Frugal Is The New Burnt Sienna
Sunday, August 23, 2009 at 7:45PM | Mr Lady Not even I give a good enough blow job to get away with that nonsense.
But that's what my hair costs to do, and by do I mean cut, color, highlight, lowlight, product up and style. All to cover some gray hair that four years ago I couldn't wait for. Kids, man, they don't know shit. I never used to pay anything close to that for my hair-do, or more honestly, lack-of-do. Washing it and sleeping on it was my Super Secret Style Technique. My product came in the form of elastic bands wrapped around my wrists. I cut it when it touched the next patch of hair on my body. I was unfettered by the confines of a society's rules for grooming and appearance.
I was Robert Plant.
And then I met a girl who did hair, seriously, for reals, and she showed me a world I didn't know existed. She also used my head as her model hair, so I never had to pay for it, which was awesome. And just like any good dealer of dealerable goods, once I was strung-out hooked she took away the freebies. She got the job she'd needed the model head for and I was left alone, cast aside, with a craving for Wella the likes of which I've only ever known before with a human being writhing under my skin who wanted hot dogs and peanut butter. ALL of the hot dogs and peanut butter.
And in about 2 months, I was Robert Plant again.
Over the years since then, I've amassed an impressive collection of hair styling pastes, salves, infusions and goops. I've learned how to pin curl, to swide-sweep bang, crimp, soft roll, straighten, wave, up-do, down-do...point is, I can do my hair. I just can't bring myself to drop the amount of money they'd like me to on it and since I've been shown the light and now fully appreciate the wonders of the Salon Proper, I only get it done two or three times a years.
And for the other 10 months of the year, I am, you guessed it, Robert Plant.
I'm usually pretty patient in-between haircuts. It's like the choice between the 7-11 coffee or the Starbucks, the husband or a vibrator...I'll wait for the real thing, thank you very much. I've got nothing but time, and no one actually ever sees me anyway except my neighbors who are used to the trainwreck by now, and my husband who actually hasn't been able to look me in the eye since the first little fingers clawed their way out of my vagina some 11 years ago. There's no reason to succumb to the Great Clips haircut when I know the Aveda one is coming. Sometime before I have to buy a new calendar. Maybe.
I totally gave in and got the Great Clips haircut today. I couldn't help it, really. I mean, I made it through BlogHer without so much as a trim, I went on my first business trip looking like an old mop, I've got two trips in the next two weeks coming up and I just didn't want to look like Robert Plant anymore, dammit. So I marched into the Great Clips where I take my kids and I told the girl who looks exactly like my kids godfather's sister to do something, anything, just make it look nice, okay?
She did. Plus.
Shut up. I haven't done it yet.
I am so fucking in love with this haircut, I can't even tell you. The longest layer used to be the shortest layer. She took more than 3 inches off the bottom and more than half the bulk out, and I still have a really kick ass head of hair. And it's actually kind of curly now, because she didn't just tell me to flat iron the curls my daughter gave me as a "Thanks for the great digs these past 9 months" present, oh no....she cut my hair to SUIT THEM.
And then she gave me a coupon for $10 any Old Navy Purchase for my kids, for back to school. The grand sum totally of this haircut? Contained the numbers one and six. Go ahead, guess which order. And as long as I can learn to love the gray, because hell, at least the carpet would match the curtains again, I can reasonably hope to get a cut every 6 weeks or so and not pay as much as I did for my last cut for, oh, a year and a half or so.
And I won't have to swallow a receipt, or anything else for that matter.
Reader Comments (55)
Judge not the stylists by their place of work but by the quality of the work they do.
This inspires me to grow my hair out.
A good haircut is a wondeful thing.
I spent much too long doing it myself in lieu of someone else screwing up my hair after bad experiences at both a frou-frou salon and a discount salon.
Finally got good cuts at frou-frou, then discount earlier this year. Can't ever go back to doing it myself. Never.
You look hot.
Oh yes. Great Clips. They are awesome when you are short on cash for the three-digit haircut. With the pregnancy hair, I couldn't afford that every month - so Great Clips it was. Although, I do miss my salon.
OH, I can so relate! My 17-Months old gets haircuts from a fancy kid salon, I on the other hand have not had a haircut in almost a year. And my hair is almost to my butt now. I think I will follow in your footsteps soon...
What a totally kick ass haircut girlfriend! You look sensational! I got mine done, professionally, for the first time in 5 years on July 18, 2009. It was my daughter's wedding day. I swear I won't wait another 5 years for the next pampering though. I'm going to make it a regular thing with her...mother and daughter time.
My wife cut my hair today for nuth'in and then gave me a BJ.
Top that. :o
Frugal has never looked so hawt.
Sexay. LOVE the curls!
I have found that the quality of the cut has very little to do with the price I pay. It's sort of a crap shoot, at least until you find someone good that you can rely on. But I do sort of love the extras that come with the fancy cut. The fresh fruit trays and herbal tea and little robes so you don't get hair in your shirt.
