Sunday, 24 November 2002 | Haircut

In the town I moved to when I was 12, there were two places where I could go to get my hair cut. One was a place somewhat inappropriately named "Uptown Cut and Style"; the haircuts were okay, but the hairdressers liked to poof and aerosol spray every hair before it left the building. I would inevitably comb my fingers through the sticky forest on my head upon walking out the door and take a shower as soon as I got home, consoling myself with the knowledge that after two weeks or so, my hair would noticeably improve.

The other in-town salon was a place called "Guys 'n' Dolls Hair Styling," which was housed in a trailer in the parking lot of a gas station, where the hairdressers were 60-year-old women who had leathery faces and gravelly voices, and who called you "honey" and chain-smoked long, skinny cigarettes. They, too, were fond of the aerosol can.

I've never been much of a service-industry complainer, especially not when I was younger. As long as the damage wasn't permanent (i.e., damage made with hair spray as opposed to scissors), I would agreeably let them do what they wanted with my hair and dutifully nod when they asked me if I liked it. I remember once, when a hairdresser had just plastered the hair above my right ear to the side of my head with a flowery-smelling mist, and I answered her query with my regular nod, she exclaimed, "Wow, you're easy to please!" In fact, I wasn't easy to please at all; rather, I was tolerant, and I didn't want to be difficult or hurt anyone's feelings.

I haven't had much better luck in other towns I've lived in, unable to find someone I wasn't completely wary of. Often I've resorted to cutting my own hair, because, while I didn't always do a great job, I had control over what was happening.

Finally, here in Brooklyn, I think I have found her, someone I almost trust. Yesterday was the second time I'd gone to her (the first was when I had her cut off about eight inches), and though I'm still waiting for the post-hair cut two weeks to pass, my positive response to her question was honest.