mess of your hair"? is to be able to say, "Well, actually, you did"! It's been known to happen!
I'm sure you look fabulous in the new cut, and will see that once you are used to it. I've been so busy I haven't had my hair cut in about nine months, and I've finally made an appointment at the hairdresser, so I'll need at least four inches off, maybe six. After all, spring is coming here, so I won't need the warmth of long hair any more
Posted by: Catherine | 25 September 2008 at 09:27
Oh girl we have ALL been there, done that. Can't wait to see the chic new do.
Lisa & Alfie
Posted by: Lisa & Alfie at The Pickled Hutch | 25 September 2008 at 06:46
You're too funny. Well, as I'm sure you will hear a million times, it will grow back. Be the French girl until then. Play it for all it's worth. Then you can get back to the true you. xo
Posted by: Rosa | 25 September 2008 at 02:47
Oh no!
I did the same thing in 1986...had to go with an ultra urban cut while living in the sticks...while living in the land of those who worshipped Farah Fawcett in all her flipped coiffed gloriousness!! I was ridiculed. I'm sure your hair looks fabulous...but I sympathize with you on the trauma of having to lose it all so suddenly and really without wanting to. Those who didn't make fun told me it looked great. I was thankful for them.
Hair grows!!! And you don't need to channel your French girl, you are already more Metropolitan and Cosmopolitan than your contemporaries!!!
xoxo
C'est vrai!
Posted by: Gillian | 25 September 2008 at 00:44
Hmm... I think I need to channel into my inner french girl, quickly! : )
Posted by: Christina | 25 September 2008 at 00:13