I'm totally getting the cheap cuts right now because I don't have the time and money to sit through the expensive one, but one day I will spend all afternoon at a salon again. And it will be mostly for the extras. I do love the pampering.
It's learning night for me over here at this here blog. Sucking sadness out of belly buttons, making sure I have ice packs on hand in the freezer or something that resembles one instead of just frozen waffles cause I'm not sure how THAT would work and now, take a chance on a cheap haircut. I'm afraid of cheap haircuts ever since I used to get my hair uh, permed in the 1980's at uh, Fantastic Sam's. That shit destroyed me for life. But I'm liking the sound of that one and that six so.....maybe just maybe, I can give ol' Sam or Super Cuts a chance.
P.S. And yessss.....your hair looks blonde bombshell bouncy awesome. :-)
whoa. that is a kick-ass haircut ...
if i could get my hair to do that, i would consider growing it out.
unfortunately, i was bequeathed the *frizzy* kind of curly.
feh.
Yipee!!! That is so freakin' cute!
You know, as stylists, it is our goal in life to get you chemically addicted...color, shampoo... styling products for when your hair is wet and dry, stuff to make it dirty when it's clean, and clean when it's dirty, curly when it's straight, straight when it's curly, smooth it down when it's frizzy and volumize it when it's flat, chunky, piec-e, messy and tame...and ooohhhhh...can't forget the stuff to make it shiny!!!!!
Um. I'm gonna need to know where that Great Clips is. Because while the one down here did a kick ass job on Zoë's hair, mine? Meh and other onomatopoeia.
Now, me...I travel down the block four doors, drop something with the numbers 1, 3 and 5 in it and spend 3-8 days (however long I think I can get away without washing it) with gloriously straight hair and the rest of the time with my own thinned out, cut to suit the curly bits that my daughter gave me, freshly dyed hair. I love what they do. Just not that it costs a week of groceries to do it.
Especially since 4 weeks later, I'm back there with what likes like it could be all of my hair floating 3/4 of a inch off my head, or a skunk stripe, depending on if I'm wearing the elastic around my wrist or on my head.
Roots. They kill me.
My haircuts (now that I'm poor) are all done at Hair Cuttery - same as Super Cuts, really. It's not about the salon, it's about the stylist... and if she's good, KEEP HER. Of course, my teenager just house and dog sat for my stylist for a week, so I'm thinking I should be good for a full cut/color/highlights at very little cost this week :)
LOVE that cut, though. It doesn't look like you need to DO anything to it - which is my only requirement. If it needs more than 10 (okay, I'm lying, I really mean 2) minutes to do, it's too much work.
Wonderful thing. Haircuts are necessary for the soul. I need the colour thing, too, though. Can't do without it, due to having the odd very brown hair in between all the grey.
You should totally learn to live with your curls. I spent too many years thinking hair is only pretty when it is straight. Bullshit. Embrace your curls!
Rawr.
I get my hair cut once a year or so from Sebastian the Wonder Hairdresser.
but I spend the grocery budget on product.
Girl has gotta have good hair.
Next time, call me. I'll cut your hair for free. And dye your pubes pink.
I've got the 'trans-am' curls, so we don't do that look much around here.
But my husband (who is still IN LOVE with that era) seems to enjoy the wave. ;)
You've got a little something in your nose...right...there....
Sorry, I was distracted.
We recently switched the boys from the $25 buzz cut at SnipIts to the cost cutters. My wristlet loves it, they love the lollypops.
You look fab!
Every fancy, Newbury Street hairstylist I've every tried has screwed up my hair. The only place I know I'm going to walk out of always liking my hair? The $30 place down the street from me where I can always get an immediate appointment...
What Ohmommy said. You look terrific (though I never saw the Robert Plant version)!
AWESOME!
and you know what... you promised me hair crack for BlogHer and you didn't deliver.
{gives you evil eye}
I want a real picture woman... xoxox
Sorry I haven't lurked in a while. Just stopping by to say that I LOVE GREAT CLIPS. I used to pay s TON of money, also involving 1, 2, 3 and a $ in backwards order for my hair. Now I pay $12 and tip her $8 just because it's still only a $20 HAIR CUT! F-yeah!
At least when you are blonde the gray doesn't show QUITE as much as does on us brunettes. And if you went to the Tanis school of making the carpet match the drapes you might end up looking a little like a reverse Smurf.
ooooh Meeeeouw Maureen.... ;-)
i am robert plant
Looks fabulous!
And totally worth it just for the $10 coupon.
I'm a sucker for coupons. I would give more blow jobs if coupons were involved.
My salon gives a head and shoulder massage before you get your hair cut and they only charge $32.00. I don't even GO there for the haircuts. It's all a front to get a good rub down.
