Thursday, December 02, 2010
Haircut as Metaphor: Life Lessons at the Beauty Salon
I was excited to go back to Boston for the Thanksgiving holiday to spend time with family, enjoy old friends at my high school reunion, and pay a visit to my favorite hair place (wash and set for 20 bucks - can't beat that). My ends were looking a bit scraggly so I asked my person to do a light trim. Quick definition of "light trim" (also known as a "dusting"): using a scissors to address only the most offensive split ends, while leaving in tact anything that might sacrifice the actual length of your hair should it be removed.Fast forward 15 minutes and I have 3 inches of hair staring at me from its discarded place on the floor. A salon helper unceremoniously sweeps the locks into a dustpan before I can fully process that I have just received a bona fide hairCUT. I left the styling chair with a deep crease of concern in my forehead and a quivering lip. But over the next couple of days, I realized that I was being absolutely ridiculous. There are many morals to this story; you can choose the take-away that most pertains to your issue of the moment:
1) Take care of the things you care about: I don't know how many times people have told me that if you want your hair to grow, you have to trim it regularly. I summarily ignored what I knew to be good sense until my ends got so bad that "dusting" was no longer an option. If we want things to last, we can't be careless with them. This can be as simple as dry cleaning the clothes you love, or as important as making sure you repair the cracks in your relationships with loved ones before the fissures become chasms.
2) Sometimes you have to let go: Most of us are made extremely uncomfortable by the idea of change. With change comes loss of the familiar and what could be felt as a loss of control. But while the growing pains can indeed smart a little during the transition, what we get in the end usually makes us better. This could be adjusting to a healthier, more flattering hairstyle or it could be dealing with the headaches of relocating to arrive in a city or job that will provide fulfillment.
3) Learn a second language: I didn't know the Spanish words for "light trim," so I had to settle for making a scissor motion with my fingers, followed by the universal sign language for "a little bit." Not having taken Spanish in school is one of my biggest academic regrets (yes, speaking French on my trip to Paris was cool, but how often am I going to be chilling at the Eiffel Tower?). Let me know if anyone has a free Rosetta Stone download. It's never too late to learn a new skill... and that, my friends, is all of my wise advice for the day.
Now your turn: anyone know any good tricks to make your hair grow faster?
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What a shame this happened to you, Rachel. That's why I usually just dust my own ends... because stylists are hard-headed and often will do what they want to do(and that's the English-speaking ones as well).
Btw, trimming your ends does NOT cause it to grow any faster. That is the most common hair misconcepcion in the world. Trimming your ends will of course prevent any splits from traveling further up the shaft. So if you did have a lot of split, they need to be gotten rid of. But once your hair is healthy and split-ends free (the way it is now), you do NOT need to "trim" at every touch-up or wash-and-set appointment, as stylists would like you to think. It only maintains a cute haircut/shape, but won't cause it to grow any faster.
You want increased growth and thickness? I'd recommend taking Biotin (start wtih 2.5 mg and increase slowly over the course of months). Don't bother with a hair vitamin, as the essential ingredient is Biotin. Silica (horsetail) and B100 are a few other good vits found in hair vit, but I've found not as necessary.
I have a hair journal with pics, and can share the link if you'd like. I also have a whole section dedicated to growing healthy hair on my blog, and you can check that out too (look under "categories").
Btw, trimming your ends does NOT cause it to grow any faster. That is the most common hair misconcepcion in the world. Trimming your ends will of course prevent any splits from traveling further up the shaft. So if you did have a lot of split, they need to be gotten rid of. But once your hair is healthy and split-ends free (the way it is now), you do NOT need to "trim" at every touch-up or wash-and-set appointment, as stylists would like you to think. It only maintains a cute haircut/shape, but won't cause it to grow any faster.
You want increased growth and thickness? I'd recommend taking Biotin (start wtih 2.5 mg and increase slowly over the course of months). Don't bother with a hair vitamin, as the essential ingredient is Biotin. Silica (horsetail) and B100 are a few other good vits found in hair vit, but I've found not as necessary.
