Splitting Hairs

Well, actually, this is about cutting hair.

Frantically trying to get everything ready for my trip tomorrow, one of the things that I had made an appointment to do was to get my haircut this past Thursday. I usually get my haircut every three weeks by the same stylist that has cut my hair for as long as I remember. Sue does a fantastic job, and unfortunately I got the call in the morning on Thursday, telling me that Sue was out sick.

I wasn't happy.

I then asked for someone else that was available, and was told that Carrie could do my haircut at the same time I had originally scheduled my appointment. Begrudgingly (and not knowing this Carrie person), I accepted the appointment.

When I got there, I met Carrie. Carrie isn't a day over 19 years old. As we were conversing about how I like my hair cut with electric clippers (I like SHORT hair), she realized she didn't have them at her workstation. I was a bit concerned.

Furthermore, she indicated that she left them out in her truck. She said for me to wait a second while she went and got them. I said it wasn't a problem.

When she came back, she then proceeded to tell me that she had just taken her board examinations earlier in the morning. The look of "shear" terror on my face (mixed with panic) must have been obvious, as three of the other stylists must have been looking at me and they all were giggling. I thought to myself, "this isn't a good sign."

Well, after figuring out that I use clipper guard number "1/2" (and having to find it myself in Sue's workstation), I proceeded to get a haircut. She then said, "wow, cutting it this short really leaves no room for error, does it?" I tittered nervously, and said, "um....it sure doesn't does it?"

I'm used to Sue. Sue is gentle. Sue knows how to cut short hair. Believe me, I have gotten some ROTTEN haircuts in my life (especially one in which I had about 3 clipper nicks in my scalp). I trust Sue. Carrie, on the other hand, went up the back of my head like an Aussie sheepherder shearing sheep. I was literally manhandled.

After directing her what to do (and about crapping myself in the process), she finished up the back of my head. Another scary thing was that she stepped back a couple of steps, marveled at her work and said, "wow, I really did a great job on the back!"

I think I wet myself at that point given her vote of self-confidence.

After sitting in what I would have preferred to have been an electric chair rather than a barber's, she finished my haircut.

The result:

It looks great. To top it all off, I spent about $10 bucks less than I otherwise would have. As much as I like Carrie's work, I think I'll stick with Sue, even though Carrie's much more cost effective.