15 Comments
User's avatar
Fiona Gibson's avatar

I love that your memory resurfaced in that way - bubbling up from the depths! x

Expand full comment
Anne's avatar

Haha - hello from the darkened corner of shame - mortifying is the word!

Expand full comment
Margaret Robertson's avatar

I love this and think you v brave cheating on your hairdresser ;) I almost feel queasy in case my hairdresser sees me reading this and thinks I am ok about this kind of thing 🤣

Btw I also call the end of the bread the heel

Expand full comment
Fiona Gibson's avatar

The heel! It's such a great word for it tho (says an English person!)

Expand full comment
Flic Bowden-Smith (Everett)'s avatar

This is very triggering. I haven;t found a really great hairdresser in years (oh God, decades) - there was one in London in 2008 who was like a genius, but I couldn't keep going to London for a haircut... and during the pandemic I kind of gave up and got my husband to cut it. Then I braved the local salon in Manchester and the hairdresser was SO PATRONISING and made me feel 200, so now I just cut it myself and on a bad day, I look like Boris Johnson. I think this might be a cry for help.

Expand full comment
Fiona Gibson's avatar

The patronising thing is so awful and depressing. I wish they wouldn't even bother trying to make this chat! Why don't men have all this bother?

Expand full comment
Sue Brantigan's avatar

I can totally relate to this - especially the chat you get from the young juniors!!

Expand full comment
Fiona Gibson's avatar

Yes, it's hideous! They talk like I'm their great auntie Sue - some tedious old rellie they're stuck with! x

Expand full comment
Anne's avatar

Haha - strikes me that a writers life is much like that of this retired person when it comes to eating and personal hygiene habits.

I feel your guilt when it comes to hairdressers - I had very short hair for years and went regulary for a cut & blow dry every couple of months. Short hair was so easy to manage I thought.

Then Covid raised it's ugly head and hairdressers were closed (just about the time I was due a cut) and as they stayed closed my hair started to grow and I found I quite liked it - it seemed other people liked it too - regular taxi drivers told me it made me look softer!

So..............here we, are nearly four years since I last visited my hairdresser (who I had been going to for over 30 years) and my hair is down past my shoulders - just as easy to manage as short hair, pony tail or the plaits of my childhood on days at home. My daughter has trimmed an inch off the bottom a couple of times (she is so much cheaper than the hairdresser).

Haven't yet figured out what to do with it on social occasions - but as an Old Biddy my social life consists mainly of visits to the Eye Clinic or the local supermarket, so thus far there hasn't been a problem.

But the guilt....................every time I visit town I live in dread of bumping into my hairdresser - I wonder if he thinks Covid 'got' me. I feel guilty because I've deprived him of part of his living, but the money saved has been spent happily on plants for the garden and suchlike. With luck, he won't recognise me with the long hair!

Oh, and I used to get round the "old lady" talk at the sink, by washing my hair at home before I went - he would then just spray my hair with water before he cut it.

Expand full comment
Fiona Gibson's avatar

I'm glad I'm not the only one who prickles at the 'old lady talk at the sink' Anne! I really wish they wouldn't bother. But I'm worried now that your hairdresser is worried about you...! x

Expand full comment
Anne's avatar

To be fair Fiona, I do have a neck problem and find the salon sinks uncomfortable, which is why I started washing my hair at home pre-appointment - but the relief of not having to listen to "the talk"! Even old ladies don't like the old lady talk! And now you're trying to make me feel even more guilty about not going to my hairdresser - thanks for that. x

Expand full comment
Fiona Gibson's avatar

I😄❤️

Expand full comment
Anne's avatar

Oh my, Fiona. The things that happen when you're in that happy state of almost dropping off to sleep. Was almost there last night when a little memory worm wriggled his way into my unresisting head - he reminded me that 66years ago I was in fact, one of those girls! Aged 14 I was a Saturday girl at a hair salon. My duties were sweeping the floor, keeping the salon tidy AND WASHING HAIR! How had I forgotten? Did I give my customers "the talk"? I suspect so, it seems standard practice - I would apologise to said customers but I suspect they are all long gone now, given the time that has passed. Am now residing in the darkened corner of shame - if I don't comment on your next missive assume I am still there.

Expand full comment
Anne's avatar

Forgot to mention - if you use this method to avoid the sink talk - dark glasses & a headscarf may be needed for the journey to the hairdressers - to avoid being recognised by neighbours & friends!

Expand full comment
Fiona Gibson's avatar

DOWN WITH SINK TALK

Expand full comment