The Hairy Affair

Do you solemnly vow to do a new hairdo? Yes, I do.

Yes, that sparked me off to my first visit to the hair salon in the year. The stylist, Gary Lee, whom I go to, has moved from Cineleisure to Novena Square, which is better off for me. So close to home. Applying the theory of ‘Minimalism’, the shorter travel distance and time will mean I get to speed home straight from the salon with the least possible chance of meeting a familiar face, especially if the hair-do turned out to be a disaster.

I made the appointment on Saturday morning and scheduled for an appointment the same day afternoon. The appointment was at 5pm, but I reached Novena at about 3pm. So I shopped and hopped around until it was 4pm. By then, my legs were getting tired and I was getting thirsty again, but was afraid to drink too much water in case it turned out to be a 7-hour “flight time” where the only toilet I get to visit is outside the salon. No way do I want to wear a towel on my head or with curlers attached to it while visiting the loo. That will certainly make me the headline in the Newpaper.

Well, I was glad I arrived there on time cos’ I actually took longer time than Gary had expected he needed to do my hair. They had to do over-time partly because of me. Anyway, before I got started, I told Gary about my weak scalp and don’t know whether to keep it long, keep it short, dye it or perm it. He suggested that I keep it long since I chopped it off last year. His rational: You must have long hair once in a while and short hair once in a while. Otherwise, all your pictures will have you in the same hairstyle! Alright, sounds reasonable enough. I don’t think I want to look that CONSISTENT in my dressing.

The assistant passed me some hair magazines to choose from, but there were so many hairstyles which I really can’t decide. Beside, they all look pretty similar, with all that Jap style. Then Gary pointed to one of those posters and asked me if I am game enough to try it. I turned and (O-mi-gosh!) there was this 2.5m poster of a Caucasian girl with a hair that’s curly, mossy and BIG! I haven’t the slightest idea why he’d think that'll suit me. Maybe that’s what they mean by “envisioning” and “far-sighted”. Well, suppose I really take it on, who knows? I might just carry it off well. But what if I didn’t? It’d be a missile scoring a direct hit on its target. Spot-on!

Sensing that I wasn’t too game to take on the challenge, Gary then described to me a style that was not found in the magazines. He said he’ll have to do heavy layering on my hair, then use two types of curlers for different sections of my hair. Then, with a dainty pose of his fingers, he said in a Malaysian twang: 你一定喜歡的! (Means: You’ll definitely like it) Ok, Gary… since you said it with such confidence, I’ll take it!

When he started layering my hair, my heart dropped bit by bit as he snipped off lengths of hair off my head. The time taken to grow them was just snipped off in a matter of minutes. I also worried if the end result will be “aunty-looking”, as if my youthfulness had any links with those curls. After he was done with the cutting, he applied the ammonia solution to my hair to condition the hair for perming. The supposedly 25 mins took a full 45 mins as Gary said that my hair was “very stubborn”. It was just not responding to the solution. Finally, even after the full 45 mins, Gary had to wash it off as he said that the solution has fully oxidized and leaving it on further will not have any effect on the hair. However, he wouldn’t apply it again as it will surely damage my hair.

Sitting back on the chair with wet hair, the salon assistant asked if I need to go to the toilet as she’s going to attach the curlers to my head and once attached, I can’t move for 45 minutes. With my hair so wet, naahh…. After the curlers were set to my hair, Gary tsaid: “Bring out the monster!”. I thought: Oh no! What’s the monster?

The “monster” was actually the equipment for digital perm. So many terminology for perms nowadays: digital perm, ceramic perm, spa perm… etc. Anyway, the equipment does look monstrous, with cables dangling from all around it. Plus, it even have hooks to lift the curlers up while it perms, so as to achieve the desired effects. One by one, they attached the hooks and the cables to the curlers on my head and left it for about 25 mins and a little longer. Gary said that he had set it at 120 degrees so that it will not be too hot. Sounds to me that it’s little difference from baking pastries.

After the “baking” process, Gary took one curler off and checked. With a smile of relief, he commented: “Your hair finally curled!” Then he started with the spiel again that my hair was “very stubborn”, doesn’t respond to the chemicals and so on. I would say he did a good job and I do kinda like my curls, though I’ve not seen any of it in the magazines.

I was actually quite excited to show case my new hairdo on Sunday but suddenly became rather self-conscious the moment I stepped out of my place. I whipped out my mobile and started calling Qianfang to my rescue. Her role: to accompany me from Centrepoint to church. Qianfang sighed at the fact that I was being so missy. Along the way, met Meihui, who gave good comments on the hair. Phew! No mention of it being “aunty-looking”. The only other person who seemed to notice my hair was Esther. The others just looked at me as if nothing had happened to me, though my hair was very much “messier” than before. I was starting to feel a little disappointed. Final comment of the day was from Cindy. She asked: “Why your curls turn out this way har?”.

Arghh!!! Somebody, quick! Give me a paper bag…!