You look great. You deserve to get your hair done regularly, so go and do it. Just because your a busy Mom doesn't mean that you can't take care of yourself!
just make sure you get her HOME number, cause those clip joints dont treat their stylists so good (most of the time) and there is a turnover rate. keep tabs on her!
okay I know this is a lil off the wall, but with the "hard" times a here, a few girly friends of mine and I use the box dye. And it actually works, and you can keep up on the color every six weeks for the small price of 2 two gallons of milk. Not bad...and totally get her number....I started with this chica 7 years ago and she has since moved to 3 different salons, and now works at home. The gas to her house is still cheaper than going to the higher end places.
Okay, that is a fantastic cut. Do be sure that you ONLY EVER GET HER TO CUT IT if you go back to Great Cuts. Because I know from experience -- sad, sad experience -- that not all Great Cuts cuttery ladies are equal. This one, though, rocks on.
Very rawr, baby!!
You really should spit out the receipts. Foxy.
I love it when the cheap cuts places produce some of the best haircuts. In Seattle we have Rudy's, which is where all the hipster trendy kids go, but the cuts are still always under $20.
Haircut?
What's that?
Usually i justs grow my hair long...then hack it off to my ears (well, by a professional. Not me. Pu-lease, I was the kid who couldn't draw a straight line in kindergarden...I wouldn't trust me with scissors).
If anyone asks, I say I'm growing it long to donate it. Which I am. But mostly it's because I'm cheap. Short hair is easy. No curling. No straightening. Nada.
...I believe I'm getting to the point where it's going to need to be hacked off again.
Oooooooh girrrrrrrrrl you look GOOD. I love it. Seriously.
The last time I went there, she busted out the clippers. NEVER going back!! Maybe if I had long hair.
sounds like one of my hair do stories. i've had em cheap and i've had em big bucks and sometimes there's been little to choose between the two.
good for you :-)
Great Clips, who knew?? Good to know.
I went to Great Clips yesterday, because that's what I do when it gets tough around the house w/ the teenaged boy and his mouth . . . I get my hair whacked. Usually an inch, or five . . . nah, just kidding, but yesterday was a 2 inch day. I had had it.
My number came up and I got an older gal,--- I didn't get any whackamole vibes from her, until . . . oh about the time she dipped my chin to my chest and proceeded to work work work at the back of my neck, ignoring my sides. I was getting a tad panicked, but thought "let it go". It's only hair, right?
When she finally started hacking away at my side pieces (I have stick straight hair shoulder length, usually undercut, no bangs, how simple can you get?) I was getting the feeling that I WOULD BE BACK, Arnold voice.
And sure enough, after a wash this morning, I got a hack job. Had to call, ask for *her* name, so I could make sure I go in when she's off that day, to avoid the nasty/rude vibes, and get the lady who cut my hair the time before--cuz she can cut, and get it right.
What a pain in the ass for a 15 buck cut. And I'll be out another 5 bucks to the new haircutter, just to make it right.
Such a crap shoot, these cheapo haircutter places.
It only occurred to me last week to start actually using my super nice hair product on my almost 7 year old.
Her hair instantly dreads when she hits the pillow at night. Leaving me with knots from hell and 15 minutes on the clock for school.
Since last week her hair has been much easier to maintain. Less screaming and biting coming from the little monster.
I sound like an infomercial.
your blog is badass.
I love my mommy blogs :)
I have what they call a natural Jewfro. For years I wanted straight hair that I could grow out. I suspect that I would have hated having long hair, but because I couldn't I wanted it. Would have settled for Robert Plant.
Instead I wore a flat top which I loved. And now I find myself staring at my head and blaming wife and kids for that thin spot in the front. The sides and back are perfect, but the front, it is missing a little.
Damn women and children, you all stole my hair.
I so get your obsession. Have had too many bad haircuts in the past to try the cheap cuts again. I just can't do it any more. I may not have to much time to look in the mirror, but the reflections in storefronts would scare me.
It's all about the stylist. After 16 years in SF with the same guy (fabulous!!) it took me 2 years in a new place to find someone with coloring experience. I refuse to do the gray! I go 3-4 times per year, more like 2-3 times now with the economy, and we've worked out a bit of trade to take the edge off. And I don't buy product anymore. Last time she did my hair she called and wondered that I'd moved, when I'd just lost my job for a few months already and didn't have cash. She gave me a free cut and color for being so loyal.
So, GreatClips for the kids, for now, and I'll save up to pamper myself a coupla times a year. I deserve a bit...
Sister, with a face like that you could have NO hair and still be hawt!
The last time I got a a hair cut at one of the great cut equivalents they butchered me.
As a hairstylist myself, all I can say is that usually, you get what you pay for. Aveda trains their staff, and yes, there are additional perks like shoulder massages. Most chain salons hire stylists right out of school - so they may not have much experience or training. So there is a risk there. If you are willing to go for a change, it's a great idea. Just remember if you don't like it, or worse, you'll probably need to go back to that expensive salon to have it fixed, costing you more than it would in the first place.
Saying that, I think your hair looks awesome and I love that you can work with your natural texture now. The bottom line is finding someone you can trust.