I have a hair journal with pics, and can share the link if you'd like. I also have a whole section dedicated to growing healthy hair on my blog, and you can check that out too (look under "categories").
Hey Rachel. I totally agree with Yakini regarding the misconception that trimming ends causes hair to grow faster. In my experience deep conditioning has been important to helping prevent split ends. This is how I do it (when I do my hair as home): I allow my conditioner (I like Paul Mitchell's 'Moisture' for this function, but I am sure any will do) to set under a warm towel covered by a plastic cap to create a "steam" effect while I work out or do housework or chill around the house.
I also agree with Biotin. This vitamin has the most "evidence" for positive effects on hair and nails than most others.
Take care,
Yolanda
I also agree with Biotin. This vitamin has the most "evidence" for positive effects on hair and nails than most others.
Take care,
Yolanda
# posted by 
: 12/3/10, 6:41 PM
: 12/3/10, 6:41 PM
i think you missed the most obvious lesson here. You get what you pay for!!!
# posted by : 12/3/10, 8:13 PM
: 12/3/10, 8:13 PM
WOW! Although some take away wonderful hair tips, I've taken away 2 different messages. I've taken your lessons and related them to moi! (I also took French!)
In response to your first lesson:
I am beginning to realize that if something is a goal of mine, I need to actually do things each day to work toward reaching that goal...not just sit around wondering when....
In response to your second tip: For me, it is quite the opposite as it is for you...very little change has occurred in my life lately, despite my attempts to bring it on! I've been trying really hard to accept where I am (feeling a bit stagnant) and welcome the idea of having FEW changes--finding comfort in routine and stability, and knowing that when it is my time for changes to happen, I'll be ready.
Even though I've got different things going on, I deeply appreciate YOUR reflections, for they incited so many reflections for me. My head is full!
In response to your first lesson:
I am beginning to realize that if something is a goal of mine, I need to actually do things each day to work toward reaching that goal...not just sit around wondering when....
In response to your second tip: For me, it is quite the opposite as it is for you...very little change has occurred in my life lately, despite my attempts to bring it on! I've been trying really hard to accept where I am (feeling a bit stagnant) and welcome the idea of having FEW changes--finding comfort in routine and stability, and knowing that when it is my time for changes to happen, I'll be ready.
Even though I've got different things going on, I deeply appreciate YOUR reflections, for they incited so many reflections for me. My head is full!
# posted by : 12/3/10, 9:00 PM
: 12/3/10, 9:00 PM
lol, i knew yaki would be the first one to comment on this topic. sure would have been nice to have an accompanying photo with this one rachel, but i guess you're still getting used to the new do.
my thing is, change can be a good thing....but preferably when it was planned for or at least expected. i can't believe she straight dibo'ed your luscious locs like that. lmao @ the quivering lip, lol. i have definitely been there before way back in the day...
my thing is, change can be a good thing....but preferably when it was planned for or at least expected. i can't believe she straight dibo'ed your luscious locs like that. lmao @ the quivering lip, lol. i have definitely been there before way back in the day...
# posted by : 12/4/10, 1:12 AM
: 12/4/10, 1:12 AM
Yaki is one of the longest haired folks I know (and has an amazing blog covering a variety of topics), and Yolanda has the medical expertise as a highly esteemed dermatologist. Here's to Biotin and deep conditioning, ladies!
Oh Rachel! Wish I had been there with you... It's "recorte las puntas solamente" (puntas being the ends of your hair!). I don't think that's on rosetta stone. :) un abrazo from Boston!
# posted by : 12/13/10, 11:19 PM
: 12/13/10, 11:19 PM
I wish I still had some hair left to cut! As mine fell to the floor over the years ot never grew back.
# posted by : 12/19/10, 9:46 AM
: 12/19/10, 9:46 AM
Even as a guy its hard to get a good haircut. I find it difficult to describe what I want. It usually boils down to "this...but shorter". Then the barber wants to know what number of clippers you want used. Well, I have no idea. Just don't give me a flat top and we're ok.
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